294. Product Managing Game Studio Culture with Seth Sivak (ex-World of Warcraft Boston Studio Head)

Deconstructor of Fun

Mishka Katkoff interviews Seth Sivak as they discuss startup culture, leadership, company values, product market fit, cultural onboarding, adaptive culture, game industry, entrepreneurship, team dynamics, and management.

They discuss the importance of company culture, how it can be shaped and influenced, and the challenges of maintaining a healthy culture as a startup scales.

Seth shares insights on cultural onboarding, the adaptability of culture, and the lessons learned from his experiences in the gaming industry. The conversation emphasizes the need for leaders to be intentional about culture and to regularly assess its impact on team dynamics and overall success.

Seth's newsletter: https://sethsivak.substack.com/

02:44Navigating Layoffs and Founding Proletariat

05:10The Importance of Culture in Startups

07:39Defining and Measuring Culture

11:38The Role of Leadership in Shaping Culture

14:21Cultural Tools and Their Impact

18:47Iterating on Culture as a Product

21:16Conclusion and Key Takeaways

26:52Navigating Work-Life Balance in Startups

29:43Cultural Recognition and Team Dynamics

34:03Defining Good vs. Bad Company Culture

38:10The Challenges of Setting Cultural Boundaries

42:25Navigating Social Issues and Company Culture

46:51Onboarding and Cultural Integration in Growing Teams

49:40Cultural Onboarding and Integration

51:30The Art of Copying Culture

53:48Learning from Successful Cultures

58:01Adaptive Culture vs. Rigid Culture

01:07:03Evolving Beliefs About Culture

01:08:03The Meaning Behind Proletariat's Name