An Interview with Ashley Fina, Co-CEO of the Top-Rated Management Training Solution Oxygen

Creative industries, from textiles and interior design to fashion and architecture, are powered by craftsmanship and vision. But behind every successful creative company is something less visible: strong management.

To explore this dynamic, we spoke with Ashley Fina, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Oxygen and a longtime executive coach and business leader (https://www.leadwithoxygen.com). Ashley leads Oxygen, the top-rated management training solution that equips high performers with the skills, tools, and structured support to become highly effective managers. Oxygen works with growing companies to help them build stronger execution through practical manager development programs.

In this interview, Ashley shares why management capability often determines whether creative businesses scale successfully or struggle to maintain consistency as they grow.

“Creativity and execution have to move together.”

Interview

Zarin Fabrics: Creative businesses often focus heavily on product, design, and craftsmanship. Where does management fit into that equation?

Ashley Fina:

Creativity and execution have to move together.

Many companies built around craftsmanship, whether textiles, furniture, fashion, or design, start with incredibly talented people. The challenge comes as the business grows. Suddenly your best designers or operators become managers, and they are expected to lead teams, make decisions, and drive accountability.

Without training, they are learning how to manage in real time. That is when execution starts to slow down.

That is exactly why structured programs like Oxygen’s Management Essentials training exist. Managers need practical tools for prioritization, feedback, and team alignment so strong performers can succeed in leadership roles.

Strong performers need structured tools to succeed in leadership roles.

Zarin Fabrics: Why do companies often underestimate the importance of management?

Ashley:

Because in the early stages a company runs on talent and momentum.

When teams are small, communication is informal and everyone is close to the work. Decisions happen quickly and problems get solved in the moment.

As the organization grows, complexity increases. New hires join, responsibilities spread across teams, and expectations rise. The informal systems that worked early on begin to break down.

That is usually when leaders realize management is not just a role someone fills. It is a capability that needs to be built intentionally.

We explore this dynamic in our article on the real cost of sink-or-swim management, which shows how companies lose productivity when managers are promoted without training.

Zarin Fabrics: What are some of the most common challenges new managers face as companies scale?

Ashley:

There are a few patterns that show up repeatedly.

• One is prioritization. When everything feels urgent, teams struggle to focus on the work that matters most.
• Another is alignment across teams. Creative teams, operations teams, and leadership often move in different directions unless managers create clarity around goals and expectations.
• The third is feedback. Many new managers avoid difficult conversations because they want to preserve relationships. Unfortunately, that allows small problems to grow into bigger ones.

None of these issues are about talent. They are about management skills.

Companies that invest in manager development programs tend to see faster execution, stronger accountability, and healthier team culture.

“None of these issues are about talent. They are about management skills.”

Zarin Fabrics: How does stronger management change the trajectory of a company?

Ashley:

When managers have the right tools and frameworks, the entire organization becomes more stable.

Decisions happen faster. Fewer problems escalate to senior leadership. Teams understand what success looks like and how their work contributes to the bigger picture.

In creative businesses especially, strong management protects the work. It provides the structure that allows creativity to flourish without being overwhelmed by operational chaos.

At Oxygen we have seen this transformation repeatedly. Our cohort-based programs help managers build the skills needed to lead high-performing teams, improve communication, and drive accountability across the organization.

The Takeaway

Whether a company is developing software or crafting luxury textiles, the pattern is the same. Growth introduces complexity.

Organizations that treat management as a skill that can be taught and practiced tend to scale more effectively than those that expect people to figure it out on their own.

As Ashley explains, talent and creativity can launch a company, but disciplined management is what allows it to grow with consistency and confidence.

Companies interested in building stronger managers can learn more about Oxygen’s approach to cohort-based management training.

About Oxygen

Oxygen is a cohort-based management training academy that helps growing companies turn strong individual contributors into confident, capable managers. Through structured programs like Management Essentials, Oxygen equips managers with practical tools for feedback, accountability, decision-making, and team alignment. The company works with organizations across industries to improve execution, strengthen culture, and help leaders scale their teams effectively.

Learn more: https://www.leadwithoxygen.com