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| Katherine Robinette |
🪑 Change Doesn’t Have to Be a Battle—It Can Be a Table
By Rosabel V. Zohfeld
Culture. We talk about it all the time in the workplace. But do we really understand what it is—or how to shift it for the better?
In a recent episode of the Life Unscripted Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Katherine Robinette, a former marketer turned company culture strategist, to unpack the myths, moments, and methods behind what it means to create a workplace people don’t just tolerate, but truly belong in.
Let me tell you—this conversation lit a fire in me.
🌱 From Performer to People-Centered Leader
Katherine’s journey is a tapestry of seemingly disconnected roles: performer, nonprofit leader, marketing professional, consultant. But when I asked her to connect the dots, she shared a powerful truth: the common thread is people. The desire to educate, uplift, and create spaces where people feel seen has always been at the heart of her work.
“I thought I was going to be a teacher,” she said, “but life had other plans.” And like many of us, Katherine wore armor in the corporate world. Not literal armor, but the kind we put on to survive in places that ask us to fit in rather than let us belong.
That’s where her transformation began.
🛠️ The TABLE Framework: A Seat for Everyone
Katherine’s signature approach to cultural transformation is her five-step TABLE framework—Trust, Alignment, Belonging, Leadership, and Engagement. But this isn’t your average acronym. This is a mindset shift.: It
“Most leaders go into change assuming it's going to be an uphill battle,” Katherine said. “But it doesn’t have to be. If you bring people to the table early—give them voice and clarity—the resistance melts.”
A few things that stood out:
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Target Your Goals: How can people walk with you if they don’t understand the destination?
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Address Expectations: Don’t assume what people fear. Ask them.
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Build Simplicity: Avoid overload. Focus on what people need to know to succeed.
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Lean into Trust: Transparency isn’t optional—it’s survival.
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Evaluate and Adjust: You won’t get it all right. That’s okay. Adjust along the way.
It’s a powerful model rooted in empathy, strategy, and real-world experience.
🧠 Why We Resist Change (And How to Fix It)
Change fatigue is real. In today’s whirlwind of AI rollouts, leadership transitions, and software updates, employees are stretched thin—and often kept in the dark. Katherine nailed it when she said:
“Leaders forget to connect the dots between a change and how it will make the employee’s life better.”
Without that connection, even the best ideas fall flat. But when we treat people like partners instead of pawns, everything changes.
💬 Communication Is Everything—And We’re Drowning in It
We joked about how chaotic internal communication can be—apps, emails, Slack messages, bulletin boards. No one knows where the real information is anymore.
Her advice? Pick one place. Make it official. And repeat important messages often, in clear, human language. Communication shouldn’t feel like decoding a riddle.
🌍 Leading from the Middle
One of my favorite parts of the conversation was this: You don’t have to be “the boss” to be a culture shifter.
Katherine calls it leading from the middle—making change in your small circle and letting the ripples spread. “Start with your team,” she says. Create your own corner of excellence. Others will notice.”
And I felt that deeply.
🔮 The Future of Work? More Human.
Katherine’s dream workplace?
“A place where people can show up, speak up, and step up as themselves—without apology.”
Not chameleoning. Not fitting in. Belonging.
When people feel safe and seen, they contribute their best ideas and authentic selves, and everybody wins.
✨ Favorite Takeaways
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Best compliment she ever got?
“Working with you is like hang gliding while tethered to a sports car.” (That image stuck with me!) -
Managers, stop doing this:
“Quit going to every meeting. Seriously.” -
What does belonging feel like?
“Unity of vision. Support in strife. Laughter in learning.”
(If that doesn’t warm your soul, I don’t know what will.)
To learn more about Katherine’s work or dive deeper into her TABLE framework,
Visit keystoneandraven.com or find her on LinkedIn. She’s also hosting a free webinar on April 30th at 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET. The link is here: The Leader You Are. This webinar is for leaders who want to make five meaningful changes starting tomorrow.
More information here 👇
If you're managing people—
whether you have the title or not—
You’re already leading.
This masterclass is designed for 𝘺𝘰𝘶.
To help you 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲.
𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀.
And 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁.
🎯 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑨𝒓𝒆
🗓️ April 30, 12p ET / 9a PT | 60 mins | Free
And remember—free speech isn’t free, and neither is change. But with the right people at the table, it’s absolutely possible.
Until next time,
Listen to this episode and more here: YouTube, Spotify ApplePodcast
Visit: Rosabel Unscripted
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