Mandy-Lee Smarz

Head of People & Culture at Forte Digital Central Europe (51-200 employees)

Mandy-Lee Smarz is an experienced People & Culture leader with a background in business and recruiting across diverse industries. At Forte Digital, she drives the development of scalable HR practices that balance strategic growth with a strong cultural foundation. With a focus on leadership, talent, and organizational clarity, she brings a hands-on, people-first approach to shaping modern workplaces in the digital consulting space.

12:00 - 12:30 pm

Tuesday 14 October 2025

Scaling with Integrity: HR at the Center of Growth, Change and Tough Decisions

Scaling a company isn’t just about adding people, clients, or locations. It’s about making the right calls at the right time, often under pressure. In this live dialogue, Mandy-Lee Smarz, Head of People & Culture at Forte Digital, reflects on the human side of rapid growth, the challenges of integrating new teams, and what it means to lead with integrity in a fast-moving digital consultancy shaped by Scandinavian pragmatism. The conversation explores how leadership principles, feedback culture, and pragmatic decision-making shape the foundation for sustainable growth. It also reflects on the role of technology as both an enabler and a driver of change and how HR can stay grounded in core values while adapting to evolving digital realities. From navigating integration to making tough calls, this session offers a candid perspective on building resilient people strategies in a fast-paced, tech-driven environment.