A Bolt out of the blue? Not when culture leads the way

As businesses scale at speed, culture can be the first casualty. Lee Ashton, Executive Client Director, Powered by Humans, shares how clear operating principles can help fast-growth companies like Bolt stay connected to their people and future ambitions.

At Powered by Humans, we see a consistent pattern in organisations experiencing rapid growth: culture must evolve just as quickly as the business itself. Without it, companies risk outpacing the very people who make their success possible.

That’s exactly the opportunity we’ve been working on with Bolt, a brand whose growth trajectory is nothing short of extraordinary. With new territories launching and teams expanding at pace, Bolt recognised that their employer proposition needed to be fit not just for now, but for the future.

Listening before defining

Our work began with listening... really listening. We analysed company-wide surveys, video recordings and notes from a series of global workshops, and heard from Bolt's leadership team to understand their ambitions, challenges, and values. This human insight became the foundation for what came next: a set of Operating Principles designed to reflect who Bolt is today and where it’s heading tomorrow.

Principles with purpose

Operating Principles are more than a document; they are the framework that guides decisions, shapes behaviours, and helps every colleague feel connected to something bigger. For Bolt, these principles will be embedded throughout the employee journey, from how they attract new talent to how they nurture and grow their people.

Future-focused, people-centred

What excites us most is that these principles are not static. They’re built to grow with Bolt, to be revisited and refined as the company evolves. This approach ensures that culture isn’t just preserved, it’s propelled forward.

For any organisation experiencing fast growth, this work is essential. Get it right, and you create a culture that not only supports success but actively drives it. That’s what Bolt is building, and we’re proud to be part of their journey.