Closing Remarks Podcast: Ed Mitzen On Culture That Scales

Your business is growing. Your team is expanding. Revenue is climbing. But here's a question worth asking: Is your company culture keeping up?

Maintaining a strong culture as you grow starts with hiring great people, trusting them to lead, and making sure your values guide everyday decisions. Growth shouldn't mean losing what made your business successful in the first place.

For Ed Mitzen, investing in people and culture helped the Fingerpaint Group reach $250 million in annual revenue and around 800 employees.

In this week's episode of Closing Remarks,  Ed joins host Dara Shareef to share what he learned about culture, growing a business, choosing a private equity partner, and transitioning out of day-to-day leadership.

Whether you're scaling your business or considering a future sale, discover how to protect what you've built, make confident decisions, and prepare for your next chapter.

Key Highlights

• Learn how you can maintain a strong company culture as your business grows.
• Build stronger teams by hiring talented people and empowering leaders.
• Understand why cultural alignment matters when you choose a private equity partner
• Gain insights into how you can evaluate acquisitions while protecting your company's values.
• Explore how you can build a business that thrives without your constant involvement.

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Can Your Company Culture Keep Up With Growth?

Your team has grown from 20 employees to 200: new faces, new managers, new responsibilities. But are the values that helped you get here still part of everyday decisions?

As the Fingerpaint Group expanded, Ed knew he couldn't personally shape every interaction or oversee every decision.

He chose leaders who shared the company's values. He also made it clear that treating employees poorly had no place in the business, regardless of someone's position.

The takeaway:  Your culture won't grow just because your business does. You need leaders who bring your values to life every day.

Are You Hiring People Who Can Take Your Business Further?

"Hire people better than you." — Ed Mitzen, Founder of Fingerpaint Group

The idea is simple, but putting it into practice requires trust.

Ed hired talented people who brought new ideas and skills to the team.

Instead of holding on to every decision, he gave capable employees room to lead. That helped Fingerpaint grow without everything running through its founder.

Think about your own business. Are you giving your team the freedom to make decisions? Or does every important question still land on your desk?

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Would You Turn Down the Highest Offer for Your Business?

Imagine receiving multiple offers for the company you've spent years building.

Would you automatically choose the biggest number? Ed didn't.

When evaluating potential partners for Fingerpaint, he chose a private equity firm, even though it wasn't the highest offer. His reasoning centered on cultural fit.

Ed's takeaway: Cultural alignment mattered more than the highest offer.

He wanted a partner who valued his team and understood the company's culture.

For business owners considering a sale or private equity partnership, the biggest offer isn't always the best fit. Price matters. So do your people, your goals, and what happens to the business next.

What Happens When Two Company Cultures Come Together?

Acquisitions can open doors to new customers, capabilities, and opportunities.

But there's more to a successful acquisition than bringing two businesses under one roof. You're also bringing together people who may have different ways of working.

Ed learned this through Fingerpaint's acquisitions. He looked closely at cultural fit and the expectations of founders and leadership teams.

Even when a deal looks good on paper, the people involved still have to make it work. For business owners exploring acquisitions, the question isn't just whether another company fits your growth strategy. Can your teams work together to build something stronger?

What Happens When Your Business No Longer Needs You?

For years, you've worked toward building a business that can run without you.

Then one day, it can. Now what?

Ed reached that milestone when he transitioned out of day-to-day leadership at Fingerpaint.  He had built a capable team and a company that could continue growing without his constant involvement.

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That shared sense of purpose had been a major part of his journey. Ed now works with his wife through the Business for Good Foundation to help entrepreneurs and local communities.

His story raises a question worth considering: When your business can thrive without you, what will you want to do next?

What Can You Take Away From Ed Mitzen's Journey?

Whether you're leading a small team or growing a larger company, Ed's experience offers lessons you can put to work:

• Keep your culture strong: Make sure your values guide how your team works and leads.
• Hire people who challenge you: Give talented employees the trust and freedom to succeed.
• Look beyond the biggest offer: Consider cultural fit when choosing a private equity partner.
• Think about people during acquisitions: Understand how different teams and leadership styles will work together.
• Build beyond yourself: Create a company that can succeed without your involvement in every decision.

Growth changes a business. That's part of the journey. With the right people, leadership, and partners, you can build a company that grows without losing its identity.

Where to Watch

How did Ed Mitzen grow Fingerpaint Group into a $250 million company? Why did he choose cultural alignment over the highest private equity offer?

What can you take away from Ed's journey to build a stronger business of your own? Ed shares practical lessons on maintaining company culture and choosing the right private equity partner as your business grows.

Watch or listen to the full episode of Closing Remarks on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

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