Unmuted Podcast | Episode 44
Topic: From Startup to Enterprise: Preserving Culture Amid Acquisition
Host: Jeff Waldman
Guest: Shawna Stewart
Startups thrive on a strong, close-knit culture, but what happens when that startup is acquired by a massive global enterprise? Can its original identity survive? In this episode of Unmuted, Jeff Waldman sits down with Shawna Stewart to explore the challenges and strategies of maintaining company culture after an acquisition.
🔹 Key Topics Covered:
✅ How to preserve startup culture in a 70,000-person enterprise
✅ Ensuring employees stay connected to the original mission and values
✅ Leadership influence in a much larger corporate environment
✅ Lessons learned and advice for HR leaders navigating acquisitions
Shawna shares firsthand insights from her company’s journey, revealing what worked, what didn’t, and how leaders can navigate the complexities of scale without losing their identity. Whether you're a startup founder, HR leader, or simply curious about the impact of acquisitions on workplace culture, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.
#podcast #hr #humanresources #WorkplaceCulture #leadership #startup #tech #technology #acquisition
About Shawna Stewart
Shawna Stewart is a strategic People & Operations leader recognized for her innovative approach to blending people strategy with business operations. Initiatives like Recognition BINGO and Innovation Fridays under her guidance have not only revitalized workplace culture but also significantly boosted operational effectiveness and financial performance. Shawna has played a pivotal role in 2 successful startup acquisitions and her work has gained notice from Forbes, Great Place to Work Canada, The HR Awards and more. Shawna leverages her background in psychology to lead in organizational design and behaviour, shaping future standards in tech HR. She has recently been nominated for DMZ's Women of the Year 2025, affirming her impact across the tech landscape.
Connect with Shawna on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawna-stewart-73230a127/.
About ScaleHR:
The Unmuted Podcast is powered by ScaleHR (https://goscalehr.com/), a rapidly growing company supporting emerging HR, Recruitment, and Work Tech startups and SMBs with brand awareness and lead generation.
Our proprietary solution, Catalyst, blends content strategy, influencer marketing, and omnichannel distribution to help brands cut through the noise.
📩 Connect with ScaleHR: https://www.goscalehr.com/
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