The Culture Platform | How to Be a Great Manager in the Age of Uncertainty — Ron Ricci

The corporate ladder has been dismantled rung by rung. I've managed 5,000+ people at Cisco — and I built The Culture Platform for the millennial and gen-z manager navigating a world without a map. Original research. Six Drivers. A system, not just a newsletter.

How to Be a Great Manager in the Age of Uncertainty

The first purpose-built learning and development system for millennial and gen-z managers.

The corporate ladder has been dismantled rung by rung. For millennials and gen-z, the predictable path has vaporized — and most managers are navigating it alone. I've managed about 5,000 people in my career, and was consistently ranked in the top quartile of all managers at Cisco, one of the world's best places to work. I left Cisco to answer one question with research and evidence: what does the manager of the future look like? My research — conducted with thousands of young people at companies like Amazon, Google, Disney, and DoorDash — identified Six Drivers of Consistency that separate great managers from the rest, with a 95% confidence interval. That research became The Culture Platform: a complete system — Framework, Feedback, and Tools — purpose-built for the manager who wants to help their people chart their own course.

Section 1 — Framework

Framework — Future of Managing

Research-backed. Built for the next generation of talent.

My research into the future of managing identified Six Drivers of Consistency that separate great managers from the rest. In research-speak, the Six Drivers have a 95% confidence interval in predicting someone's willingness to recommend you as a manager — exactly the outcome you want. At the highest level, these drivers pinpoint the exact skills you'll need to be consistent in helping people write a bestselling chapter of their career story. The Six Drivers are: Alignment, Accountability, Facts, Listening, Mindset, and Process. Your subscription includes the ebook How to Be a Great Manager in the Age of Uncertainty — based on my study of the next generation of talent. The foundation that doesn't expire.

Section 2 — Feedback

Feedback — See Where You Stand

Most managers never get honest feedback. That stalls growth.

Most managers never get honest feedback about how they're actually showing up. Earlier in my career, I wasn't consistently accountable, and I wasn't always the best with facts and process. It was invaluable feedback to hear. As a result of my openness to learning how to do better, I was ultimately given the opportunity to lead the largest sales enablement team at Cisco. The self-assessment measures you against all Six Drivers and shows you where to focus your energy. You can't work on everything at once. Pick one driver and master it. The 360-degree assessment measures you from the perspective of your direct reports, peers, and manager. The gap between your self-score and your team's score is where the most important development work lives. Start Your Free Manager Assessment →

Section 3 — Tools

Tools — Grow Yourself

Practical. Twice a week. Available 24/7.

Developing yourself is a journey. Each of the Six Drivers has a development toolkit — giving you something concrete to take back to your team and real-world ways to improve yourself as a manager. The toolkits aren't theory-based. Each has a best practice. Each has actionable steps to take. They all have specific recommendations. Your subscription includes a twice-a-week ManagerMentor newsletter on Substack with practical advice, toolkits for the Six Drivers, and a 24/7 ManagerMentorAI — ask it any question about managing. Subscribe to ManagerMentor on Substack →