How to Scale a Company Without Breaking Your Culture
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In this insightful episode of the MaxBet Podcast, host Emily Haruko sits down with Martina Ackerlund, CEO and founder of Elevated Edge, to explore the delicate balance of scaling a company while preserving its culture. Martina, with over two decades of experience in banking, finance, marketing, and the gaming industry, shares her philosophy that leadership is fundamentally about people—not just performance. She emphasizes that sustainable growth requires leaders to prioritize their well-being, model healthy work-life boundaries, and foster cultures where respect and kindness are non-negotiable. A central theme is the danger of 'talented assholes'—high-performing individuals who destroy team morale—and the importance of hiring for potential over past performance. Martina also discusses her new six-week training program designed to empower women to thrive both professionally and personally, advocating for a holistic approach to success. The conversation blends personal anecdotes with actionable leadership insights, culminating in a powerful message: culture isn’t built by HR or consultants—it’s walked by the founder and lived by every leader in the organization.
Culture starts at the top—founders must walk the talk to sustain a healthy, thriving organization.
Hire for potential, not just performance; adaptability and character matter more than past results.
High performers who destroy culture can do more damage than multiple underperformers combined.
Work-life balance is achievable through intentional, daily choices—not a one-time fix.
Kindness and respect are non-negotiable, even during tough decisions like layoffs.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Introduction & First Impressions
Host Emily Haruko welcomes Martina Ackerlund to the MaxBet Podcast in Barcelona, reflecting on their prior connection at Next and expressing excitement for a deep dive into leadership and culture. The chemistry between them sets a warm, authentic tone.
The People-First Philosophy
“It's all about the people. When I'm a leader, how do I make my team go in the same direction where I want them to go? How do we achieve that together?”
The Foundation: Assessment & Vision
Martina outlines her consulting process: starting with an assessment of the organization’s current state and future goals through conversations with key stakeholders. This foundation enables a collaborative roadmap for cultural evolution.
Leadership & Well-Being: The Deathbed Regret
“One of the most common things that people regret on their deathbed is working too much, not prioritizing the people that they love.”
The Power of Relationships & Kindness
“People don’t remember what you did, but they remember how you made them feel.”
“One of the most common things that people regret on their deathbed is working too much, not prioritizing the people that they love.”
“People don’t remember what you did, but they remember how you made them feel.”
“They don’t want to prioritize between being successful at work and successful in life. They want it all in a healthy and balanced way.”
Host
Guest
Martina Ackerlund
person
Emily Haruko
person
Elevated Edge
organization
Gaming Industry
other
Banking and Finance
other
Lina Petri
person
Lassen Mertug
person
ICE Conference
other
Next Conference
other
Energy Sector
other
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