Arne Schepker: Tricks to scaling a global app

Our guest is the CEO of Babbel, a language learning platform and ecosystem that has sold more than 10 million subscriptions and over 60,000 courses for 14 different languages.

Arne Schepker joined the company as CMO in 2015 before taking the role of CEO in 2019 and scaling the business from a start-up to a household brand, increasing its headcount from 250 to over 750.

Here's what we discussed:

• Can you tell me a bit about what your life was like growing up and how this has led you to the point you’re at now? (0:57)
• You helped scale Zalando before you joined Babbel. What is the secret to effectively scaling a business? (05:14)
• Did you always want to be a CEO? (08:05)
• What can leaders do to make their team work to the best of their ability? (12:39)
• How do you as a CEO cultivate healthy conflict in your organisation? (14:55)
• How did you utilise the pandemic to your benefit? (17:22)
• What has been your biggest challenge either as a company or you as a CEO personally? (22:01)
• Has learning changed due to shorter attention spans/social media/convenience culture? (27:25)
• You've experimented with holocracy and self-management at Babbel – can you explain what this is and why you find this interesting? (31:56)
• Answer the Internet: How do people become CEOs? (37:25)
• What makes a great business leader? (38:15)

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