Ep. 112: Culture by Design—the Upper Arrow with Sydne Jacques

Today, we're honored to host a distinguished guest—someone who navigates the crossroads of leadership, culture, and transformation with both strategy and soul. Please welcome Sydney Jacques, a Next Level Leadership Strategist who knows that great cultures aren’t accidental—they’re built by design.

With over 25 years of leadership experience and a background as a professional engineer turned keynote speaker, Sydne has partnered with more than 600 teams—across industries—to reduce turnover, build trust, and ignite alignment that actually lasts.

But there’s one concept that keeps rising to the top when we talk shop: her signature Upper Arrow Growth Model™. Think of it as a guiding compass—pointing you upward toward engagement, intentional culture, and retention that doesn’t just stick—it thrives.

In today’s conversation, we’re excited to explore with Sydne:

• What it means to lead with the “upper arrow” in mind—beyond reacting, and towards designing your culture with purpose.

• How shifting from reactive modes to intentional leadership can transform team morale, trust, and loyalty.

• Real stories from workplaces she’s helped boost—and how her frameworks turned disengaged teams into connected, committed powerhouses.

You can discover more about Sydne Jacques on her website, or through her book, Build What Matters.

As always, thank you for joining us! We are thrilled to have you on the show and look forward to any feedback you can provide.

Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."

Please reach out and let us know your thoughts or share a topic:

X: @SchurtzandTies

Gmail: schurtzandties@gmail.com

#DoGreatThings and #KeepKnocking