Good Ideas + Bad Decisions
Good Ideas + Bad Decisions
Kat Oldershaw and Ellen Hockley
S1 E13: Scaling Your Business while maintaining Human-Centric Values with Lindsay Ruiz
51 minutes Posted Oct 10, 2025 at 3:00 pm.
Welcome to Good Ideas and Bad Decisions00:55 Introducing Our Special Guest: Lindsay Ruiz02:40 Lindsay's Journey and Human as Usual04:37 Scaling and Transformation Insights08:15 Challenges and Philosophies in Business Growth16:33 Defining and Operationalizing Company Values26:22 Designing Adaptive Challenges29:03 Navigating Founder Resistance34:27 The Emotional Journey of Founders37:31 Writing a Book on Founding46:42 Final Thoughts and Words of Wisdom
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Hey there, and welcome back to another episode of 'Good Ideas and Bad Decisions'! This week, Kat and Ellen dive into the messy middle of entrepreneurship with special guest Lindsay Ruiz, founder of Human as Usual. Join us as Lindsay discusses the chaos of scaling a business, the importance of maintaining human-centric values, and how she’s translating her 20-year career in organizational transformation into a groundbreaking new venture. From battling founder fears to envisioning a company that stands the test of time, Lindsay offers valuable insights and relatable anecdotes that any entrepreneur can benefit from. Plus, get a sneak peek into Lindsay’s upcoming book, which promises to be a must-read for anyone navigating the ups and downs of starting a business. Grab your favorite beverage and tune in for an episode that's as enlightening as it is entertaining!Dr. Lindsay Ruiz is the Founder of Human as Usual, a firm that works with founders, VCs, and investors looking to scale up with integrity, humanity, and leave a significant impression on the world. She is passionate about partnering with hyper-growth companies that are determined to break the cycle of failure and risk associated with premature or reactive scaling.Kat is the Owner + Operator of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kat&co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and brings a unique perspective with her psychology background and experience in creative business operations, making her adept at discussing the intersection of creativity and structured processes. ⁠⁠Join her newsletter The kat&co Download!⁠⁠Ellen is the Owner of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ellen Hockley Consulting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and offers valuable insights from her extensive experience in building successful small businesses and empowering female entrepreneurs, providing practical advice on business strategy and growth. 00:00 Welcome to Good Ideas and Bad Decisions00:55 Introducing Our Special Guest: Lindsay Ruiz02:40 Lindsay's Journey and Human as Usual04:37 Scaling and Transformation Insights08:15 Challenges and Philosophies in Business Growth16:33 Defining and Operationalizing Company Values26:22 Designing Adaptive Challenges29:03 Navigating Founder Resistance34:27 The Emotional Journey of Founders37:31 Writing a Book on Founding46:42 Final Thoughts and Words of Wisdom