--- title: "Why Time Inc. Gave Its Employees Culture Cards" id: "32076" type: "post" slug: "why-time-inc-gave-its-employees-culture-cards" published_at: "2016-02-10T20:43:21+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T16:48:42+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/02/10/why-time-inc-gave-its-employees-culture-cards/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/02/10/why-time-inc-gave-its-employees-culture-cards.md" excerpt: "Time Inc. puts a unique spin on solving the common problem of unifying an organization by handing out “culture cards.”" taxonomy_category: - "Marketing / Communications" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "company culture" - "corporate communication" - "employee engagement" - "Leadership" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "C-Level" - "Director" - "Executive Team" - "Manager" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Why Time Inc. Gave Its Employees Culture Cards Big organizations, filled to the brim with employees working on numerous different teams and spread across offices in different states, regions, or countries, can be tough to keep together. And fostering a unified culture is even more difficult, something that global publisher Time Inc. is well aware of. That’s why the company reached back to its print publishing roots to create so-called “culture cards.” Given to all employees in September, [the cards include Time Inc.’s brand manifesto (opens in a new tab)](http://gaia.adage.com/images/bin/image/x-large/full_cards.jpg?1455041418) , mission, heritage, and expected behaviors, such as teamwork, motivation, and innovation. “It’s time to open up the possibilities, open up the connections, and open up the experience with one of the world’s most influential media networks,” the card reads. The cards were inspired by a visit from former Ford Motor Company CEO Alan Mulally, who had executed the same plan while leading the automaker, [a Time Inc. spokesperson told Ad Age. (opens in a new tab)](http://adage.com/article/media/time-embraces-print-passes-culture-cards/302517/) It goes without saying that cards don’t create a culture by themselves, but they’re an original take on the traditional mission statement hanging listlessly in the break room or the one-sheeter bundled with onboarding documents many organizations opt for. ### App of the Day [A new app has topped Product Hunt’s tech rankings (opens in a new tab)](https://www.producthunt.com/tech/anchor-4) , and it’s definitely worth a look for associations dabbling in expanding with the possibilities of audio content. Named [Anchor (opens in a new tab)](https://anchor.fm/) , the app allows for speedy recording and sharing of quick audio clips. ### Other Good Reads **Ask questions that result in the best hires.** San Francisco State University management professor John Sullivan offers [seven tips for making great hires in his latest contribution to the Harvard Business Review (opens in a new tab)](https://hbr.org/2016/02/7-rules-for-job-interview-questions-that-result-in-great-hires) . **Is sitting the new smoking?** For some office designers, the comparison isn’t too ridiculous, as CPA consultant Jim Boomer [says in this post on next-generation offices (opens in a new tab)](http://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/article/12155423/the-next-generation-office) , written for *CPA Practice Advisor*. **Has your association been avoiding Pinterest?** [Incline Marketing has a few tips that could persuade you to reverse course (opens in a new tab)](http://inclinemarketingservices.com/2016/02/08/three-more-ways-to-use-pinterest-as-an-association/) or bolster your presence on the social network. (amanaimagesRF/ThinkStock) [Morgan Little](https://associationsnow.com/author/morgan-little/) Morgan Little is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/morgan-little/) Tags: [#company culture](https://associationsnow.com/tag/company-culture/) [#corporate communication](https://associationsnow.com/tag/corporate-communication/) [#employee engagement](https://associationsnow.com/tag/employee-engagement/) [#Leadership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/leadership/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoInvesting in Well-being: The Strategic Advantage of Mental Health Support in the WorkplaceJune 23, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/06/23/investing-in-well-being-the-strategic-advantage-of-mental-health-support-in-the-workplace/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: More Than Marketing: The Power of Strategic CommunicationsJuly 30, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/07/30/associations-now-presents-more-than-marketing-the-power-of-strategic-communications/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Why Slower Marketing Can Drive Stronger Member Engagement (Episode 27)June 25, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/06/25/associations-now-presents-why-slower-marketing-can-drive-stronger-member-engagement-episode-27/) - [TemplateMembers onlyMember Onboarding ToolkitNovember 5, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/11/05/member-onboarding-toolkit/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2016%2F02%2F10%2Fwhy-time-inc-gave-its-employees-culture-cards%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !