In today’s fast-paced business environment, company culture is more than just a buzzword—it’s the backbone of organizational success. Harvard Business Review’s Senior Editor Vasundhara Sawhney describes culture as “an organization’s DNA. It is the shared values, goals, attitudes, and practices that characterize a workplace. It impacts everything — including your happiness and career.”
Echoing this sentiment, entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk likens culture to an organization’s backbone, underscoring its fundamental role in employee engagement and profitability. A Gallup study found that robust organizational culture can lead to a 50-point increase in employee engagement and an 85% net profit increase over five years. Conversely, poor culture can be costly, with a FlexJobs survey revealing that a toxic work environment is the top reason employees quit.
Building a strong culture requires intentionality from leadership. Joseph Shalaby, founder and CEO of E-Mortgage Capital (EMC), exemplifies how nurturing company culture can drive business performance. Since its inception in 2015, EMC has experienced significant growth, largely attributed to its strong cultural foundation.
Making Values Visible
While many companies claim to prioritize culture, few truly integrate their core values into daily operations. A mere 23% of U.S. employees strongly agree that they can apply their organization’s values to their work daily. EMC stands out by embedding its core values—Service, Community, Relationships, Ever-Forward (continuous learning), and Thumb Pointers (as opposed to finger pointers)—into every aspect of its operations.
Shalaby emphasizes the importance of leaders embodying these values: “We actively engage with the EMC community daily through several channels. Our instant chat system (Microsoft Teams) allows leaders to answer questions in real-time, fostering immediate communication across the organization. Weekly training sessions ensure continuous learning and development, and we address challenges by collaborating closely with our front-line leaders in sales and operations.”
New employees at EMC are introduced to these values from day one. Shalaby explains, “When onboarded, employees receive a card—the EMC way—which highlights our core values. Our recruitment video, onboarding materials, and daily trainings reinforce these values.”
Keeping Doors Open
In the wake of the pandemic, workplace mental health issues have surged. Businessolver’s 2024 State of Workplace Empathy report highlights that an open-door policy is the most valued benefit for mental health, surpassing flexible working hours and encouraged breaks. Such policies allow employees to approach managers outside of formal meetings, fostering a culture where concerns can be addressed promptly.
Shalaby and his business partner, President Sam Hijazin, maintain an open-door policy at EMC. Shalaby notes, “This policy helps us prioritize work-life balance and encourages our team to contribute ideas, knowing they will be heard. We strive to be constantly available via email, phone, or Teams, despite the scale of requests. Hijazin guarantees an email response within 24 hours to any team member, fostering trust and accessibility.”
Developing Leadership Excellence
According to Development Dimensions International’s Global Leadership Forecast, a top concern for CEOs is developing the next generation of leaders. Shalaby addresses this by selecting leaders based on both hard and soft skills, such as empathy, communication, and the ability to foster growth. “We believe in growth from within, allowing us to build and develop leadership that best serves our organization and staff,” he says.
EMC’s approach to leadership is authentic and inclusive. Shalaby explains, “At EMC, we believe that you should come as you are. Authentic leadership means leading with genuine intent and staying true to oneself. I regularly engage in open dialogue with our team, sharing personal experiences and lessons learned. This approach fosters trust and encourages everyone to bring their whole selves to work.”
The results speak for themselves. EMC’s mortgage loan volume grew from $3 million in its first year to $2.7 billion in 2023, with projections to reach $4 billion this year.
Former IBM CEO Lou Gerstner famously stated, “Culture isn’t just one aspect of the game, it is the game.” Leaders like Shalaby demonstrate that a strong culture can drive business growth, creating an environment where employees thrive and organizations succeed.
