Built to Endure or Built to Exit. 10 Practices for Executive Ownership of Culture

New release. Available in late August

Most strategies fail not because they’re wrong, but because culture doesn’t support them. Built to Endure or Built to Exit reveals why culture is the hidden root system of every organization, and how leaders can finally make it visible, measurable, and manageable. Through ten essential practices, Egbert Schram blends insights from ecology, psychology, and anthropology with two decades of global consulting experience. Each chapter combines vivid metaphors, real-world cases, and practical application sheets to help you diagnose cultural strengths, clear hidden barriers, and design conditions where both people and performance thrive.

In this book, C.E.O. doesn’t just mean Chief Executive Officer, it means Cultural Executive Ownership. Culture is not HR’s job alone. It’s every leader’s responsibility, and this guide shows you how to take it on with confidence.

“Blending science and storytelling, Egbert translates decades of global consulting experience into ten essential practices every leader can use to align culture, strategy, and transformation. His voice is both pragmatic and poetic, showing that managing culture is not about control, but about stewardship. This book will challenge the way you think about leadership, remind you that culture is your most powerful strategic asset, and equip you to design organizations that endure.

For leaders who want to build organizations that last, not just exit, this is essential reading. “

-          Peter Liu, CEO Chiefminds consulting, former head Barco Academy

 "Using a forest metaphor, this book turns culture into an operational leadership discipline. Its practical tools give you a clear, actionable method to diagnose and design culture with intent.“

-          Steve Green, ACMP UK Board member