From Worst to First

James Ferguson, Corporate Director of Culture at Wurzak Hotel Group, shares an inspiring transformation story at PeopleFirst Summit ’25. In “From Worst to First,” James recounts how his organisation turned cultural challenges into strengths, building a workplace worth celebrating. He highlights the key practices that reshaped employee experience: listening deeply, aligning leadership behaviours with values, and recognising culture as a competitive advantage in hospitality. James’s story proves that no matter how tough the starting point, people-first leadership and intentional action can ignite meaningful change. For leaders facing cultural or performance setbacks, this session offers practical hope and actionable lessons. Watch on-demand to discover how Wurzak Hotel Group’s culture went from a liability to a strength — and how you can drive a similar transformation in your own organisation.