ActioGlobal® and Schibsted Marketplaces Finland partner to introduce PEAK® as an evolving way of working that continuously refines the way SMF translates strategy into priorities, empowers self-organized teams, synchronizes around outcomes and enables servant leadership.
Jussi Lystimäki
CEO, Nordic Marketplaces Finland at Schibsted
David Gill
CPO Nordic Marketplaces Finland at Schibsted
To get started, can you please tell our audience what Schibsted does?
with our news destinations, marketplaces and other loved digital services. We are responsible for the Finnish business, operating leading marketplaces for general merchandise, mobility, real estate and jobs under the brands Tori & Oikotie. We empower Finnish people to make smarter decisions whether looking for a new home, a career move, buying a car or then making their money reach further for their hobbies for example.
Another “What”: What was it that attracted you to our PEAK® Way of Working and to bring it to life in Schibsted Marketplaces Finland?
We are firm believers of the power and impact of learning organizations. Of inspiring and empowering teams with a strong company purpose, user centricity and high paced learning culture.
Through previous collaborations with ActioGlobal® we had seen how
When setting up the new Finnish organization, joining 20+ cross-functional teams onto a shared journey, PEAK® and ActioGlobal®´s coaching seemed like a very suitable solution to the needs of the leadership team.
From your point of view, what is the most important feature of PEAK®?
It offers leadership teams to drive strategic priorities and clear focus based on value creating outcomes, the OKRs. There is a clear and frequent process to align and re-align teams to drive growth across the company especially in a dynamic and changing market. It gives a structured way to learn and apply agile principles in the organization, not only in Product and Tech.
The methodology helps ace the proven team leadership and product development best practices in a context that can create most value and growth for the company. And staying true to its agile roots, PEAK® has a healthy emphasis on continuous iteration: the journey has a well-structured starting point, but as time goes the organization will learn to iterate on their unique PEAK® implementation (ideally to the point when it goes from being “PEAK®” to “our way of doing things”).
When you pass this two year journey in review, what was the most significant moment?
It is a lot about seeing them share learnings and impactful solutions that better serve the needs of our users and customers. Following their growth trajectory and the positive impact it has on both their own motivation and our business makes all the hard work worthwhile.
Tell us, what personal learnings and experiences do you take from this transformation?
We wonder whether your understanding of Leadership has changed while climbing the PEAK®?
It has cemented our previous belief that good leadership is one of empowerment: to provide
Without this definition and expectation of leadership in an organization, a successful agile transformation is impossible. These are coming from a Servant Leadership mindset combined with agile ways to lead.
And your understanding of execution?
Smart people with the ability to focus plus engaging, visible and aligned goals = magic can happen
Everyone who has undergone and successfully completed such a huge challenge like PEAK® at Schibsted Marketplaces Finland is usually asked: Would you do it again? Well - would you?
Most definitely.
But since the environment has changed so much, we must make sure to not blindly apply tactics and processes of the past: we must shape the journey to our particular context and needs.
but also that
New business challenges, unprecedented business perspectives.
If you desire to shape the future, through Agility, Digitalization and High Performance then let´s make it come true – together.
