The Culture Economy

How culture shapes
organisational performance.

Research and analysis on organisational culture, cultural governance and inclusive leadership, for boards and executive teams.

Culture has become one of the most discussed topics in leadership. The conversation has changed.


Most organisations no longer need convincing that culture matters. The questions are now about implementation. How is culture governed? Where does accountability sit? How does culture become part of leadership, decision-making and organisational performance rather than sitting alongside it?

The Culture Economy exists to answer them.

We connect what we see inside organisations with wider changes in how they are led and governed. Everything we publish draws on our work with boards, executive teams and senior leaders.

Each piece sets out what a change means for the decisions leaders are making now.

Key Questions

What boards ask about cultural governance.

What is cultural governance?

Cultural governance is the set of formal structures and accountabilities that make an organisation's culture intentionally designed, measured and embedded. It treats culture as a board-level responsibility, with clear ownership, escalation routes, management information and assurance.

Cultural Governance at Illume

Why does culture need governing?

Culture decides how people act when policy runs out. Without ownership, reporting and assurance, a board cannot see cultural risk until it surfaces as misconduct, attrition or reputational damage.

See our work with boards

Is culture the same as inclusion?

No. Culture describes how an organisation actually behaves. Inclusion describes whether people can participate and progress fairly within it. An organisation can have a strong culture that still excludes, so the two need separate measures and separate accountability.

Read: Culture Is Not Inclusion

Who is The Culture Economy for?

Board members, CEOs, executive teams and HR leaders responsible for culture, inclusion and leadership. It is published by Illume Executive Consulting as a monthly edition, with occasional research and executive briefings.

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Conversations · Latest episode

Inclusion Re-engineered

A LinkedIn Live series in which Hannah Awonuga and invited senior leaders discuss how organisations build inclusion into the way they are governed and run.

The player opens on the newest episode. Use the playlist icon in the player to browse earlier ones.

Watch all episodes on YouTube
The Newsletter

The Culture Economy

A monthly edition for boards and senior leaders, with occasional research and executive briefings from Illume.

Work With Illume

Insight without infrastructure
changes nothing.

Every engagement begins with a clear view of where your organisation stands on culture, leadership and governance, and what needs to change.

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