Today’s guest is Dimi Albers, CEO of Dept – one of the new breed of fast-growth PE-backed agency groups. And if you think rapid scaling comes at the cost of culture, this conversation will prove you wrong. Dimi shares how Dept has grown from 120 people in the Netherlands to more than 4,000 across 20+ countries – all while maintaining a unique ownership model with nearly 200 equity partners.
He explains why having skin in the game creates deeper client relationships and a stronger sense of entrepreneurship across the business. We explore the realities of working with private equity, from ideal investor relationships, to why due diligence matters goes well beyond spreadsheets. Dimi also reflects on talent – what younger generations really want, how to create belonging in a hybrid world, and why 20% churn is actually healthy.
Finally, he offers supreme optimism on AI – far from a job-killer, it’s the next big growth driver for agencies bold enough to embrace it.
HIGHLIGHTS:
[06:21] Dept’s unusual ownership model
[08:16] Retention as a cultural strength
[10:16] Shifting generational expectations
[18:05] Nuance in DEI
[25:04] Doing due diligence on your investors
[30:32] The realities of competing for clients
[34:11] Battling in crowded markets
[40:44] AI as an engine of prosperity
