Culture Over Control: Why Empowered Teams Always Win
When most leaders feel the weight of running a company, their first instinct is to grab tighter control — check every email, oversee every project, approve every detail. It feels safe. It feels responsible. But it’s actually the fastest way to stifle growth.
Mike Harvey, founder and CEO of 511 Media, learned this the hard way. His story starts not in a studio, but in an entirely different field — as the owner of MLH Solutions, a managed IT service provider (MSP). And it’s from that world of structure, systems, and troubleshooting that he discovered one of the most overlooked truths in leadership: culture over control. Why? because culture is stronger than control.
From IT Services to Media Mission
Mike didn’t set out to build a media company. He was just helping his pastor’s church stream podcasts during the pandemic. One small favor turned into a full-time production schedule — and before long, 511 Media was born.
Today, 511 Media creates faith-based and culturally grounded podcasts, video series, and events nationwide. What began as an extension of an MSP became a platform for influence — proving that sometimes, the best leaders are those who say “why not me?” instead of “why me?”
The Power of Culture Over Control
511 Media operates on a foundation of faith, but Mike is intentional about leading through values, not religion. His company culture is built around universal principles that anyone can rally behind:
- Extreme ownership – Take responsibility before passing blame.
- Done is better than perfect – Progress beats paralysis.
- Constant improvement – Growth is the goal, not perfection.
- Seek to understand – Listen before reacting.
- Always do the right thing – Even when it costs you.
He doesn’t push doctrine — he builds culture. And that culture attracts the right people naturally.
When your team believes in the why, you don’t have to control the how (aka culture over control).
Hiring Through Relationship, Not Resumes
Instead of micromanaging, Mike empowers. Instead of recruiting through job boards, he leans on relationships and referrals. The best people come from trust, not titles.
He focuses on culture fit over credentials, looking for people who take initiative, learn fast, and align with the mission. And it works — because retention is about belonging, not obligation.
His team stays motivated because they know what they’re working for, not just who they’re working for.
Centralized Vision, Decentralized Leadership
Mike runs multiple companies — his original MSP and 511 Media — but he doesn’t let one dominate the other. Each has its own structure, clients, and goals. He gives his teams autonomy with accountability, a principle that lets them make small mistakes and learn from them.
That’s what most leaders get wrong:
They fear loss of control more than loss of creativity.
Mike believes creativity thrives when people have freedom to lead. His teams operate from different states, connected through shared vision — not constant supervision.
Culture That Expands Beyond the Office
511 Media’s reach extends well beyond their Bakersfield studio. They collaborate with Turning Point USA, nonprofits, and faith-driven organizations across the country. They’re not competing with other media companies — they’re collaborating to push a shared cultural mission forward.
That’s what happens when a team is united by culture over control.
Growth stops being something you chase and becomes something you attract.
Lessons for Leaders
Mike’s story isn’t just about business growth — it’s about leadership transformation. The lesson is clear:
When you stop controlling every detail, you create space for something bigger to grow.
Here’s what it takes:
- Trust your team more than your task list.
- Lead with values, not fear.
- Empower decision-making, even when it’s imperfect.
- Hire for alignment, not just experience.
- Build culture that outlasts personality.
Final Takeaway: Culture Wins Every Time
Control can create compliance — but culture creates commitment.
And in a world where attention is short and opportunities move fast, committed teams win.
Mike Harvey didn’t build 511 Media through control. He built it through culture — and that culture has grown far beyond a single studio. It’s become a movement grounded in vision, faith, and freedom.
So if your business feels stuck, ask yourself this:
Are you leading from control — or from culture?
Because only one of them scales.
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Reach out to our guest’s website: 511 Media