People Behind BLAST: Trine Enevoldsen
We sat down with the VP of People and Culture to talk about tackling employee needs and talent retention in an evergrowing business, with BLAST more than doubling in headcount since Trine joined.
The next instalment of People Behind BLAST features Trine Enevoldsen, VP, People & Culture at BLAST. Trine's coming up to her two-year anniversary at BLAST in which time both the Danish and UK offices have grown significantly in number of employees and activity.
As BLAST continues to scale and grow, it's been Trine and the P&C team's ongoing goal to continuously co-create and elevate the company’s culture so that people at BLAST can enjoy their work life, while growing, elevating and achieving career goals as well.
With offices in Copenhagen and London as well as the BLAST Studios in Brondby, while delivering multiple arena events all around the world each year, creating an inclusive work culture for all employees globally has been an important focus for Trine.
Following a successful 2023 for the entire company, P&C have also organised BLASTelona, a company away day for all employees to reward all the great work that went into BLAST’s biggest year. Staff will be mixed across departments in city-based activities, improving cohesion and giving the chance to learn more about one and other following the rapid headcount growth over the past two years.
With her two-year anniversary on the horizon, BLAST.tv sat down with Trine to find out more about the company’s VP of People & Culture.
So you're coming up to two years at BLAST, how would you say the company changed in that time?
Since I've joined, we've scaled to double the size of people as well as elevated our impact in the world of esports globally. We've all worked hard on becoming an even more professionalised organisation with more meaningful policies and processes that support the people at BLAST.
Implementing meaningful and tangible processes and policies as a guidance and support to our work life is crucial to prevent stress, inefficiency and confusion during our growth and scaling. We are a diverse bunch of people at BLAST. And in many different roles. You could say we have had subcultures in the culture, but I do see a more aligned and united culture now and we continue to reflect upon our culture and behaviours, for people to have a sense of belonging.
Would you say you've changed as well?
Personally, I don't think I've changed as a person, but I think I've learned and reflected upon loads of learnings and maybe therefore changed some of the ways I am making decisions now, how I solve challenges or simply how I behave sometimes. This was also a completely new industry for me when I started and I still have lots to learn about the industry.
So where were you working before BLAST?
So I was working in P&C teams in some very known and successful Danish scale-ups. In many ways they were similar to BLAST with how fast we've been growing.
What would you say were the main similarities then with your previous workplaces and BLAST?
BLAST and other scale-ups and start ups share similar growing pains. There's not always clear processes in place as we are moving and growing so quickly, lack of clear communication or even the right communication on occasion.
The requirements of scale-ups change and it's normal for organisations to restructure more frequently than established companies which we also did and still do. We've recently had to adapt and re-structure with the new ecosystems coming on board in Rocket League and Fortnite.
Teams are also less confined compared to more corporate companies. People want to support each other across different functions and sometimes even help out where needed in an area, which is not exactly your normal area. I like that start-up vibe where you're kind of all over the place but still acting in your own role. And importantly, people have a steep learning curve in companies like ours, which is quite amazing.
So what would be the best parts of your role? Either at events or day to day.
P&C is basically a Customer Service team, where the employees are our customers so to speak. I'd say one of the best parts of my role is that I can try to positively impact and support people's work lives. I love to interact with the entire organisation and translate all the needs and hidden behaviours into impactful actions. I really like to connect the dots. I also really like being in Top management. I learn a lot from that as well.
What are the biggest challenges P&C faces at the moment?
I'd say attracting and retaining the right people. In Denmark there are around 3,000 people working in esports, which is not a lot. Getting the right esports talent is not as easy as getting eg. an accountant or a HR employee. It's also a challenge sometimes to find time in our busy event schedule to further develop and elevate our leaders and to help people in general navigate in this ever changing world and environment.
Do you have a goal or target for 2024?
Firstly, BLAST keeps elevating our impact in esports both in Denmark and globally. Also, that we continue to put people first because it’s our people that create our results and our culture. Personally, I'll continue to make BLAST a workplace where all sorts of people continue to thrive and where people feel they both learn, develop and have an impact.
A team goal for the P&C team is we want to use data and ai more to become more efficient in order to further support both our people and the business. It's becoming a prominent company wide goal as well.
Trine helping the Creative team test a new AI creative tool "NeRF" Is there a standout highlight from your time so far?
I loved our company away days in Lisbon in 2022 and I can't wait for BLASTelona in April with everyone. We've almost doubled in size and some people haven't met each other so it's going to be really fun! In general, happiness comes in flashes and so does pride. And I often feel proud and have small day to day highlights here. Eg. when people create and have a positive impact on colleagues or the business.
And do you have a favourite destination you've been to with BLAST?
Copenhagen! It's my home!
Changing the tone, if you were to become a part of a BLAST broadcast, either on camera or in a team, what role would you play?
A coach for sure! I wouldn't be able to talk about the game but I coach and advise people in my job so I'd be a good mental coach maybe? It's the most similar to my daily role in P&C.
And what are your hobbies/passions outside of work?
Travelling! Four days in a new city with my husband just walking around, exploring and eating. That's life!