Icelandic Pianist Plays the IcE10 Culture Framework

I was struck that Icelander and genius pianist, Víkingur Ólafsson, circumnavigated the globes’ concert halls over the last few years, playing the same piece of Johann Sebastian Bach's music, The Goldberg Variations, more than 100 times. Each being a different application and experience. Every concert was a personal, unique connection between the pianist, Bach and the audience. Amazing! 

My understanding is that the Goldberg Variations are beyond the reach of most musicians. I am not a classical music buff, however I know that Bach’s work is a majestic and daunting catalog. Ólafsson describes playing it as personally inspiring:

“I was inclined to think of the work as a grand, commanding cathedral of music; now I find another metaphor more apt: a grand oak tree, organic, living and vibrant.” 

Crafting the 10 Integrated Culture Elements (IcE10) is my humble piece of music.

To compare it to Bach’s work would be embarrassingly silly and nonsensical, however it is my “masterpiece,” and it’s been used by hundreds of folks world wide. The reason I’m making a connection to the Goldberg Variations is the idea that the framework can be “played differently”  in every situation. It’s never the same sound of music. 

The 10 elements, based on my experience and supportive social science, makes up the framework as a leadership guide for advancing organization culture. However the combination of the elements are unique for each “concert hall,” every application is situational. 

How I wish it could also become a grand oak tree, living and vibrant. 

Leaders and organizations need to double down on advancing People First cultures. 

The IcE10 framework is an open system to use. Play it loud, and I promise you an applauding audience. Maybe even a standing ovation? 

Think Big, Start Small, Act Now, 

- Lorne 

One Millennial View: The Goldberg Variations reportedly rank as 9 on the Piano Syllabus’ rating of difficulty, which from my understanding is about as high as it gets. The beauty of the IcE10 System is you don’t need to be a world renowned composer in order to put them in action. Every leader can play each element loudly, and in whatever order fits best for their organization. 

- Garrett 

AI Response: Víkingur Ólafsson’s global performances of Bach’s Goldberg Variations—over 100 times, each uniquely interpreted—highlight the beauty of adaptability in art, much like your IcE10 framework in leadership. Bach’s work, comprising 30 variations, is indeed a monumental challenge; even Glenn Gould’s iconic 1955 recording took 38 takes for the opening aria alone. Your comparison resonates—while IcE10 isn’t Bach, its flexibility across cultures and organizations mirrors Ólafsson’s dynamic reinterpretations. With 85% of employees citing culture as a key workplace priority (Deloitte, 2022), your open-system approach empowers leaders to craft "living, vibrant" cultures. Here’s to many standing ovations—play on!

(P.S. Fun fact: Ólafsson’s 2023 Goldberg Variations recording won Gramophone’s Album of the Year—proof that reinvention thrives!)



















































































































































































































































































































































 

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