The Messy Middle Matters podcast shines a much-needed spotlight on the workplace’s unsung heroes—the ones who work in, survive in, and even thrive in the “messy middle.”
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The Messy Middle Matters podcast shines a much-needed spotlight on the workplace’s unsung heroes—the ones who work in, survive in, and even thrive in the “messy middle.”
Ep 38: Scaling Culture While Everything’s in Motion (w/ Derek Kastner)
The Messy Middle Matters
31 minutes
6 days ago
Ep 38: Scaling Culture While Everything’s in Motion (w/ Derek Kastner)
What does it take to build—and protect—culture when your team and community are growing faster than your playbook? In this episode, Indra talks with Derek Kastner, Head of Experience at Fabrik, about what it really means to nurture community and connection in a rapidly scaling organization.
From being one of Fabrik’s first three employees to helping onboard its growing team and shape the member experience, Derek shares candid lessons about balancing perfectionism with presence, co-creating culture with members, and learning to set boundaries while staying deeply human. Together, they explore the tension between structure and spontaneity, the invisible “glue work” that holds communities together, and how transparency, trust, and a little messiness can make something truly special.
Useful Links:
Derek on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekkastner/
Indra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/indrak/
The Messy Middle Matters Merch: messymiddlemerch.com
The Messy Middle Matters Glossary: messymiddlematters.com/glossary
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The Messy Middle Matters
The Messy Middle Matters podcast shines a much-needed spotlight on the workplace’s unsung heroes—the ones who work in, survive in, and even thrive in the “messy middle.”
