When Culture and Trust Erode
Just finished listening to Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams. It’s not just a story about Facebook—it’s a lesson on leadership, culture, and the loss of trust.
As leaders, we often talk about innovation, growth, and impact. But the core of any lasting organization is culture—and trust. Culture isn’t the slogans on the wall; it’s the lived experience of the people inside. Careless People is a reminder of what happens when trust fractures, when culture becomes misaligned, and when the pursuit of scale overtakes the discipline of stewardship.
This book (for me) isn’t about bashing anyone. It’s a call to attention. A chance for leaders to ask:
- Are we listening to our people?
- Are we building structures that reinforce integrity—or just performance?
- Are we as intentional about maintaining trust as we are about hitting targets?
Wynn-Williams writes with clarity and conviction—not from the outside looking in, but from the inside looking back. Her perspective is rare and valuable....
Author
Paul Gustavson
Paul is a tech industry leader with a passion for innovation and the outdoors. He is the co-founder and CTO of SimVentions, which was established in 2000. SimVentions supports today’s military and decision-makers with innovative engineering solutions and services. The Virginia Chamber and Inc. Magazine have recognized SimVentions as one of the best places to work. As the CTO, Paul fosters innovation, contributes to the company’s strategic vision, leads IR&D efforts, provides technical expertise, and participates in industry standards development. Paul is also the author of Face the Mountain, Imagine, Breaking Average, Speech Blueprint, and Leaders Press On and a co-host of the Breaking Average Podcast. He is an active member of the simulation community. As the CTO, Paul fosters innovation, contributes to the company’s strategic vision, leads IR&D efforts, provides technical expertise, and participates in industry standards development. Paul is also the author of Face the Mountain, Imagine, Breaking Average, Speech Blueprint, and Leaders Press On and a co-host of the Breaking Average Podcast. He is an active member of the simulation community.