How did Netflix build such a culture? It started with an anything-but-ordinary approach-one that required a little bit of creativity, a lot of introspection, and a willingness to break some of the rules. She encouraged leaders to shed this mindset and instead focus on cultivating the fresh thinking and flexibility needed to succeed today.Īt Netflix, CEO Reed Hastings recognized that thriving in a competitive and rapidly-changing business environment requires high-performing talent and a strong organizational culture-one that offers employees freedom in exchange for innovation. In her work with Netflix, Erin discovered that a vast majority of organizations operate with an “industrial era hangover,” a mindset in which they’re obsessed with error elimination and replicability. This type of success doesn’t come easily, especially today, as many organizations are challenged to sustain relevance and thrive in an increasingly turbulent environment.
Today, the company produces award-winning content for more than 167 million subscribers across 190 countries. In the span of just 15 years, Netflix grew from a struggling mail-order DVD company to a global giant in the entertainment industry. At the Oslo Business Forum, Erin revealed what leaders can learn from Netflix about building an organizational culture that breeds innovation and flexibility. In No Rules Rules, Erin and Reed took a look inside the unconventional culture at Netflix and how that culture fueled the company’s success. She is especially well-known for co-authoring the book No Rules Rules with Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix.
Her work specializes in cross-cultural management, organizational culture, and multi-cultural leadership. Erin Meyer is a bestselling author, speaker, and professor at INSEAD, one of the world’s leading and largest graduate business schools.