Remote First Company Culture | Marleen Kappert & Sebastiaan Bekker | Beyond Coding Podcast #125

Global Hiring

Patrick Akil, Marleen Kappert, and Sebastiaan Bekker discuss the strategic choice of adopting a 'work from anywhere' policy to attract global talent. Sebastiaan explains that this decision was driven by the need to find specific skills not available locally, starting with hires from countries like Portugal and Germany before expanding to places like Kenya. They emphasize the importance of creating a cohesive team culture through remote meetings and social events.

If everyone is working from anywhere, then everyone is the same. So most meetings are remote.

--- Sebastiaan Bekker

The team also organizes events to foster social cohesion, ensuring that remote employees feel included and valued. 1

   

Training Programs

The conversation shifts to innovative training programs designed to integrate new hires and upskill existing employees. Patrick shares his experience with a program at CB that trains individuals with less work experience, emphasizing the value of curiosity and drive over formal qualifications. Marleen highlights the potential of such programs to bridge the gap between education and the workforce.

We train them for a month when it comes to ways of working processes, some technical skills as well.

--- Patrick Akil

They discuss the importance of making the transition from school to work smoother and how these initiatives can help change industry standards. 2 3

   

Learning Mindset

Maintaining a learning mindset is crucial for remote teams. Sebastiaan and Marleen talk about the value of workshops that mix different departments, allowing employees to understand various aspects of the business. This approach fosters a culture of curiosity and continuous learning, which is essential for remote work success.

If you're not curious, it's hard to connect to a remote company as well.

--- Marleen Kappert

Patrick adds that understanding the business context is vital for developers, as it enhances their ability to create better systems and solutions. 4