🚀 3.2.1. Reverse Pyramid of Power ::: Atomic Scaling

The world is changing fast. Between macro stressors, the fall of TradFi, and the rise of DeFi and AI — one shift is becoming obvious as I travel the world. This week I’m writing to you from Token2049 in Dubai, where I saw it everywhere: Founders are flattening. Teams are decentralizing. Command-and-control is dying.

One of the best case studies? Supercell. Each of their hit games was built by a team of just 3–7 people — and each generated over $1B. They’ve shipped five global hits not by adding layers of approval — but by removing them. They flipped the org chart.

3 Ideas

I. Power scales faster when it’s distributed.

The most productive companies don’t micromanage. They reverse the pyramid of power — empowering doers to decide, ship fast, and own the outcome. No gatekeepers. No committees. Just clarity and trust. That’s how Supercell unlocked $5.6B from a single game: Clash of Clans.

II. So what do leaders actually do?

If you’re not making every decision… what’s your job? → You design the system where great decisions happen without you. → You cast the vision, shape the culture, and hold the line on values and direction. In the reverse pyramid, your leverage moves upstream.

III. It’s harder — and worth it.

Leading this way takes more discipline, not less. Ilkka (Supercell’s CEO) often holds back his opinion — even when he disagrees. Why? Because trust in the process beats short-term control. The fourth team to attempt Clash of Clans could’ve been shut down. Ilkka let them run. That one decision created over $5B in value.

2 Quotes

I.

“You don’t scale by adding more control. You scale by building more trust.” — Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix

II.

“Decisions should be made by the people best equipped to make them… If teams can decide independently without seeking approval from others, they will execute faster and be happier.” — Ilkka Paananen, Co-founder and CEO, Supercell

1 Action

Reverse the pyramid by giving back ownership, not just answers. When a teammate asks you something, pause — what are they really seeking? It’s usually one of the 3 A’s: Appraisal, Approval, or Additional clarity.

Scale what Actually Matters,

Ludovic Bodin

Entrepreneur, Investor, Author of Atomic Scaling | Founder of BOBIC Generational Wealth

P.S. Empowered teams. Lighter leadership. Better outcomes. Let’s build a world where work feels like play — together. — Join with your teamates Atomic Scaling Masterclass now!

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: "I am happy to see all these learnings combined in one book, Atomic Scaling, to help future entrepreneurs, not just in the games industry but all industries.” — Ilkka Paananen, Co-founder and CEO at Supercell