It was a very exciting and intense year, which is why it feels like time passed exceptionally quickly. On the other hand, when I think about where we were as an organization a year ago, it feels like an eternity has passed.
I'm responsible for people and our organizational culture. This is a crucial area because the skills of our consultants and the culture of their work are the foundation of our competitive advantage. My goal for the first year of our activity was to streamline certain areas and processes. At the same time, I had to think about each employee as an individual. Recognize their strengths, create conditions for growth, and, most importantly, build a space where they can have a real impact on their daily work and the company's development. We worked extensively on communication, career development paths, restructuring compensation packages, team structures, and leadership competencies. Now, we have a solid foundation to move further.
We adopted a team-based approach to recruitment, with the primary focus being on the people who will work with the candidate in the future. These individuals have a deep understanding of the specific nature of their work and the necessary competencies and personal qualities for a given position. We've had some great results with this approach. We've found the right people for the right roles who also feel comfortable in their teams and see opportunities for personal development.
From our teams and their leaders' point of view, the toughest part is getting the new hires onboarded, since it's a long-term, intense process. We continuously refine our training methods, but it still remains a significant challenge.
It is hard to speak about organizational culture – you have to feel it. We have a unique vibe – it's quite informal and often very lighthearted, but everyone here is seriously ambitious and aspires to become a marketing world champion.
There's a great deal of openness and mutual respect and a complete lack of internal competition. We strongly emphasize collaboration and shared support. Our activities are so diverse and interesting that everyone, I hope, can feel needed and valued.
We focus on the quality of communication, ensuring it is factual and constructive. We keep everyone in the know about what’s happening in the company. That covers everything, from new projects and promotions to changes within teams and even the company’s financial situation. We value our time and aim to minimize unnecessary formal procedures.
In general, I believe that what's happening here is beyond words; it's an experience you must have. Despite the laid-back and fun atmosphere, everyone takes their work seriously and feels fully responsible for what they do. I think it's the best combination.
We recently celebrated our first anniversary with an amazing party that lasted until early morning. On that occasion, we received a multitude of well-wishes, warm words, and recognition from our business partners. It was a deeply moving experience for us.
To me, that's proof that we're on the right path, and we'll continue to strive to maintain our identity. So, I believe we'll keep growing dynamically while still enjoying playing board games together and laughing at memes during our weekly team calls.