In this episode of Andrea Lake 101, Brian Berling, the Chief Operations Officer of StickerJunkie, shares his journey from the video gaming industry to leading operations at a startup. The conversation explores the importance of prioritizing people over profits, the flexibility of working in a startup, and the challenges of learning a new industry. Brian emphasizes the value of building a positive company culture, the vision for StickerJunkie's future, and the significance of fair employee compensation. The discussion also touches on the balance between passion and business acumen, the motivation behind tedious tasks, and the importance of communication skills in leadership.Want more Andrea Lake on the go? Listen to this episode wherever you get your podcasts ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... Or Watch this episode on YouTube ⁠/ @andrealake101 Follow Host, Andrea Lake on Instagram / andrealake101 And don’t forget to buy your stickers from ⁠https://stickerjunkie.com/⁠, use the promo code ANDREALAKE101 to save 10 % off!

00:00 Introduction to StickerJunkie and Brian Berling

02:33 Brian's Journey to StickerJunkie

04:43 The Importance of Company Culture

06:43 Operational Flexibility in a Startup

09:16 Learning the Sticker Industry

11:49 Building a Supportive Team Environment

14:00 The Ethos of Living Wages

15:17 The Financial Landscape of the Sticker Industry

17:31 The Value of Employee Empowerment

18:43 Reflections on Team Dynamics and Growth

19:22 Growth and Maturity in the Workplace

21:00 Creating a Positive Work Environment

22:23 Process Management vs. People Management

24:24 The Importance of Continuous Learning

27:02 Passion vs. Practicality in Career Choices

28:57 Finding Fulfillment in Tedious Tasks

31:45 Advice for Future Leaders

33:19 Communication Skills and Personal Growth