Cultivate: The Power of Winning Relationships presents readers with a thoughtful and highly practical exploration of the critical role relationships play in achieving professional success. Why was Cultivate: The Power of Winning Relationships an important book for you to write?

Relationships are the heartbeat of business—and life. Early in my career in finance and leadership development, I saw time and again that it wasn’t technical skill that made or broke success. It was how people navigated the human side of work. Who they trusted. Who they avoided. Who had their back—or didn’t.

Cultivate was my way of capturing the patterns I saw in teams and leaders around the world—and offering a clear, practical path forward for building the kinds of relationships that elevate performance, trust, and impact.

The pandemic brought this need into even sharper focus. As we navigated remote work, hybrid environments, and the fundamental reshaping of our workplace connections, the principles in Cultivate became not just important but essential. That’s why I’ve expanded the second edition to address these new challenges and opportunities.

What ideas were important for you to share in this book?

First, that relationships are not a “nice to have”—they are mission critical. Second, that we all have a Relationship Ecosystem™—and whether we’re aware of it or not, we’re constantly influencing and being influenced by the people around us.

I wanted to help readers diagnose the health of their relationships, understand the dynamics at play (Ally, Supporter, Rival, or Adversary), and most importantly—equip them to shift those dynamics with intentional action.

The Ally Mindset at the heart of the book shows how five essential practices—Abundance & Generosity, Connection & Compassion, Courage & Vulnerability, Candor & Debate, and Action & Accountability—create the foundation for transformational relationships. These concepts were so powerful that we expanded them into their own book, You, Me, We: Why We All Need a Friend at Work (and How to Show Up as One!), which serves as a perfect companion to Cultivate.

What is a common misconception you feel people have about building relationships in a professional environment?

That it’s about being liked, or that it’s all just “soft stuff.”

In reality, the strongest professional relationships are rooted in trust, candor, and accountability. You don’t need to be best friends with everyone at work—but you do need to be willing to show up with integrity, listen generously, and have the tough conversations.

Another myth? That relationships happen organically. The truth is, high-trust, high-impact relationships are built intentionally. This becomes even more critical in our hybrid and remote environments, where the natural touchpoints of in-person interaction are limited. We must now deliberately create the conditions for connection that used to happen in hallways and break rooms.

Perhaps the most damaging misconception is that investing in relationships takes time away from “real work.” The data proves otherwise—teams with strong relationships are more innovative, more resilient, and deliver better results. As I explore in both Cultivate and You, Me, We, relationship-building isn’t separate from the work—it’s what makes the work possible.

What do you hope is one thing readers take away from Cultivate?

That you have more influence than you realize. Whether you’re an executive or a new team member, you have the power to shape the culture and health of your relationships.

It starts with one conversation, one check-in, one moment of courage. Start there—and the ripple effect can be profound.

In today’s workplace, where technology often creates the illusion of connection, I hope readers take away the understanding that genuine human relationships remain the cornerstone of success. We must all work to create cultures of connection in a world that often feels disconnected, one conversation and one relationship at a time. Because we truly are #BetterTogether.

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