April 21, 2025

From Four to Forty: Building CRMK’s Team and Culture with CEO, Kathrine Hogseth

36 minutes

#7. Kathrine Hogseth is the CEO of CRM-Konsulterna (CRMK), a Swedish Microsoft partner business that she has led for 10 years. Kathrine has a master’s in electrical engineer and held several roles in telecommunications before achieving her MBA and then venturing into the technology industry. Today, CRM-K is one of the most highly regarded business applications partners in Sweden with a team of 40 people that has recently expanded into Germany.

KEY LESSONS

Building teams through values & genuine connection. Kathrine shares why “competence, honesty, and win-win” aren’t just words on a wall, but the living foundation of CRMK’s culture. She reveals how every new hire goes through a values analysis—and how the team revisits those values every two years to ensure they still reflect who they are.
Weekly company days for learning & belonging. Forget monthly check-ins—CRMK brings their people together every single Friday. Over breakfast, the team shares customer wins, lessons learned and actively fosters their culture. Kathrine credits this consistent connection as crucial to consultant growth and team happiness.
Leading with empathy & flexibility. Kathrine discusses the importance of supporting team members through different life seasons, providing space when needed, and leading transparently as a leader—showing up authentically, even when life gets tough.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 People are people: Understanding individual growth and challenges in consulting

00:33 Introduction to Practice Leading and guest Kathrine Hogseth

01:34 Kathrine’s background and CRMK’s journey

02:48 What it’s like to lead a business for over ten years

05:09 The role and setup of an advisory board in a Microsoft partner business

06:45 Working with a spouse in business leadership

08:49 Letting people grow and challenges in supporting team development

13:06 Company and personal values: How they shape CRM-Konsulterna

14:53 Weekly company meetings and fostering a learning culture

17:05 Remote work, flexibility, and bringing teams together in the office

19:56 International expansion: Opening offices in Germany and southern Sweden

23:40 Specialization, industry focus, and identifying win-win client relationships

29:11 Meeting rhythms, one-on-ones, and team dynamics at CRM-Konsulterna

31:43 The benefit and challenge of having multiple MVPs in a small business

RESOURCES

Kathrine Hogseth on LinkedIn
CRMK on LinkedIn
CRMK website

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By Neil Benson

April 21, 2025

From Four to Forty: Building CRMK’s Team and Culture with CEO, Kathrine Hogseth

36 minutes

KEY LESSONS

Building teams through values & genuine connection. Kathrine shares why “competence, honesty, and win-win” aren’t just words on a wall, but the living foundation of CRMK’s culture. She reveals how every new hire goes through a values analysis—and how the team revisits those values every two years to ensure they still reflect who they are.
Weekly company days for learning & belonging. Forget monthly check-ins—CRMK brings their people together every single Friday. Over breakfast, the team shares customer wins, lessons learned and actively fosters their culture. Kathrine credits this consistent connection as crucial to consultant growth and team happiness.
Leading with empathy & flexibility. Kathrine discusses the importance of supporting team members through different life seasons, providing space when needed, and leading transparently as a leader—showing up authentically, even when life gets tough.