The transformation playbook: overcoming the fear of change

Most business owners know change is necessary. The challenge is finding the confidence to make it happen.

In the third instalment of Glen Nelson's interview with Magnus Bagge, CEO of Exakta Photo, the discussion focuses on one of the biggest obstacles to business improvement: the fear of change.

According to Magnus, the businesses that struggle to evolve are rarely held back by technology or a lack of opportunity. More often, they are held back by a reluctance to move away from familiar ways of working.

Whether it's adopting new software, changing established processes, or integrating acquired businesses, there is often a natural tendency to stick with what feels comfortable. The problem is that customer expectations continue to evolve, regardless of whether businesses are ready for them.

One area where this is particularly evident is the customer experience. Parents increasingly expect the same convenience, transparency, and speed they receive from other online purchases. Long turnaround times and manual ordering processes that were once accepted are becoming harder to justify in a world shaped by modern e-commerce.

The conversation also explores the way businesses evaluate technology investments. Magnus encourages photography companies to look beyond the upfront cost and consider the broader impact on efficiency, profitability, and long-term competitiveness. In his experience, the gains from modern systems often far outweigh the investment required to implement them.

Throughout the discussion, Magnus returns to a simple but important point: meaningful improvement requires a willingness to challenge existing assumptions. The businesses that continue to grow are often those prepared to question whether the way things have always been done is still the best way forward.

Watch the third interview segment below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSrUaBdvhQc

• Watch Part 1: In the first part of the four-part interview series, Glen Nelson sits down with Magnus Bagge, CEO of Exakta Photo AB, to discuss how the business has evolved over the past two decades and the lessons learned along the way.

• Watch Part 2: In the second instalment of Glen Nelson's interview with Magnus Bagge, the focus shifts to the operational decisions that helped transform the business into one of Europe's leading photography companies.

  
  

• Watch Part 4: In the final instalment, Magnus shares his thoughts on the future of the photography industry, including the role of AI, industry consolidation, and what these changes could mean for photography businesses in the years ahead.