The Intersection of Culture, Commerce, and Storytelling – with Gene Hong

In this latest episode of the Mastering Workplace Culture podcast, hosts S. Chris Edmonds and Mark S. Babbitt welcome Gene Hong, Senior Director of Global Collectibles Product Development at Crunchyroll, founder of Aperture North, and a leader whose career spans startups, global brands, retail, product development, and consumer culture.

Gene's career sits at the intersection of three powerful forces: Workplace Culture, Commerce, and Storytelling.

Throughout the conversation, Gene explains why culture is ultimately about belonging, how brands create meaningful connections with communities, and why storytelling has become one of the most important leadership skills in today's marketplace. Drawing on experiences at Target, Crunchyroll, startups, retail, and global markets across Asia, Gene shares lessons on leadership, trust, mentorship, innovation, and building organizations that evolve rather than stagnate.

The discussion explores everything from "constructive chaos" and startup culture to leadership development, mentorship, corporate transformation, and why leaders must balance structure with creativity.
One message stands out throughout the episode:
💡 Great leaders create environments where people can grow, contribute, and discover possibilities they didn't know existed.

Whether you're a founder, executive, manager, entrepreneur, or culture champion, this conversation offers practical lessons about building trust, leading through change, and creating meaningful impact.