93%
93 % of CEOs indicate that it is important their organization has a strong corporate purpose that is reflected in value, culture and behaviors.
PwC’s 20th CEO Survey
3.7x
Employees who strongly agree with the statement “I feel connected to my organization’s culture” are 3.7 times as likely to be engaged at work.
Gallup, 2023
$30 trillion
ESG-oriented investing has experienced a meteoric rise — global sustainable investment now tops $30 trillion.
McKinsey Quarterly, 2019
83%
83 % of employees say they would return to the office at least one additional day per month if their office provides their ideal mix of experiences.
Gensler Research Institute U.S. Workplace Survey 2022
Mission
State of Culture, where our mission transcends the conventional boundaries of consulting to embrace a comprehensive exploration of Culture. At the heart of our endeavor is the recognition that Culture is not just a component to be consulted upon but a dynamic force that demands a multifaceted and holistic approach.
In the realm of “Consulting”, State of Culture serves as an interdisciplinary and strategic business consultancy, rooted in the belief that incorporating ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals into the corporate context is a vital approach. However, we’ve identified a gap in the validation and quantitative justification of the “S” (Social) aspects within the ESG reporting framework.
Discover the impact of integrating ESG principles with the social parameter of organizational culture. This synergy ensures adherence to ethical and governance standards while prioritizing social responsibility.
At our firm, we firmly assert that the aspect of organizational culture, as a pivotal social parameter, is a strategic asset integral to the business development process.
Simultaneously, our commitment extends to an “Academy” theme, acknowledging that human-centered and culturally relevant topics require diverse formats. Through educational initiatives, lectures, training programs, and knowledge-sharing experiences and events, we facilitate a dynamic exchange of ideas within the culture community. Our goal is to create awareness and empower individuals and organizations with a profound understanding of culture’s strategic value.
Embrace this progressive evolution and dynamic facets in the culture discourse with us.
Explore how aligning cultural values can elevate your business in terms of employee experience, engagement, sustainability and societal contribution.
Scope
#CONSULTING
- Strategic Workplace Culture Analysis with Insights on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations
- Implementing Strategies for Efficiency and Productivity Enhancement
- Executing Measures for Achieving Operational Excellence
- Cultivating Corporate Cultural Resilience and Adaptability
In our consulting division, we employ the design thinking methodology and utilize evidence-based approaches to address issues concerning the Future of Work to transform your Organizational Culture, ultimately boosting Efficiency and Productivity.
#ACADEMY
- Conducting Research Initiatives and Projects
- Implementing Comprehensive Education Programs and Events
- Facilitating Knowledge Sharing and interdisciplinary Engagements
- Advocating Cross-Industry Cultural and Brand Initiatives
Our Academy division seamlessly enhances our Business Consulting Endeavors by spearheading comprehensive Research and Education Initiatives focused on both Organizational and National Culture themes.
- Strategic Workplace Culture Analysis with Insights on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations leveraging globally-renowned Tools, e.g. Culture Analytics Tool by The Culture Factor (formerly Hofstede Insights) and bespoke Solutions for Peak Performance.
- Implementing Strategies for Efficiency and Productivity Enhancement aligning Organizational Culture with the Future of Work and Workplace Strategy.
- Executing Measures for Achieving Operational Excellence through streamlining New Work Processes for enhanced Efficiency.
- Cultivating Corporate Cultural Resilience and Adaptability through actionable Initiatives and strategic Alignment of Cultural Values with Future Trends, ensuring dynamic Resilience.
- Conducting Cutting-edge Research Initiatives and Projects to explore cultural Trends within our Expert Network.
- Implementing Comprehensive Education Programs and Events, fostering Academic Collaborations, and providing Immersion in organizational and national Culture through Lectures and Engagements.
- Facilitating Knowledge Sharing and Interdisciplinary Engagements, resulting in insights shared through Publications and co-creation Sessions for Best Practices.
- Advocating Cross-Industry Cultural and Brand Initiatives, enhancing interdisciplinary Projects with curated Awareness Campaigns and Events that promote the strategic Value of Cultural Diversity.
- Embark on a transformative Journey with us, where we empower Organizations and Teams and Individuals to unlock their fullest Potential.
How?
Uncover the transformative influence of our advanced data-driven culture analytics tools, utilizing cutting-edge questionnaires, surveys, and qualitative research methods. Engage in interactive co-creative workshops and meaningful events where we seamlessly merge these insights to yield tangible outcomes crafted to enrich both your organizational and personal experiences.
Embark on an exploration of our groundbreaking culture analytics platform, uniquely designed to synthesize data with human interactions.
This innovative approach goes beyond conventional methods, unlocking actionable insights that propel sustainable growth for both your organization and individual journeys.
As accredited and certified partners of The Culture Factor Group, we utilize internationally recognized tools for assessing your organizational culture, informed by data collected from numerous organizations spanning various industries. This enables us to evaluate your distinct organizational culture and align it with our extensive dataset to pinpoint your optimal culture.
- We measure culture.
- We humanize business processes.
- We support change and transformation.
- We advocate the strategic value of culture.
- We provide future of work research and insights.
- We utilize design thinking and innovation methods.
- We create culture experiences and purposeful interactions.
What differs us from other solution providers?
