The newest episode of Mastering Workplace Culture features a rare, open conversation with Joel Anderson, CEO of Petco and longtime culture‑focused retail leader. From Toys "R" Us to Walmart to Five Below to Petco, Joel has spent three decades proving that culture—done intentionally—drives passion, discretionary effort, and performance at massive scale.

Joel shares how his "People → Passion → Performance" leadership playbook began with an hourly associate's hand‑painted mural in Lubbock, Texas, and why it has guided every team he has led since. He explains why culture cannot start with metrics, how leaders get people "on the bus," and why discretionary effort—not pressure—ultimately transforms stores, teams, and the customer experience.

He also reflects deeply on large‑scale culture transitions:

• Walmart: Reviving local store culture and connecting hourly teams back to a mission much bigger than their daily tasks.

• Five Below: Scaling from 361 to 1,600+ stores by formalizing values and behaviors for the first time—moving from "values through osmosis" to a structure that could grow nationwide.

• Petco: Rewriting the company's values from scratch and shifting a legacy organization from playing not to lose to playing to win, all anchored in pet‑focused passion and human dignity.

Joel's storytelling reveals what culture really looks like through the eyes of a CEO: Messy, human, imperfect, and deeply personal. He shares how leaders must build self‑esteem, create teams, and celebrate people—not just outcomes. And he offers practical insight for leaders at every level: Focus on strengths, understand superpowers, and build systems that help people succeed.

This is a conversation about people, purpose, and performance—and how the right culture unlocks all three.

⏱️ Key Moments

00:00–02:00 — Welcoming Joel Anderson, CEO of Petco, longtime retail leader

02:00–04:00 — His retail journey and early culture roots

04:00–07:30 — Walmart's culture: strengths, gaps, and the "people first" shift

07:30–10:00 — The "People → Passion → Performance" mural story

10:00–13:00 — Why leaders must start with people, not performance

13:00–15:00 — Changing the conversation with store leaders

15:00–18:00 — Mission boards, engagement, and activating passion locally

18:00–21:00 — Why Five Below energized him and what he saw in the founders

21:00–24:00 — Creating Wow Town: an experiential culture hub

24:00–27:00 — Building Five Below's first-ever values + behaviors

27:00–32:00 — Proving culture drives performance (the 2017 breakthrough)

32:00–36:00 — Petco: playing to win vs. playing not to lose

36:00–40:00 — Rewriting Petco's values + defining "Foster the Fun"

40:00–45:00 — Rolling out new values and behaviors across the organization

45:00–48:00 — The power of superpowers: focusing on strengths, not deficits

48:00–50:00 — Gung Ho, worthwhile work, and leading with humanity

50:00–53:00 — Life outside work: family, golf, milestones, and roots

53:00–56:00 — Joel's advice to young culture leaders

56:00–57:00 — Final reflections on values, gratitude, and team celebration

We're confident Joel's leadership insights will help you see culture through a new lens. So, please:

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