From Four to Forty: Building CRMK’s Team and Culture with CEO, Kathrine Hogseth
#7. Kathrine Hogseth is the CEO of CRM-Konsulterna (CRMK), a Swedish Microsoft partner business that she has led for 10 years. Kathrine has a master’s in electrical engineer and held several roles in telecommunications before achieving her MBA and then venturing into the technology industry. Today, CRM-K is one of the most highly regarded business applications partners in Sweden with a team of 40 people that has recently expanded into Germany.
KEY LESSONS
- Building teams through values & genuine connection. Kathrine shares why “competence, honesty, and win-win” aren’t just words on a wall, but the living foundation of CRMK’s culture. She reveals how every new hire goes through a values analysis—and how the team revisits those values every two years to ensure they still reflect who they are.
- Weekly company days for learning & belonging. Forget monthly check-ins—CRMK brings their people together every single Friday. Over breakfast, the team shares customer wins, lessons learned and actively fosters their culture. Kathrine credits this consistent connection as crucial to consultant growth and team happiness.
- Leading with empathy & flexibility. Kathrine discusses the importance of supporting team members through different life seasons, providing space when needed, and leading transparently as a leader—showing up authentically, even when life gets tough.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 People are people: Understanding individual growth and challenges in consulting
00:33 Introduction to Practice Leading and guest Kathrine Hogseth
01:34 Kathrine’s background and CRMK’s journey
02:48 What it’s like to lead a business for over ten years
05:09 The role and setup of an advisory board in a Microsoft partner business
06:45 Working with a spouse in business leadership
08:49 Letting people grow and challenges in supporting team development
13:06 Company and personal values: How they shape CRM-Konsulterna
14:53 Weekly company meetings and fostering a learning culture
17:05 Remote work, flexibility, and bringing teams together in the office
19:56 International expansion: Opening offices in Germany and southern Sweden
23:40 Specialization, industry focus, and identifying win-win client relationships
29:11 Meeting rhythms, one-on-ones, and team dynamics at CRM-Konsulterna
31:43 The benefit and challenge of having multiple MVPs in a small business
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Kathrine Sjövik Hogseth
CEO, CRM-Konsulterna (CRMK)
Kathrine Hogseth is the CEO of CRM-Konsulterna (CRMK), a Swedish Microsoft partner business that she has led for 10 years. Kathrine has a master’s in electrical engineer and held several roles in telecommunications before achieving her MBA and then venturing into the technology industry. She is driven by motivating and leading employees, and by helping companies strengthen their customer relationships through efficient workflows and business support. Today, CRMK is one of the most highly regarded business applications partners in Sweden with a team of 40 people that has recently expanded into Germany.
