https://at-the-den.io/ Conversations with the people who run professional services firms — how they grow, hire, and keep their teams. en Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT https://at-the-den.io/episodes/jenny-dannstedt-designing-culture-with-kindness-and-feedback https://at-the-den.io/episodes/jenny-dannstedt-designing-culture-with-kindness-and-feedback Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Jenny Dannstedt discusses building empathetic feedback cultures and using strategic foresight inside design consultancies. She explains how Antrop runs internal horizon scanning to prepare for industry changes, test new service offerings, and address shifting recruitment needs. Pairing feedback culture with empathy and kindness Using tailored exercises to build psychological safety Applying strategic foresight to anticipate industry shifts Testing provocative scenarios through internal focus projects Using physical experiences to drive emotional engagement Adapting recruitment and education for junior designers https://at-the-den.io/episodes/rachel-donnat-shaping-the-next-generation-of-design-talent https://at-the-den.io/episodes/rachel-donnat-shaping-the-next-generation-of-design-talent Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Rachel Donnat discusses her transition from agency design lead to design educator and program manager at Gobelins school of design. She details the changing expectations for junior hires, criticisms of standard hiring tests, and the value of bringing apprentices into design teams. Transitioning from agency work to design education Evolving agency expectations for entry design roles Replacing artificial hiring tests with work reviews Impact of senior candidates on junior hiring Mentoring junior designers benefits senior leadership Overcoming management challenges when scaling agencies Supporting long term growth in design hires https://at-the-den.io/episodes/elena-o-donnell-growing-people-through-authentic-leadership https://at-the-den.io/episodes/elena-o-donnell-growing-people-through-authentic-leadership Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Elena O'Donnell discusses her career progression from software developer to executive delivery leader in digital advertising agencies. She explains how agency leaders can develop talent, transition technical experts into management and foster transparent communication. Moving from development to project management The strategic evolution of agency delivery Key ingredients for successful project teams Driving career growth through curiosity Transitioning from executing work to leading Creating a constructive feedback environment Building an authentic leadership style https://at-the-den.io/episodes/daria-ryazanova-designing-through-uncertainty-and-change https://at-the-den.io/episodes/daria-ryazanova-designing-through-uncertainty-and-change Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Daria Ryazanova discusses her career transition from internal communications at McKinsey to UX design and product management consulting in France. She compares working inside an agency design studio with client consulting, highlighting evolving designer roles, structured employee management, and AI integration. Moving countries and pivoting into design Evolving tools expand the designer role Agency studio delivery versus consulting immersion Structured feedback accelerates professional growth Product team roles blur with AI Tailoring change pace to organisational culture https://at-the-den.io/episodes/s1e8-callum-healey-helping-agencies-win-with-ai https://at-the-den.io/episodes/s1e8-callum-healey-helping-agencies-win-with-ai Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Callum Healey discusses how agencies can safely and effectively embed artificial intelligence into their operations. He explains the necessity of centralising context, establishing strict data governance, and automating manual workflows. Psychology principles apply to artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence accelerates underlying agency frameworks Domain expertise dictates output quality Proper governance prevents sensitive data leaks Automating time tracking protects profit margins Comprehensive context builds effective custom systems Storing company context future-proofs operations https://at-the-den.io/episodes/s1e7-karn-malhotra-founder-personal-brand-as-agency-mirror https://at-the-den.io/episodes/s1e7-karn-malhotra-founder-personal-brand-as-agency-mirror Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Karn Malhotra shares his career journey from running a B2B branding agency to founding Humanly Brands. He explains how agency leaders can build structured personal narratives to attract clients and align company culture. Moving from agency leadership to personal branding Using personal narrative to conserve founder energy Balancing structure with authentic self expression Differentiating founder brands from company identity Aligning internal operations with external positioning Dictating original ideas to avoid generic content https://at-the-den.io/episodes/s1e6-stefan-moritz-taking-bold-moves-to-grow-into https://at-the-den.io/episodes/s1e6-stefan-moritz-taking-bold-moves-to-grow-into Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Stefan Moritz shares his career trajectory from studying service design across Europe to leading practices at Ergonomy Design and McKinsey. He discusses founding the Doodle Time Institute, strategies for building agency culture, and how leaders can navigate technological disruption. Early career and service design trajectory Building practice at Ergonomy Design and McKinsey Launching the Doodle Time Institute Fostering culture through clear agency ambition Navigating market changes and artificial intelligence Designing career paths and workplace certainty https://at-the-den.io/episodes/s1e5-denis-frolov-employer-branding-as-a-long-term-game https://at-the-den.io/episodes/s1e5-denis-frolov-employer-branding-as-a-long-term-game Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Pauline Bertry interviews Denis Frolov, a former colleague whose broader career journey she wants to learn more about. The conversation opens with greetings and a reflection on their past professional connection. Welcome to At The Den Initial exchange and greetings Past professional connection Exploring career backgrounds Focus on the guest's journey https://at-the-den.io/episodes/s1e4-olesia-skibinska-growing-people-in-a-world-without-clear-paths https://at-the-den.io/episodes/s1e4-olesia-skibinska-growing-people-in-a-world-without-clear-paths Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Olesia Skibinska discusses how learning and professional development are evolving within boutique consultancies as generative artificial intelligence and market volatility alter required skills. She outlines practical approaches to staff retention, internal growth frameworks, and personal responsibility in seeking workplace feedback. Soft skills are becoming more prominent Values and autonomy foster long tenure Individuals must own their professional growth AI shifts focus toward full-stack builders Seeking feedback is an individual responsibility Feedback requires practice and proper timing https://at-the-den.io/episodes/s1e1-gareth-healey-building-agency-culture-to-stand-out https://at-the-den.io/episodes/s1e1-gareth-healey-building-agency-culture-to-stand-out Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Gareth Healey discusses his experience scaling a marketing agency from a family-run business to 175 employees and his current work advising agency leaders. The conversation focuses on transitioning leadership styles, building systems to support growth, and integrating AI while developing junior talent. Evolving culture after a management buyout Moving beyond founder-centric agency leadership Scaling leadership teams and aligned culture Scaling through operational systems and processes Building retention through structured accountability Training junior talent alongside automation https://at-the-den.io/episodes/s1e2-todd-zerger-building-culture-with-intent https://at-the-den.io/episodes/s1e2-todd-zerger-building-culture-with-intent Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Todd Zerger discusses how creative leaders can integrate artificial intelligence into agency workflows without sacrificing human collaboration. He outlines strategies for managing remote design teams, encouraging generalist problem solving, and allowing team culture to emerge through intentional rituals. Processing technology through personal creative projects Integrating artificial intelligence into agency workflows Giving time savings back to human collaboration Dealing with chaos beyond standardized design systems Supporting individual needs within diverse creative teams Cultivating emergent culture through informal team rituals https://at-the-den.io/episodes/s1e3-pedro-tolipan-driving-innovation-from-within https://at-the-den.io/episodes/s1e3-pedro-tolipan-driving-innovation-from-within Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Pedro Tolipan discusses his transition from design leadership roles in London and Madrid to running FutureLab, an internal innovation engine in Baku, Azerbaijan. He details the practical challenges of building local team capabilities, aligning corporate partners, and using AI agents to drive human-centric design across a large holding company. Balancing agency sprints with corporate marathons Recruiting for mindset in emerging markets Overcoming delivery delays with corporate partners Structuring leadership to bridge team gaps Developing autonomous AI research platforms Designing services for broader national demographics