logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2021
46m 51s

Developing Culture With Michal Oshman

DAVID JAMES
About this episode

TikTok and Facebook are just two companies that consider their culture to be crucial to their success and this week’s guest, Michal Oshman, has not only worked for both but she is Head of Culture at TikTok EMEA. In this episode, we explore what culture is; why it’s important; and what Michal does at TikTok to maintain and grow theirs

When culture is at the heart of a company it is everything and being intentional with care and dedication is what makes people feel they are truly part of something, listen in and hear more

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Culture is at the core of the company, it’s about values, behaviours, branding, diversity, inclusion and meaningful moments
  • The founders of Tiktok think about culture as a product and give it the same amount of attention
  • With a product mindset, you take greater accountability  making sure your  results change things
  • You can measure culture by the amount of engagement
  • People want to feel they are part of something and that they matter, that is culture
  • The role of learning and development is translating business into behaviours  
  • Culture doesn’t live within one individual it's connected to community and being together
  • We want our company to be a safe creative place where people can share their narrative
  • You need to understand what  people need from the culture of the company
  • The L&D team needs to be able to build and have the honest conversations that mean companies can have a positive culture
  • Culture is everything, how we compensate, how we promote, how we have a career conversation, how we get feedback
  • Culture is hard to define but you know when it’s there and anyone working on culture needs to be curious and willing to learn because it’s a very personal experience

 

BEST MOMENTS

‘I love the idea that our space is where people can share their content and creativity’

‘When leaders think about things in a different way they open up’

‘Culture is not static it's ever-changing’

 

VALUABLE RESOURCES

The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523 

 

EPISODE RESOURCES

You can follow and connect with Michal via:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michaloshman?lang=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michalho/

 

ABOUT THE GUEST

Michal Oshman

Michal Oshman is Head of Company Culture, Diversity & Inclusion and Employer Branding at TikTok EMEA and formerly responsible for international leadership and team development at Facebook. Throughout her career, Michal has trained and coached hundreds of tech leaders. She has three university degrees in psychodynamic and systemic thinking, sociology and anthropology. Michal is also published author of the book What Would You Do If You Weren't Afraid?: Discover A Life Filled With Purpose And Joy Through The Secrets Of Jewish Wisdom.

 

CONTACT METHOD

You can follow and connect with Michal via:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michaloshman?lang=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michalho/

 

ABOUT THE HOST

David James 

David has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East & Africa. 

As well as being the Chief Learning Strategist at Looop, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D as well as an active member of the CIPD L&D Advisory Board. 

CONTACT METHOD 

 

 

 

Up next
Aug 18
Organising L&D for Results with Guus van Deelen
Many L&D teams are under pressure to deliver business impact—but are held back by disorganisation, unclear positioning, and a lack of strategic focus. In this episode, Guus van Deelen, author of Organising L&D for Results, shares a practical approach for transforming how L&D func ... Show More
38m 6s
Aug 4
Making Sense of the Learning Technology Market with Becky Willis
In this episode, Becky Willis joins David to explore the increasingly crowded world of learning platforms—from the evolution of LXPs to the challenge of aligning stakeholders with vastly different needs. Together, they tackle what’s hot (and what’s not) in the market right now, w ... Show More
49m 47s
Jul 21
Driving Business Impact with Talent Development at Scale With Martha Soehren
Traditional L&D teams often struggle to prove their value—but at Comcast, Martha Soehren built a Talent Development function that drove measurable business impact at scale. In this episode, Martha shares how her team aligned with strategic priorities, built trusted stakeholder re ... Show More
44m 25s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
Bonus episode: on culture
What does culture mean to you? Is it the art we create, the traditions we carry, or the values we hold dear? In this mini episode of Our World, Connected, Christine Wilson, Director of Research and Insight at the British Council, delves deeper into the multifaceted nature of cult ... Show More
17m 25s
Aug 8
The Best of The BoF Podcast: James Whitner on Culture, Community and Building Brands with Purpose
James Whitner — founder of The Whitaker Group and the visionary behind retailers such as A Ma Maniére and Social Status — reveals how culture, purpose, and empathy drive his approach to business. Whitner witnessed firsthand how marginalised communities often face limited options, ... Show More
40m 10s
Apr 2022
71: Olaf Kuhlke – Cultural Entrepreneurship
71: Olaf Kuhlke - Cultural Entrepreneurship "We have to come to terms with our uncomfortable past and it shouldn't be a burden to discuss this. It shouldn't be something that drives people to protest at school boards but it should be something that is you know actively integrated ... Show More
1h 28m
Jun 2024
The importance of belonging in the workplace
One of the things that makes a career a better journey is when we have purpose, and we feel like we belong. Belonging is human and it's something we all crave. On this episode of Overcoming Distractions, we talk about belonging in the workplace and why it is so mission critical f ... Show More
31m 4s
Mar 2025
Tad Hargrave - How To Date (And Market) Beautifully
Talking points: culture, marketing, relationshipsI consider it an achievement to have Tad on the show. He's a soulful and wise person who can cut through the BS quickly—and do it kindly, no less. We sat down to discuss the parallels in ethically presenting your case in both the b ... Show More
55m 51s
Jul 2024
Work Culture Red Flags and Green Lights
That little voice inside, you've heard it before, haven't you? Whispering "This place just isn't letting me thrive." Or maybe you've felt its opposite - those energizing moments when your values aligned perfectly and your whole self showed up effortlessly. If those experiences re ... Show More
40m 25s
Feb 2025
What’s The Value In Community?
JVN sits down with Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon—educator, entrepreneur, and founder of The Village Market—to unpack one of the biggest myths of our time: being self-made. In a culture that glorifies individual success, Dr. Key challenges us to rethink the power of community. Together, th ... Show More
49m 36s
Dec 2024
How Skims and On Create Cultural Relevance
Many fashion brands are realising that operating across multiple cultural sectors is a business necessity. In our social feeds, fashion competes with music, film, and sports for our attention. Learning how to tap into other cultural sectors is something that many fashion brands a ... Show More
25m 30s
Oct 2023
Influencer Turned Entrepreneur: Marianna Hewitt's Secrets to Building a Business
How do you handle the pressure of juggling the demands of content creation, engaging with your audience, and running your brand successfully? How do you strike a balance between showcasing your personality as an influencer and maintaining a professional image for your brand? Vale ... Show More
53m 2s
Aug 11
How Do You Decolonize Care? | Sundus Abdul Hadi & Maktaba Bookshop
We explore the Arab community's evolution in Montreal, the intent behind Maktaba Bookshop as a space for Arab representation and cultural exchange, and the concept of decolonizing care. The founder of Maktaba in Montreal, Iraqi artist and author Sundus Abdul Hadi shares her immig ... Show More
54m 51s