We started the town hall strong, but things took a turn once the conversation shifted to “culture” and how we plan to integrate it into everything. It was disappointing to hear how culture and sentiment were being framed.
Culture isn’t a buzzword or something you sprinkle on top of initiatives it’s what employees feel when they walk through the doors every day. It’s reflected in how we support people, how decisions are made, and how work actually gets done.
Right now, we don’t have a defined culture strategy or a competitive differentiator, so saying we’re doing “market-based culture” rings hollow. And leaning heavily on AI because it sounds innovative doesn’t address the real issue: we haven’t clarified who we are, what we stand for, or how we create an employee experience people can trust.
AT&T is not culturally where it needs to be. Culture is shaped by systems, leadership behavior, consistent norms, and shared meaning—and right now those elements aren’t aligned or clearly defined.