ABOUT THIS EPISODE
"Culture is who we be when we come up in here."
That’s not a typo—it’s a truth bomb dropped by today’s guest that I haven’t stopped thinking about.
Let me take you back.
A few years ago, I was standing backstage at a major conference we’d spent months planning. Everything looked perfect. The lights were just right. The stage was set. The coffee was hot (a small miracle). But something felt off. People weren’t connecting. Energy was scattered. And I realized—we had missed something vital. The culture wasn’t clicking.
In this episode, we dive into why that happens—and more importantly, how to design event experiences that don’t just inform… but transform.
I’m joined by Dorothy Enriquez, a leadership and culture strategist who blends soulful insight with strategic brilliance. Together, we explore:
- Why leadership is like jazz—and how to practice it daily (more on that metaphor in this piece about leadership and jazz)
- How culture works like sourdough starter—alive, active, and always evolving
- Why everyone at your event is a culture keeper—from the CEO to the check-in team
- And how clarity, consistency, and compassion create the conditions for real transformation
Dorothy challenges us to stop hiding behind a great speaker lineup and start curating the unseen threads that make an event unforgettable. In fact, we explore how culture is often the invisible script guiding everything attendees feel, see, and share—something I’ve unpacked in more depth in this blog post.
So whether you’re planning your next conference, leading a team, or just curious about how culture really works—you’re in the right place.
Let’s step behind the curtain and discover how to create events that feel like home, sound like purpose, and taste like joy.
This is the Event Innovators Podcast—and today, we’re talking leadership, culture, and the kind of experiences that ripple far beyond the room.
Let’s get into it.
Who is Dorothy:
Dorothy Enriquez is a respected leadership practitioner, facilitator, and coach who helps leaders and teams reset how they lead—especially in high-pressure, high-turnover environments. She’s the creator of the Culture Transformation Formula, a proven 5-step method that helps organizations rebuild trust, strengthen communication, and drive sustainable results.
With over a decade of experience, Dorothy combines research, real talk, and relatable delivery to make leadership development accessible, actionable, and transformative. She’s partnered with government agencies, corporations, and mission-driven organizations across the U.S. to deliver measurable culture change.
A former member of the Forbes Coaches Council and a recipient of both the Education 2.0 Leadership Award and Wisconsin’s Marketplace Rising Star Award, Dorothy is known for her clarity, candor, and her core belief that you are required to lead from every seat you sit in.
Connect with Dorothy:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothyenriquez/
