How do you scale a company while staying true to your vision? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis sits down with Fredrik Thomassen, founder and CEO of Superside, to discuss his journey in building a global AI-powered creative services platform.

Fredrik shares how he learned to think for himself as a leader, the challenges of rapid adaptation, and the impact of global talent on the creative industry. He also reflects on AI’s role in shaping the future of professional services and his belief in continuous personal development as a CEO.

Takeaways:

• Thinking for Yourself in Leadership: Early in his career, Fredrik struggled with following conventional wisdom before realizing that not all frameworks work for every company. He shares how Superside abandoned OKRs in favor of a problem-solving approach that fosters real alignment and innovation.
• Evolving the Business Model: Superside has transformed multiple times, from a lean startup using chat-based task management to a full-scale AI-powered creative services company. Fredrik shares how adaptability has been key to staying ahead in a rapidly changing industry.
• The Role of AI in Creative Services: AI is fundamentally reshaping the creative industry, from automating repetitive tasks to enhancing high-level creative strategy. Fredrik discusses Superside’s vision to integrate AI seamlessly into design workflows without replacing human creativity.
• Leveraging Global Talent: Superside connects top creative talent from cities like Buenos Aires and Cape Town with leading enterprise clients. Fredrik explains why access to global talent is the real game-changer for creative work.
• Leading Through Crisis: COVID-19 forced Superside into “wartime mode” as they lost nearly 40% of their customers overnight. Fredrik shares how his team’s ability to pivot quickly turned a dire situation into an opportunity for long-term growth.
• Personal Growth as a CEO: Fredrik recently embraced executive coaching and personal development, realizing that great leadership requires constant improvement. He reflects on how acknowledging his weaknesses has made him a more effective leader.

Quote of the Show:

• “Cultivate joy and excitement about the future possibilities as the antidote to all your fear and worry about the things that can go wrong.” - Fredrik Thomassen

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredrikthomassen/
• Twitter: https://x.com/f_thomassen
• Website: https://www.superside.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast 

#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Superside

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:04 What You’d Do Again As CEO

10:19 The Evolution of Superside

20:42 Global Talent and Creative Hubs

24:52 AI's Role in the Creative Market

30:53 Running a Business from Oslo

37:43 The Impact of COVID-19 on Superside

51:27 Balancing Work and Family Life

55:08 Advice to Younger Self

1:00:20 Outro