How John Erban Creates Culture Where People Thrive

This week’s episode of Inside Octus: People in Focus features John Erban, Chief People Officer at Octus. John takes us inside his journey from a creative, opera-loving kid in Massachusetts to a senior leader who guides culture in a high growth, global company. He shares how resilience, curiosity, and a people-first mindset have shaped his career, and offers a candid look at the experiences, both personal and professional, that define how he leads today.

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A Creative Childhood and a Growing Curiosity for People

John’s love for creativity started early. As a child, he was captivated by the opera “The Magic Flute,” often dressing up as the Queen of the Night and performing for an imaginary audience. This imaginative streak was paired with a deep curiosity about people. During middle school, difficult experiences with bullying heightened his awareness of the world around him, sharpening his ability to read a room. He now calls this skill his leadership superpower.

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Living with MS and Moving at Pace

The conversation shifts to a turning point in John’s life: his diagnosis with multiple sclerosis at just 18 years old. While the condition has remained relatively stable, it shaped how he views time, energy, and priorities. John explains that the diagnosis pushed him to move quickly in his career, focus on what truly matters, and avoid getting caught up in the small stuff. These lessons continue to guide his leadership, fueling both resilience and empathy.

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Redefining What Culture Really Means

From there, the discussion moves into John’s philosophy on workplace culture. For him, culture is not about perks or slogans but the reality of how work gets done. When he joined Octus, the company was still in start-up mode, and he focused on building foundational systems and processes. As Octus has grown, he has shifted his work toward connecting insights across the business, spotting patterns, and shaping long-term strategy.

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Leadership, Relationships and Life Outside the Office

The conversation then turns to the personal side of leadership. John values trusted relationships at the executive level and works to balance approachability with influence. He also understands that leadership can be a lonely role, and having close, reliable partners at the top makes a difference.

Away from work, he recharges in New York City with his husband and their dog, finding joy in the city’s energy, great food, and the grounding pull of home life. He also shares a morning ritual that fuels his day: watching videos of people overcoming challenges, a simple practice that reminds him of what is possible and inspires him.

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Listen to the episode

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Produced and edited by Emmy Award–winning producer Tanya Hubbard
A production of the Octus Podcast Network