CNBM's Wang Bing: Genuine Corporate Culture is Not Slogans on Walls but Employees' Conscious Behavior

At the "2025 China Entrepreneur Influence Annual Conference" held in Beijing from December 5 to 7, Wang Bing, Executive Director and Vice President of CNBM (中国建材), delivered a speech on corporate culture and governance.

Wang emphasized that culture encompasses mission, vision, and values—not just as corporate slogans but as integral aspects of governance, behavioral norms, and consistency between words and actions. It represents a company's soft power and competitiveness.

He drew parallels to popular TV dramas like *The潜伏 (Lurking)* and *The甄嬛传 (Empresses in the Palace)*, noting their enduring appeal stems from their portrayal of office politics, which significantly impacts every organization. In his view, corporate strategy is paramount, requiring leaders to set direction, build teams, and guide execution—but without a strong culture, these efforts will fail.

Wang highlighted his interest in studying corporate failures, pointing out that even renowned companies collapse when "their culture deteriorates." True culture, he argued, is shaped by employees' daily behaviors—unwritten rules, actual practices, office dynamics, and leadership conduct—rather than formal statements or wall posters.

He posed a critical question: "Which is more important—the enterprise or its culture?"

Additionally, Wang explored why intelligent, successful individuals often make glaringly poor decisions. Historical examples show that accomplished figures repeat basic mistakes because they abandon the habits that initially brought them success.

During annual recruitment, Wang shares four guiding principles with new hires: 1. Does this align with common sense? 2. Is it logically sound? 3. Can we practice empathy? 4. Have we thoroughly projected outcomes? Adhering to these, he claims, prevents 80% of errors.

The core challenge for employees and executives alike, Wang stressed, lies in two words: impartiality and selflessness. Throughout history—from feudal dynasties to modern corporations—bias and self-interest inevitably lead to flawed decisions.

In conclusion, Wang underscored culture's profound influence on strategy. A misguided culture distorts investments, risk assessments, talent decisions, and performance evaluations—ultimately derailing the entire enterprise.