Varsity’s Roundtable is a weekly virtual gathering of senior living marketers and leaders from across the nation. For updates about future weekly Roundtable gatherings, submit your name and email address here.
In our 260th Varsity Roundtable, we were joined by Denise Boudreau, President of Drive and one of the senior living industry’s most respected voices on organizational culture.
With warmth, wit, and plenty of real-world experience, Denise challenged the idea that culture is simply an HR buzzword. Instead, she reframed it as a core business driver, one that influences trust, team engagement, occupancy, and bottom-line performance.
Drawing from her decades-long career and her work with communities across the country, she explained how culture isn’t about vague feelings, it’s about the real systems, behaviors, and values that shape how an organization operates every day.
CULTURE ISN’T FLUFF, IT’S THE FOUNDATION
Culture isn’t a gut feeling. It’s “how things work around here”—and it drives everything from engagement to occupancy. Treat it like data, not vibes.
ENGAGEMENT FOLLOWS CULTURE, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND
Don’t confuse culture with employee engagement. Culture shapes how people feel about work. Fix the system, and the feelings follow.
LEADERSHIP CAN’T GUESS CULTURE
Leaders often have a rosier view than frontline teams. The only way to bridge that gap? Ask people directly and listen.
VALUES AREN’T WALL DECOR—THEY’RE A ROADMAP
Organizations that align culture with employee-selected values (like accountability or teamwork) see real results, including better retention, better performance.
BETTER CULTURE, BETTER OCCUPANCY
It’s not a theory, it’s backed by data. Communities with strong culture score higher in occupancy, with fewer costs and less turnover.
INTENTIONALITY WINS OVER INSTINCT
Saying “we’ve got a great culture” isn’t enough. The best organizations build culture on purpose, not by accident.
KNOW YOUR PERSONAL DRIVERS
A quick 5-minute Personal Values Assessment can reveal what’s fueling you personally or what’s missing. Living your values at work matters more than ever.
