Podcast | Best Christian Workplaces

How ACSI Built a High-Trust Culture That People Want to Stay In

Written by Best Christian Workplaces | February, 09 2026

What does it take to build a workplace culture where people genuinely trust leadership—and want to stay for the long haul? In this episode, Dr. Larry Taylor, President and CEO of ACSI, shares the behind-the-scenes story of how ACSI transformed its culture through intentional listening, transparency, and faith-driven leadership.

Click here to watch the full episode on YouTube.

About This Episode:

Trust is one of the strongest predictors of employee engagement and retention—but few organizations build it intentionally. In this conversation, Robert Wachter and Dr. Larry Taylor unpack how ACSI strengthened organizational trust over time by turning employee feedback into leadership action. Larry shares practical insight on involving executive leadership, sustaining momentum, and aligning culture work with mission and faith values.This episode offers a real-world case study for leaders who want measurable culture improvement—not just good intentions.

 

Episode Highlights:

00:00 – ACSI’s culture transformation journey

04:07 – Why trust is the foundation of organizational health

13:05 – Turning employee feedback into action

24:00 – Executive leadership involvement in culture change

31:26 – Sustaining momentum over time

 

Meet the Guest:

Dr. Larry Taylor is President & CEO of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), serving thousands of Christian schools across more than 100 countries. With more than 30 years of educational leadership experience, he previously served as Head of School at Prestonwood Christian Academy and The First Academy in Orlando. Dr. Larry is the author of Running with Horses: A Parenting Guide for Raising Children to Be Servant Leaders for Christ and is passionate about strengthening leadership, building trust-centered cultures, and advancing Christ-centered education globally.

 

Resources Mentioned:

Running with Horses— Dr. Larry Taylor

 

Episode Transcript:

A full, word-for-word transcript of this episode is available here.

 

Next Steps for Leaders:

If this episode challenged or encouraged you, share it with a fellow leader who cares deeply about building a healthy, Christ-centered culture.

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