Scaling Culture and Leadership in a Remote World: Lessons from Christine Watts of Ninety
When Christine Watts joined Ninety as its first employee, she probably didn’t envision helping scale the company to nearly 200 team members while serving as Chief of Staff. But that’s the kind of journey Christine thrives on—embracing challenges, fostering growth, and proving that a remote workforce can maintain a thriving, intentional culture.
In our latest Badass Women in Business podcast episode, Christine shared invaluable insights about growing within a company, creating impactful culture, and maintaining balance amidst it all. Here are some highlights.
Building Culture from the Ground Up
Remote work is often synonymous with flexibility, but Christine reminded us that it also requires intentionality. Ninety didn’t leave culture to chance. Instead, the company built rituals around its core values:
Slack Shout-Outs: Celebrating team wins in real time.
Bi-Weekly All-Hands: Keeping everyone aligned and engaged.
Annual Retreats: Once a year, the team gathers in person to strengthen relationships.
Christine emphasized that rituals are more than nice-to-haves—they’re critical for keeping a remote team connected across time zones.
From First Employee to Chief of Staff
Joining a startup as the first employee isn’t for the faint of heart, but Christine embraced the challenge. From marketing to client success to product management, she wore every hat the company needed, learning and growing at every turn.
Her role evolved into Chief of Staff, where she focuses on cross-functional leadership, strategic execution, and scaling operations. One key takeaway from her journey? Trust your instincts. Expertise is valuable, but your unique perspective is often the missing piece to solving tough problems.
Tools for Small Business Success
Ninety’s mission is clear: provide small businesses with tools typically reserved for larger organizations. Their platform helps businesses simplify planning, align teams, and focus on the big picture. Christine highlighted how their tools encourage discipline—an essential ingredient for small businesses looking to transition from survival mode to growth mode.
Work-Life Integration: Finding Balance
Balancing a high-stakes role at a scaling startup with personal responsibilities isn’t easy, but Christine makes it work. Her secret? Field hockey. She carves out time each week to play, recharge, and reset.
As Christine said, prioritizing yourself isn’t selfish; it’s a necessity. When you make space for yourself, you show up stronger for everything else.
Key Advice for Entrepreneurs and Leaders
One of Christine’s most poignant reflections was about the value of trusting your perspective:
"I used to think hiring experts would bring all the answers, but I’ve learned that the hard problems are hard for a reason. Your perspective is often exactly what’s needed."
Her advice is a reminder that leadership isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about contributing your unique lens and adapting as you go.
Christine’s story is a testament to what’s possible when you combine intentionality, adaptability, and a focus on culture. Whether you’re leading a remote team or navigating your first hire, her insights are worth revisiting.
Listen to the full episode of Badass Women in Business to dive deeper into Christine’s journey and the tools that helped Ninety scale successfully.
