Scaling Without Losing Your People Focus: Culture, Compliance and AI

15 September 2025

How do you scale a business internationally without losing the culture that made you successful in the first place? 

That was the theme when Julian Fenwick, CEO of GRC Solutions, joined the Find Grow Keep podcast to share lessons from leading a purpose-driven business in a regulated industry. The conversation covered everything from growth across Asia to the role of AI in compliance training, and why culture is always the foundation. 

Culture as a Foundation 

Julian explained how GRC Solutions has grown from a small team to more than 45 staff across Australia and Asia while keeping culture at the centre. With a diverse team of lawyers, technologists, designers and educators, collaboration and shared values remain non-negotiable. 

“The culture we build internally is the one our clients see externally,” he noted. 

AI That Supports, Not Replaces, People 

AI is helping GRC Solutions improve productivity by automating repetitive tasks. For example, engineers and content developers use AI to test, draft, and iterate faster. 

But accuracy and human oversight are essential. AI is used to free people for higher-value work not to replace them. Guardrails around privacy and safe adoption ensure the technology supports rather than disrupts. 

Building Early-Career Talent 

Graduate programs at GRC Solutions give law, commerce, and journalism students meaningful real-world experience. Many stay long-term; others move into larger firms while remaining part of the network. 

This grassroots model helps maintain cultural alignment and creates a steady talent pipeline. 

Growing Internationally, Building Locally 

International expansion requires trust. As Julian shared, opening offices and hiring local staff in Asia was essential to building relationships and credibility. For leaders considering overseas growth, the lesson is simple: patience, local knowledge, and genuine investment in community are key. 

Compliance Training That Sustains Culture 

Scaling successfully requires strong values and clear expectations. GRC Solutions’ training courses including Workplace Behaviours and Work Health and Safety equip teams to build safe, inclusive, and ethical workplaces. 

Explore the Risk Management Mastery Series to see how training can help organisations grow while staying true to their people and culture. 

Read more: Amplify HR