This chapter defines the purpose of the book as drawing together research evidence with examples of compassionate leadership to inspire maternity and neonatal staff and students to take the first steps towards changing negative cultures. This chapter explains that examples of how this can be achieved are provided through examples of culture change via case studies and vignettes given by inspirational leaders who have successfully changed their workplace culture. This chapter explains that as the writing of the book progressed, essential factors emerged, believed crucial to achieving safe, positive, respectful maternity and neonatal cultures. These factors were identified as ‘golden threads of change’ and are respectful relationships, inclusion, developing a coaching mindset, values-based education, models of care, compassionate leadership and psychological safety. It became clear that the ‘golden threads’ are interlinked and, when woven together, they are transformational in changing negative, disrespectful cultures into positive, respectful ones.