Our Obsession with Cultural Fit Will Kill Workplace Diversity Artwork

C-Level Conversations

C- Level Conversations is a podcast where Amrutha Murali interviews leaders in business and management across all sectors. These are real life conversations with leaders working to overcome professional challenges. Inspiring conversations to learn from, for resilient and curious; corporate executives, human resources, business owners, Millennial generation leaders and ambitious people aspiring to lead. Amrutha Murali is the founder and Managing Director of Executive Search and Recruitment Consultancy firm JobFitts Consultants in Sydney Australia. She has 25 years of experience in Human Resources and Recruitment consulting.

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C-Level Conversations

Our Obsession with Cultural Fit Will Kill Workplace Diversity

April 29, 2025 • Amrutha Murali • Season 1 • Episode 10

Podcast Episode: Our Obsession with Cultural Fit Will Kill Workplace Diversity

In this thought-provoking episode of C-Level Conversations, Professor Gary Martin, CEO of the Australian Institute of Management WA, unpacks the increasingly controversial concept of "cultural fit" in hiring and why it might be doing more harm than good.

What once began as a way to build cohesive, values-aligned teams has morphed into a gatekeeping tool that reinforces bias, stifles diversity, and limits innovation. Professor Martin explains how the fixation on hiring people we feel comfortable with those who look, think, and act like us can unintentionally shut out difference and dilute workplace potential.

We explore the dangers of “looking glass merit,” the myth of sameness, and how it’s time to replace “fit” with “add.” Learn why embracing cultural add over cultural fit is critical for future-focused organisations committed to inclusion, performance, and growth.

🎧 Tune in to learn:

Why cultural fit is no longer fit-for-purpose
How to spot hidden biases in recruitment
The business case for hiring difference
What leaders can do to foster true inclusion through hiring

This is a must-listen for business leaders, HR professionals, and anyone committed to building workplaces that thrive through diversity.

Connect with - Professor Gary Martin FAIM

Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/in/professorgarymartin/