How Culture Steers Through Crisis: The Eventbrite Story

Guest: Julia Hartz, EventBrite Co-Founder & former CEO In a matter of days, Eventbrite went from growth to crisis, processing more refunds than revenue as live events canceled worldwide   In this episode, Julia Hartz shares what it really takes to lead when the business you built suddenly stops working.   Drawing on a 20-year journey spanning startup, hypergrowth, IPO, global expansion, and eventual reinvention, Julia reveals the leadership systems that sustained Eventbrite through massive technological shifts, from social media to AI.   More importantly, she offers a candid look at the hardest decisions leaders face: Acting decisively with incomplete but critical information Making painful calls to protect long-term viability Rebuilding culture and trust after disruption, and Leading teams through uncertainty, layoffs, and transformation.   At the core of her approach is a simple but powerful principle: care for people first, and build systems that make that real.   This episode is essential listening for CEOs, senior executives, and leaders navigating rapid change, high-stakes decisions, and the human realities behind them. If you’re leading through uncertainty (and who isn’t?), this conversation will challenge how you think about culture, resilience, and what leadership really demands when everything is on the line.   Other episodes you'll enjoy: - AI, Your Story, & the Professional Identity Crisis with Christopher Washington - Thriving During Crisis in the Middle East with Aline Kamakian - The Human Energy Crisis at Work with Joshua Freedman   For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.   RESOURCES:    Learn more about Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/about/.   Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here.    Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. The audiobook version is now available at  https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ.   Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here.    -----------------------   OUR PODCAST TEAM:   Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan Sponsorship Sales Manager: Kristine Gross ([email protected]) Booking Producer: Jenna Reik ([email protected]) Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay.   CONNECT WITH US:  YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership  LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2  Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com    Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!  -----------------------   About Our Guest:   Julia Hartz is the Co-Founder, former CEO, and Executive Chair of Eventbrite. Under her leadership, Eventbrite grew from an innovative idea into one of the world’s largest marketplaces for shared experiences, powering more than five million events annually across the globe. Since its founding in 2006, the company has generated billions in gross ticket sales and processes over two million tickets each week. Julia has prioritized building a strong organizational culture alongside business performance, scaling Eventbrite to more than 700 employees across nine countries. The company has been recognized on Fortune’s 100 Best Workplaces for Women and for Millennials, and has been named one of the Best Places to Work in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has received numerous accolades, including Fortune’s 40 Under 40, Inc.’s 35 Under 35, Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs, and Inc.’s 500 Female Founders (2026). Her leadership and impact have been featured in leading global publications. Julia began her career as a development executive at MTV and FX Networks before moving to Silicon Valley. She believes that real-life human experiences foster individual happiness and stronger global communities—a conviction that continues to shape Eventbrite’s mission.