Forget Hustle Culture, Build Performance Culture
High-performing cultures aren’t built on grind, they’re built on clarity, trust, and learning. In this keynote, I unpack how great leaders help teams thrive by aligning purpose with process, feedback with growth, and data with human needs. From psychological safety to gamified engagement, I share the 7 Sins and Wins of Performance Culture - practical, people-first strategies that drive results without burning people out.
When performance only measures output, people burn out. This keynote shows how culture builds sustainable performance from the inside out.
The 7 Sins and Wins of Performance Culture
Seven Habits for Building Sustainable Performance Cultures.
Balancing: Burnout isn't a badge of honor
Sustainable performance means knowing when to push, when to pause, and when to celebrate. Balance isn’t a luxury: it’s a leadership strategy.
After the longest month of my life, my first ever speaker tour, alone in a quiet hotel room, I realized real performance isn’t about more, it’s about meaning. (Düsseldorf Case Story)
Trusting: Confidence isn’t charisma, it’s connection
Performance grows where trust lives. Inclusive leaders earn trust by showing vulnerability, making space for resistance, and leading with presence.
The room was skeptical, and rightfully so. Instead of performing harder, I led with curiosity instead of ego, and watched the room transform. (The Gender Equality Case Story)
Listening: Shut up so they don't shut down
Listening is leadership. Performance cultures thrive when feedback flows in all directions - without fear or friction.
A student once handed me a list of everything I got wrong in my "lecture of a lifetime." That feedback changed my career - and my concept of leadership. (The Katie Case Story)
Mentoring: Helps You See in 360 Degrees
Mentoring isn’t a hierarchy, it’s a Mentorverse. In a culture of mutual learning, everyone has something to teach and something to learn.
Jorge was a student I mentored through his thesis, but years later, he mentored me back, helping me reframe my work through a new lens. (The Mozambique Case Story)
Learning: Learn from community to create opportunity
Mistakes aren’t failure, they're feedback. Inclusive leaders normalize failure, adapt quickly, and make learning part of the job, not a punishment.
I built a startup on logic and research, only to watch it collapse from overlooking my stakeholders. It taught me that learning starts before the pivot. (My First Startup Case Story)
Gamifying: Play builds performance
Competitive curiosity isn’t a gimmick, it’s a gateway. Gamification builds momentum, sparks reflection, and invites even the most skeptical teams to play.
A game designed for Deloitte turned inclusion into a high-stakes competition, one that started with innovation and ended in transformation. (The Inclusion Game Case Story)
Flowing: Some brains need rhythm more than rules
Inclusive performance isn’t one-size-fits-all. Flow means honoring neurodiversity, different work styles, and energy patterns to unlock real engagement.
My first week of university, I focused so hard I forgot to take notes. It wasn’t failure, just a reminder that my brain learns its own way. (Always Ready, Never Prepared Case Story)
Explore the latest research on performance culture.
I have had the privilege of hosting Dr. Anthony Giannoumis' captivating keynote presentation at the Innovative Digital EXPO, and I am genuinely impressed by his depth of knowledge and ability to engage the audience.
Armin Khani
CEO Expodia