Positive Culture Academy
Start Building a Future-Fit Culture Where Everyone Thrives.
Practical online training to develop engaged, innovative, future-fit and resilient teams.
The Questions that Clients Ask Us
“How can I keep my best people from leaving?”
“Why does our team feel disengaged, even when we’re hitting targets?”
“How do we build trust when everyone’s working remotely or hybrid?”
“Our culture worked before – why isn’t it working now – how can we update it?”
“How can I influence the culture when I’m not the CEO?”
These are real questions that clients ask us. That’s understandable:
Between AI disruption, geopolitical tensions, polarization, and relentless pressure to do more with less – work has never been more challenging!
Here’s what we know after 30 years of culture work: Your culture is either your competitive advantage or your hidden liability.
The Cost of Getting Culture Wrong
The research is clear – and expensive:
Toxic or tough cultures:
- Reduce productivity by up to 40%.
- Cost $14,000 per employee annually in lost productivity
Drive away top talent (43% leave due to lack of recognition). - Create disengagement (87% of the global workforce is NOT highly engaged).
But positive cultures:
- Increase productivity by 20-40%.
- Are 20-30% more profitable than competitors.
- Retain talent and attract top performers.
- Build resilience and agility for change.
The question isn’t whether you can afford to invest in culture. It’s whether you can afford not to.
What Makes Culture "Positive"?
This isn’t about fake smiles or avoiding difficult conversations.
Positive cultures are productive cultures. They’re built on four research-backed foundations:
1. Positive Awareness
People notice what’s working well, not just problems. They focus on potential and possibilities. They aim for extraordinary results (“positive deviance”), not just “good enough.”
2. Connection & Collaboration
Strong relationships, built on trust and authenticity. People ask genuine questions, listen deeply, give constructive feedback, and support each other’s success.
3. Learning & Autonomy
Mistakes are learning opportunities. People have professional autonomy and take ownership. Trust is the default, not micromanagement.
4. Shared Purpose & Meaning
Everyone understands why the organization exists and how they contribute. Work has meaning beyond a paycheck.
Organizations with these four elements consistently outperform their competitors.
Why Most Culture Change Efforts Fail
You’ve probably seen it:
- Too theoretical - lots of concepts, no practical application.
- Top-down only - missing the grassroots engagement that creates real change.
- One-size-fits-all - ignoring your organization's unique context.
- One-time workshops - no ongoing support when you actually need it.
- Requires huge budgets - expensive consultants, elaborate programs.
What if there was a better way?
A Practical Approach That Actually Works
The Positive Culture Academy teaches you Interaction Interventions – small, strategic actions you can take immediately to shift culture from wherever you are in the organization.
No massive transformation program. No expensive consultants. No waiting for permission.
Just practical tools you can apply tomorrow.
Based on Marcella Bremer’s book “Developing a Positive Culture Where People and Performance Thrive” and decades of research in positive psychology and organizational behavior.
“Marcella’s book speaks to our students as co-facilitators in positive change and has all of the processes they need. It isn’t about learning and banking “stuff” — it is about reading enough to spin out the next stage of a project. The book is their coach and makes it easy to apply positive change.”
Don Haggerty, Ed.D. -Professor, Strategy, Innovation and Business Capstone Experiences – Champlain College, Burlington, VT
What You'll Learn
Foundation: Understanding Culture
- What culture really is (and why it matters more than you think)
- The four elements of positive cultures
- How to diagnose your current culture
- Why positive cultures are more future-fit and resilient
Personal Preparation: Upgrade Yourself First
- Expand your “positive power” and mindset
- See people as people, not problems
- Raise your positivity ratio
- Build the confidence to create change from any position
Practical Tools: Interaction Interventions
- Ask powerful questions that engage others
- Listen for potential, not just problems
- Give and receive feedback constructively
- Respond to restore psychological safety
- Transform meetings from time-wasters to culture-builders
- Use “random acts of kindness” strategically
- Team up with positive peers as allies
Leadership Practices: For Formal Leaders
- Hold space for safety and dialogue
- Lead positive meetings
- Work with Change Circles for team-wide culture development
- Liberate meetings from bureaucracy
- Apply positive leadership principles daily
Organizational Impact: Scale Your Influence
- Understand organizations as networks
- Create culture change as a “social movement”
- Engage others without needing authority
- Build momentum for sustainable change
- Develop your personal positive culture plan
How It Works
🎥 23 Video Lectures (6 hours total)
Engaging, practical videos you can watch at your own pace. Each video includes actionable strategies you can apply immediately.
📋 Downloadable Tools & Checklists
Practical frameworks, reflection questions, and action planning tools to customize for your situation and apply what you learn.
💬 Academy Chat (coming soon)
Connect with other practitioners, share experiences, ask questions, get support.
⏰ Self-Paced Learning
Average workload: 2 hours per week for 14 weeks. But go faster or slower as your schedule allows. Access for one full year.
Who This Is For
- Leaders & Managers who want to create more engaging, productive teams.
- HR Professionals looking for practical culture development strategies beyond surveys and perks.
- Independent Consultants who want to add culture expertise to their services.
- Team Members who want to contribute to a better workplace culture (you don't need a leadership title!).
What Makes This Different
🔬 Research-Based
Every strategy is backed by solid research in positive psychology and organizational behavior – not management fads.
🛠️ Immediately Practical
You’ll walk away with tools you can use starting tomorrow. No theory without application.
🎯 Role-Agnostic
Whether you’re a CEO or team member, you’ll find strategies that work for your situation.
🌍 Real-World Tested
Based on 30 years of experience helping organizations navigate change and develop cultures where people and performance thrive.
💰 Accessible
No need for expensive consultants or elaborate programs. Learn at your own pace, apply in your own context.
