Latest news with #Söderström
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Offline, Later and ...: Spotify executives have banned these words at meetings
Spotify executives are prohibited from using the phrases "we'll take that offline" or "later" during their weekly three-hour leadership meetings , according to co-president Gustav Söderström . The ban aims to force real-time problem-solving among the company's top brass rather than postponing difficult conversations. "You're not allowed to say the word 'offline' or 'later' — because that person is in the room," Söderström revealed on the "Invest Like The Best" podcast released Tuesday. This policy ensures immediate resolution of issues instead of deferring them, which Söderström described as "very simple in theory but incredibly powerful in practice." 'Bets' process drives innovation across leadership levels, says Spotify co-president The weekly Tuesday sessions are part of Spotify's "bets" process, where vice presidents pitch new ideas every six months in a startup-like environment. Leaders then rank the 30 to 50 proposals and allocate resources based on priority. Another strict rule prohibits executives from bringing direct reports to these meetings. "I'm trying to literally force the VPs to solve it themselves because I want them to be in the details," Söderström explained. "You have to be on top of it enough to explain it to yourself." This approach has fostered a tight-knit, high-trust team among Spotify's leadership while encouraging innovation from various organizational layers. Söderström emphasized that people perform better when they propose their own initiatives rather than executing assignments from superiors. "It's a good mix of bottom-up innovation," he said, highlighting how the company leverages ideas from across its leadership structure rather than relying solely on top executives. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Business Insider
21-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Spotify executives banned a common phrase from their weekly 3-hour meeting
Every Tuesday afternoon, Spotify's top brass — all of its vice presidents — pile into a room for a standing three-hour meeting with a key rule. "You're not allowed to say the word 'offline' or 'later' — because that person is in the room," said Gustav Söderström, Spotify's co-president, on an episode of the "Invest Like The Best" podcast published Tuesday. At other companies, when conversations get uncomfortable or someone hasn't delivered, people tend to punt the issue. But that's not Spotify's ethos, Söderström, who also leads tech and product, said. Instead of circling back, people are expected to hash things out. "It's real-time resolution — very simple in theory but incredibly powerful in practice. Most companies don't do it," he said. Another rule: No bringing direct reports. Everyone in the room is expected to know the discussion's details. "I'm trying to literally force the VPs to solve it themselves because I want them to be in the details. So, you're not allowed to bring anyone else in to explain your thing," Söderström said. "You have to be on top of it enough to explain it to yourself," he added. Without direct reports coming and going, the same group shows up each week. Over time, it becomes a tight-knit, high-trust team, Söderström said. Spotify and Söderström did not respond to a request for comment. Spotify's 'bets' process The marathon Tuesday sessions are part of what Spotify calls its "bets" process — a structured way of deciding what the company builds next. Every six months, each VP pitches a bet. "It's very much like a startup process," Söderström said. "You don't get to use the fact that Gustav or Alex or Daniel may like you. This is like a VC meeting, you have to convince us." After the pitches, the leaders "stack rank" the 30 to 50 pitches. Teams then allocate resources based on that list and execute what makes the cut over the next six months. "It's a good mix of bottom-up innovation," Söderström said. Instead of relying on the company's top executives, Spotify brings in ideas from across its leadership and "all the layers below." "You're going to be much better at delivering something if you were the one who said, 'I can do this,' than if your boss said you can do this," Söderström said. The company's stock is up nearly 116% in the last year.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Victor Soderstrom Wins Borje Salming Trophy As SHL's Top Defenseman
Victor Söderström playing for the Arizona Coyotes in 2023. © Steven Bisig-Imagn Images Victor Söderström has been named the top defenseman in the Swedish Hockey League for the 2024-25 season. As a result, he has been awarded the Börje Salming Trophy. In 2019, he was picked 11th overall in the NHL Entry Draft by the Arizona Coyotes but, just five years later, he signed a two-year deal to play with his hometown team, Brynäs Gävle, which has just been promoted back to the SHL. He went on to have a spectacular season, recording 37 points in 49 regular-season games as Brynäs surprisingly finished first. Advertisement 'I definitely don't regret a thing,' Söderström is quoted on the club's website. 'It's a slightly different path to take because I'm still young and my goal is still very much to make it in the NHL.' That might happen next season as Söderström, now 24, was traded from Utah HC to the Chicago Blackhawks on the NHL trade deadline, and he indicated at the time that he had been seeking to get his NHL rights moved. Victor Soderstrom Might Return To NHL After Rights Traded To Chicago: 'We've Been Trying To Arrange It All Season' Victor Soderstrom Might Return To NHL After Rights Traded To Chicago: 'We've Been Trying To Arrange It All Season' Victor Söderström didn't want to give up on the NHL so early, but it seems that he didn't see a path to that dream running through Salt Lake City. Playing this season for Brynäs IF in the SHL, he learned on Friday – the NHL trade deadline – that his NHL rights had been traded from Utah HC to the Chicago Blackhawks along with the rights to Shea Weber – who hasn't played since 2021 and is essentially retired – in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. Advertisement But first things first, as Brynäs has a semifinal series coming up against Skellefteå AIK starting on Friday. Skellefteå's lineup includes Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Jonathan Pudas, the two previous winners of the award. 'I love coming to the rink every day,' Söderström continued. 'The fact that the pairing with Charles-Édouard D'Astous has worked so well has of course also meant a lot.' D'Astous, a 26-year-old Canadian who was the top defenseman in the Finnish Liiga last season, outscored Söderström by two points this year and has also apparently drawn interest from NHL teams. According to the Brynäs website the jury for the award described Soderstrom as: An elegant player on the ice who has been one of the biggest contributors to newcomer Bynäs' record-breaking season in the SHL. Extremely skilled, and also a top-notch point-scorer as a defenseman. Has formed the league's best defenseman pair during the season with Charles-Édouard D'Astous. Advertisement - The award for best defenseman in Sweden's top league was named after Börje Salming in 2008, the same year the legendary defenseman was named to the IIHF's All-Century Team. Salming died in 2022 from complications related to ALS. Börje's older brother Stig Salming was present when Söderström received the Salming Trophy. Both Salming brothers were also Brynäs defensemen. 'Börje would have liked this,' Stig Salming was quoted. Previous winners of the Salming Trophy 2024-25 Victor Söderström, Brynäs 2023-24 Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Skellefteå 2022-23 Jonathan Pudas, Skellefteå 2021-22 Maja Nylén-Persson, Brynäs 2020-21 Nils Lundkvist, Luleå 2019-20 No winner due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2018-19 Erik Gustafsson, Luleå 2017-18 Lawrence Pilut, HV71 2016-17 Henrik Tömmernes, Frölunda 2015-16 Niclas Burström, Skellefteå 2014-15 Tim Heed, Skellefteå 2013-14 Patrik Hersley, Leksand 2012-13 Magnus Nygren, Färjestad 2011-12 Mattias Ekholm, Brynäs 2010-11 David Rundblad, Skellefteå 2009-10 Magnus Johansson, Linköping 2008-09 Markus Ragnarsson, Djurgården 2007-08 Mikko Luoma, HV71 Jari Kurri – 2024 Börje Salming Courage Award Winner – Is A Controversial Figure In His Home Club Jari Kurri – 2024 Börje Salming Courage Award Winner – Is A Controversial Figure In His Home Club On Saturday afternoon in Tampere, hours before the Dallas Stars and Florida Panthers played the second of two NHL regular-season games in the Finnish city, the NHL Alumni Association made Finnish hockey icon Jari Kurri the second recipient of the Börje Salming Courage Award.
