#64 Employee Ownership, Open-Book Management, and Culture Change with Deanna Walker
Building a purposeful culture isn’t something that happens by accident — it’s built through intentional leadership, transparency, and trust.
Deanna C. Walker, CEO of Venturity , has spent over 35 years in finance, from investment banking to leading one of the most culture-driven accounting firms in the U.S. Under her leadership, Venturity has embraced open-book management, employee ownership, and a people-first approach that’s transforming how accounting firms think about culture and growth.
In this episode, Deanna and Jean dive into what it takes to lead with purpose, create a culture of ownership, and empower teams to think — and act — like leaders. From navigating leadership transitions to aligning values in hiring and feedback, Deanna shares how intentional culture work builds both stronger teams and better businesses.
We talk about:
🔹 How to build a vibrant, people-first culture in accounting
🔹 Why employee ownership fuels engagement and accountability
🔹 The power of open-book management in driving transparency
🔹 Navigating leadership transitions with clarity and communication
🔹 The role of mentorship in developing future leaders
🔹 How values alignment shapes hiring and performance
🔹 What freedom means from the CEO’s seat
Quotes from the Episode:
💬 “We are the people business.”
💬 “We have to model the way.”
💬 “It’s a work in progress.”
Actionable Takeaways:
✅ Foster transparency through open-book management
✅ Encourage employees to think like owners
✅ Align hiring and performance around core values
✅ Communicate openly during leadership transitions
✅ Invest in mentorship as a driver of culture and growth
Resources from this episode:
→ Learn more about Venturity: venturity.com
→ Connect with Deanna on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/deannacwalker
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🎧 For more conversations on leadership, ownership, and building companies that last, visit www.jeanmoncrieff.com