The Connection to Future-Fitness
Here’s what we’ve learned after years of culture work:
Positive cultures are inherently more future-fit.
They’re more:
- Adaptable – people embrace change instead of resisting it.
- Innovative – psychological safety encourages creative thinking.
- Resilient – strong relationships help teams weather uncertainty.
- Learning-oriented – continuous improvement becomes natural.
But culture alone isn’t enough in today’s rapidly changing world.
You also need the ability to anticipate external changes before they hit.
That’s why we recommend combining culture development with strategic foresight:
- Culture prepares your organization for change.
- Foresight helps you see change coming.
What Participants Say
“I like the content and the easy style with manageable chunks. The Academy is thought-provoking, refreshing, and energizing.”
Frances Clayton, Change Manager, Middle East
“This Academy is holistic, sincere, and actionable. I appreciate the many angles of positive culture being presented and the personal preparation work.”
Crystal Sittser, Manager Internal Controls, USA
“High-quality content delivered in digestible bits. Easily actionable! This course is high-quality and inspiring.”
Vadivu Govind, Consultant, Singapore
“The videos are good, the checklists make me think about what I can apply that week. This Academy is motivating, thoughtful, applicable.”
Dolores Fabregas, Regional Sales Manager, USA
“This Academy has a scientifically proven approach and is practical. The questions Marcella asks form an excellent checklist to diagnose a situation and find paths for change. Very insightful.”
Claude Emond, Management Consultant, Canada
“I did not expect it to be so easy to apply, thanks to the structured approach. This is the perfect tool for creating positive change in organizations.”
Maria Marc, Facilitator & Trainer, USA
“This course offers tools and talking points! Insightful, methodical, achievable! I love the way Marcella presents and how she uses examples from her own experience.”
Samantha Schreiner, People Operations (HR) Professional, USA
“It’s systematic and practical. The videos are well-researched and to the point.”
Kanna Krishnan, Senior Director of Human Resources, Malaysia
Real Results: The BTC Case
A large biotech company with 600 employees in Asia used the Positive Culture Academy to transform their culture.
Kanna Krishnan, Senior HR Director at that time, implemented:
- Voluntary Change Circles (2 hours, twice monthly).
- Monthly “Positive Tea Meetings” to focus on what’s working well.
- Open discussions across departments.
The result?
“I see more open discussions in meetings, compared to the polite silence we had before. Teams are enhancing their cohesiveness. All these fairly simple interventions start to change the mood in this location. I really like what I see!”
This is culture change as a social movement – starting small, spreading organically.
Your Investment
€247 / $286 *
What’s Included:
- 23 videos (6 hours of content).
- Downloadable PDFs, checklists, and tools.
- Individual assignments and action planning.
- Self-paced learning – start anytime.
- 12 months access, second year is just €99 / $115 *
7-Day Money-Back Guarantee: If you’re not satisfied, we’ll refund your full investment. No questions asked.
Common Questions (And Honest Answers)
“Nice, but there’s only one of me. I can’t make a dent in this corporation.”
You matter to your direct co-workers. Culture is sustained in daily interactions, so that’s your starting point. Small changes spread through networks. You’d be surprised how much influence you actually have.
“This is a workplace, not happy hour. We need results.”
Exactly! A positive culture “broadens and builds” organizations. When people feel positive, they become more open and resourceful, achieving better results. Positive is productive. Research shows positive cultures are 20-40% more productive.
“Positive means fake smiles and avoiding tough conversations.”
Three myths in one! A positive culture encourages authenticity (including off-days and difficult emotions), candid feedback (including constructive criticism), and realistic thinking (not toxic positivity). It’s about focusing on potential AND addressing problems constructively.
“I don’t have time for this.”
That’s exactly why we created Interaction Interventions – small changes to interactions you’re already having. Average workload: 2 hours per week. But you can go faster or slower. The real question: can you afford to keep losing time to disengagement, turnover, and low productivity? The pace of change is accelerating!
“I don’t have a leadership position.”
You don’t need one. Everyone can do Interaction Interventions. Some of the most effective culture champions we’ve worked with had no formal authority.
“Will this work in my industry/country/organization?”
Culture matters everywhere – from healthcare to manufacturing, from startups to corporations, across all countries. The principles are universal; you customize the application to your context.
“Can I do this with my team?”
Yes! We offer in-company enrollment where your whole team goes through the Academy together. This accelerates learning and application. Contact us for more details.
Meet Your Guide: Marcella Bremer
30 years of helping people and organizations navigate change and build positive cultures
- Master of Science in Business Administration (Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University)
- Author of “Developing a Positive Culture Where People and Performance Thrive”
- Certified by Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies
- Recognized as one of the top 30 Global Gurus on Organizational Culture (2016-2023)
- Co-founder of the Positive Culture Academy, and Strategic Foresight & Futures Community
- Worked with organizations globally – from small businesses to 400-person companies to large corporations
Marcella works with co-founder Marcel Lamers, people coach, group facilitator and operations specialist. Together, they have helped lots of organizations build adaptive, resilient, future-fit cultures.
Two Ways to Join
Start Today
Your culture is happening right now – in every meeting, every email, every interaction.
The question is: Is it happening by design or by default?
If you’re tired of:
- Losing your best people.
- Watching disengagement spread.
- Falling behind as changes and disruptions keep coming.
- Settling for “good enough” when you know better is possible.
Then it’s time to develop a positive, future-fit culture where people and performance thrive.
Questions?
Connect with Marcella on LinkedIn or contact us.
We’re here to help you create the positive, productive culture that will help your organization be successful and ready for anything in the future.
The future won’t wait for your culture to catch up. Start building it today.
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* Price in Euros is leading, price in USD may vary.