How to Build a Culture That Women Don’t Want to Leave

In this episode of the All Inclusive Podcast, I sit down with Sara Gene “SG” Houtman, Chief People Officer at Truly Free, to unpack how one company is redefining what it means to support women at work—from stay-at-home moms to senior leaders. We explore what makes Truly Free’s culture so unique, the leadership practices that drive retention, and why hiring "like-hearted" people is at the core of inclusion. SG also shares her own powerful career journey from customer service to the C-suite, offering candid reflections on imposter syndrome, mentorship, and the importance of being given room to fail—and grow.

This episode is sponsored by Paradigm. 📥 Download their latest report 'The State of Culture and Inclusion', which reveals how companies are navigating the current climate and driving real progress in 2025 → https://bit.ly/3Q2C6DB

Connect with Sara Gene "SG" Houtman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-gene/

Learn more about Truly Free: https://trulyfree.com/

👉 Subscribe to All Inclusive : https://tinyurl.com/allinclusivepodcast
👩🏾 Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-rainey-/


Episode Highlights

00:00 - Introduction

01:35 - SG’s journey from stay-at-home mom to CPO

04:48 - Overcoming imposter syndrome and building confidence

10:35 - The role of mentorship and honest feedback

15:40 - What makes Truly Free’s culture inclusive

20:32 - Supporting working moms and women into leadership

29:00 - Advice for building truly inclusive workplaces