Company culture matters now more than ever, and organisations are seeking new ways to lead the charge, resulting in happier employees and even greater engagement
Peter Drucker famously said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” Decades later, that quote rings truer than ever, especially in an era where the workplace is rapidly evolving, attention spans are short, and people want more than just a paycheque. In today’s world, culture is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’; it’s the glue that binds teams together, the fire behind innovation, and the pulse that keeps businesses moving forward.
At Katch International, we know that culture isn’t built through ping-pong tables or quarterly all-hands meetings. It’s a living, breathing entity that has to be nurtured daily. For us, it’s about understanding people, not just what they do, but why they do it. It’s about creating space for individuality while building unity around a shared purpose. Above all, though, it’s about buy-in: getting everyone, at every level, to feel part of something bigger than themselves.
Why the Old Model No Longer Works
Look back at the traditional corporate structures of the past, the kind that Henry Ford perfected, with factory lines, top-down management, and workers expected to "just get on with it." That model may have driven mass production, but it left little room for individuality, innovation, or emotional connection. It was built for efficiency, not humanity.
Fast-forward to today’s workforce, especially Gen Z and younger Millennials, and things look very different. This is a generation that values purpose over profit, transparency over hierarchy, and flexibility over rigid rules. They want to feel seen, heard, and valued. They crave impact, and they expect the brands they work for, and buy from, to stand for something meaningful.
In the UK, especially, workplace culture is undergoing a quiet revolution. Companies that fail to foster inclusion, support mental wellbeing, or encourage real dialogue are being left behind. In contrast, those that lean into empathy, adaptability, and cultural relevance are thriving. Culture, now more than ever, is truly impacting performance.
What Culture Really Means (And Why It’s Hard to Fake)
Culture isn’t about company slogans or polished LinkedIn posts. It’s about how people feel on a Monday morning. It’s the difference between employees clocking in and actually showing up mentally. A strong culture creates psychological safety, where individuals feel free to express ideas, challenge the status quo, and take creative risks without fear of failure or judgement.
A functioning culture doesn’t come from cookie-cutter policies or one-size-fits-all approaches. It starts by truly listening to the quirks, strengths, and ambitions of each team member. It’s about understanding the nuances of personalities and backgrounds, then weaving them into a wider purpose.
When people feel a deep emotional connection to their work, when they believe in what they’re doing and feel trusted to do it, the results speak for themselves. Not only in productivity and innovation, but also in retention, client satisfaction, and brand perception.
A Culture of Family, Not Formality
At Katch International, we’ve never tried to be a conventional agency. What started as a small two-person office in London has grown into a full-service creative agency with 50+ team members and projects across the UK, GCC, and beyond. But no matter how much we expand, we remain a family.
The Katch culture is rooted in empathy, transparency, and recognition. Everyone, right from the newest interns to long-serving directors, has a voice. We operate with a flat structure that encourages direct communication, open feedback, and mutual respect. Our people are all unique individuals with ambitions, stories, and lives outside the office. And we celebrate that.
Recognition comes in many forms, including monthly incentives and spontaneous happy hours, and no win should ever go unnoticed. When someone signs a new client, they’re rewarded directly. When someone goes the extra mile, they’re celebrated.
But above all, we focus on belonging. Not just feeling like you fit in, but knowing you matter.
Why Culture is Also a Brand’s Superpower
The world today is a hotbed of different brands trying to make their name. PR nowadays is rooted in understanding cultural and audience insights, developing strategies that resonate, and creating narratives that people genuinely connect with. Because in PR, culture is everything.
To build brand love, a brand needs to do more than talk; it needs to speak the language of its audience. This means understanding what makes people tick. What they value. What keeps them up at night or gets them out of bed in the morning. Cultural relevance is the foundation for emotional connection, and emotional connection is the foundation for loyalty.
The Bottom Line
Culture isn’t just HR’s job or a line item on a pitch deck, it’s a company’s heartbeat. It’s also the single biggest differentiator in a world where talent is mobile, attention is scarce, and expectations are sky-high.
For those leading a business or building a brand, never underestimate the power of culture. Because when it’s right, people don’t just show up, they bring their whole selves. And that’s when the magic happens.
At Katch, we’ll keep championing culture, listening harder, and pushing forward, not because it’s trendy, but because it’s who we are.
For more related updates and to Katch us covering similar topics, watch this space!
Katch our game-changing Public Relations, Social Media, Branding & Design, Brand Consultancy, Digital Marketing, and Global Communications services to help your brand make noise. Get in touch with our 360-Marketing Agency in Dubai, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and London, and let’s get the conversation started!