226. How Defining Core Values Created 90% Fewer of People Problems with Kristian Ranta

What if you could eliminate the vast majority of your people problems, before they even start? In this episode of World’s Greatest Boss, I sit down with Kristian Ranta, CEO and co-founder of Meru Health, a Y Combinator-backed mental health startup, to explore how defining company values from day one helped him build a thriving team culture that actually works.

Kristian shares the hard earned lessons from his previous startup, where people problems ran rampant, and how that experience led him to start Meru Health with a deep focus on values, team traits, and mission alignment. We dig into the tangible ways his team lives those values today from hiring and firing to decision-making and leadership style.

This episode is packed with real-life advice for founders and leaders who want to build a values-driven culture, reduce team drama, and focus more time on building the business.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

[1:15] Kristian’s journey from founder trauma to intentional culture

[4:20] How Meru Health built a values-driven business from the start

[7:15] Why Kristian cold-emails experts before hiring

[9:00] Their structured hiring process (including a paid take-home assignment)

[12:30] How to create a culture of accountability with low hierarchy

[14:15] Nordic vs U.S. workplace dynamics

[18:00] Bringing values to life in hiring, firing, and daily decisions

[21:00] The founder’s biggest hiring regret—and what he changed

[23:00] What actually happens in a core values workshop

[25:00] The surprising origin of “compassion” as a company value

[27:10] How Meru Health provides virtual mental healthcare across the U.S.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about Meru Health or check if you’re covered at: https://meru.us/podcast
• Connect with Jackie on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jackiemkoch
• Explore more resources and hiring tips at: peopleprinciples.co

🎧 Listen, learn, and don’t forget to share this episode with another founder or leader who’s building a team from the ground up.