As seasoned experts in Design and Culture strategy, our distinctive approach seamlessly integrates our Consulting and Academy units, providing a cohesive yet distinct perspective within the broader Culture discourse. Instead of solely focusing on immediate and short-term enhancements (“Make it Nice” Scenarios), our emphasis is on delivering sustainable yet customized solutions, as well as curated interactions and programs (“Make it Purposeful” Scenarios).
This interconnected approach ensures that our Consulting and Academy units collaborate harmoniously with the goal to present data- and evidence-based scenarios culminating in impactful experiences and events.
At State of Culture, we are dedicated to the synergy of consulting and academia, each contributing uniquely to the holistic understanding and advancement of the Culture discourse.
Space Lens
The evidence layer for Phase 0
A joint application by State of Culture and The Culture Factor Group
Space Lens helps architects, designers and workplace teams collect and structure organisational and user data before design decisions are made.
It connects culture, work practices and spatial needs to create a stronger, evidence-informed workplace brief.
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Efficient data collection
Reduce time spent on surveys and reporting.
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Design-relevant evidence
Understand how teams work and what they need from space.
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Stronger briefing
Create a shared basis for planning and stakeholder conversations.
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Repeatable measurement
Track changing needs across the workplace lifecycle.
- Workplace decisions are often made on incomplete information. Data on space use, satisfaction or occupancy exists, but stays disconnected from how teams actually work.
- Culture diagnostics explain how teams behave, decide and collaborate — yet they rarely translate those findings into spatial consequences.
- Space Lens closes that gap and makes the relationship between culture, work practices and spatial expectations visible. It does not promote a particular workplace model.
- Culture profile. Six organizational culture dimensions — effectiveness, customer orientation, control, focus, approachability and management philosophy — describing how a team coordinates, communicates and relates to rules, authority and outcomes.
- Workplace behavior profile. Space use patterns, activity preferences, focus and collaboration needs, hybrid practices, equipment expectations, privacy and acoustics, inclusion and well-being, identity and belonging, ESG expectations.
- Work modes. From focus work, collaboration and formal or informal meetings to learning, creative work, mobile and touchdown work, private conversations and customer engagement.
- Spatial typologies. Each profile is linked to settings such as quiet zones, acoustic pods, project rooms, learning hubs, retreat rooms, social hubs, touchdown counters and choice-based work zones.
- Leadership, HR and people teams, workplace strategy, real estate and facility teams.
- Architects, interior designers, workplace and organizational development consultants.
- Typical moments: workplace redesign, relocation, hybrid work assessment, team growth or restructuring, early-stage architectural briefing, evaluation of an existing environment, or comparing several teams and departments.
- Evidence-based briefing. A structured basis for early-stage workplace briefing, beyond generic assumptions.
- Culture linked to space. Working culture and spatial expectations in one integrated view.
- Team-level differentiation. Different teams need different conditions — Space Lens shows where and how.
- Grounded hybrid planning. How work is actually divided between office, home, third places and shared settings.
- A shared language. One report that leadership, HR, real estate and design can read the same way.
- The Culture Factor Group contributes more than 40 years of culture-based advisory, a presence in over 60 countries and a diagnostic foundation shaped by the legacy of Prof. Geert Hofstede’s research.
- State of Culture contributes applied workplace insight, spatial analysis and research-driven methods for understanding how people use, experience and expect space.
- Together they develop Space Lens as a diagnostic application that turns cultural and behavioral data into spatial consequences.
Application
Order an assessment for one or more teams. You upload the participant list and choose the survey period — invitations, reminders and the report are handled for you.
Each group is priced separately, so you can start with a single team and extend later.
per group, plus VAT
Secure payment via Stripe
State of Culture operates under Leon van Gerwen GmbH. Billing and invoicing are therefore issued by Leon van Gerwen GmbH.
John Lam
Design Strategist and Co-Founder
John is managing the Academy section and an experienced design strategist with a passion for a wide spectrum of innovative brands and spaces, encompasses everything from events, exhibitions, commercial retail spaces, small living environments, to dynamic workplaces. With nearly two decades of professional corporate experience, he has been with esteemed multinational organizations, including Hugo Boss, SAP, Li & Fung USA, The Walt Disney Company, Steelcase, and Jones Lang LaSalle. His ambitious mission revolves around the humanization of spaces and brands through the application of culture-centered design principles such as co-formulation, co-creation, and co-implementation. These core principles are the cornerstone of his work, consistently resulting in sustainable and profound user experiences within space and brand design.
Based in Germany, John’s involvement in the field of design extends beyond his practical work. He not only practices design but also imparts his knowledge as a university lecturer and frequently participates in international design events and takes on the role as juror in prestigious design institutions like iF Design and Frame, with particular focus on architecture and interior design.
Leon
van Gerwen
Culture Strategist and Co-Founder
Leon leads the Consulting section at State of Culture and is a certified culture strategist, accredited by the renowned The Culture Factor Group, specializing in evaluating and reshaping organizational culture within the evolving landscape of future workplaces. As a visionary conceptual thinker, he boasts a remarkable 30-year track record as entrepreneur and workplace consultant at Steelcase/Orangebox in the realm of strategic and spatial development projects, collaborating closely with the global architectural and design community.
Residing in Switzerland, Leon has devoted significant time to nurturing his network of strategic partners, primarily advising C-level executives on matters of governance and the design of forward-looking ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) frameworks and initiatives. His unwavering mission is to empower organizations, fostering increased efficiency and productivity while simultaneously enhancing social and cultural conditions in the workplace.
