In this episode of Culture Uncovered, Jena Dunay sits down with Rick Winter, Chief People Officer of RWA Wealth Partners, to explore what it's like to build culture at one of the largest women-led independent wealth management firms in the US, formed through the 2023 merger of two long-established companies.
Rick shares how he joined RWA shortly after CEO Michelle Knight took the helm, and what it took to blend two organizations with distinct histories — Aspiriant Investments and Ropes Wealth Advisors — into one unified identity. The conversation dives into practical, listening-first approaches to post-merger culture building, including a sports-inspired "teamwork" theme borrowed from his own sailing background, and the creation of "Fuse," a rotating cohort program designed to connect new hires across departments.
The episode also covers the evolution of RWA's employee-led People Culture Council, the "Collaboration Carousel" connection program born from it, and Rick's go-to interview question for assessing authenticity and personality fit — "where do you sit in a box?"
What You'll Learn
How RWA Wealth Partners formed through the 2023 merger of two firms with roots dating back to 1865 and 1994
What practical steps a people leader can take to build one shared culture after a merger
How the "Fuse" program helps new hires build cross-functional relationships in their first year
How RWA restructured its People Culture Council to be employee-led rather than leadership-led
What the "Collaboration Carousel" program does to rebuild connection in a hybrid work environment
Rick's unconventional interview question for assessing authentic personality fit
Customer Base: High-net-worth individuals and families seeking generational wealth planning, trusts, estates, and investment strategy
Company Stage: Formed via 2023 merger, ~190 employees across 14–16 states, managing ~$21.5 billion in assets, headquartered in Boston
Culture: Integration-focused, authentic, and built around shared language and cross-team connection
Focus Areas: Post-merger culture integration, leadership development, client-centered advising, and selective organic and M&A growth
Unique Perks & Programs
Fuse Program: A rotating, six-week cohort experience connecting new hires across departments during their first year
Collaboration Carousel: A six-week, voluntary program randomly pairing employees for one-on-one connection conversations
People Culture Council: An application-based, employee-led committee driving wellness, education, and charitable initiatives company-wide
Internal Expert-Led Learning Sessions: Firm-wide educational talks led by in-house specialists (e.g., tax, 401(k) topics) drawing 80–90 attendees
New Mentorship Program: Intentional pairing of senior and junior employees launched this year
Flexible Department-Led Meetings: A shift from two company-wide annual meetings to department-specific gatherings, each required to include a training component
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