Every company’s culture is a unique cocktail of personalities, passions, purposes and products — all coming together to create a signature flavor that reflects and guides how teams work together. To find out more about the secret ingredients that define local tech cultures, we talked to seven local techies about how their companies’ cultures are different from other places they’ve worked and the impact that has on their day-to-day.
As a leader in logistics real estate, Prologis helps manufacturing and distribution companies around the globe ensure their products are delivered efficiently and on time. VP of Information Security Sue Lapierre explained how a focus on collaboration and innovation has been key to building culture — and to the company’s ongoing success.
How is the company culture at Prologis different from what you’ve experienced at previous companies?
There is a sense of collaboration and innovation that permeates throughout Prologis — which I have not found in other organizations. We are engaged with leading-edge technologies and driving new initiatives. It’s important to have this kind of culture to continue our success.
There is a sense of collaboration and innovation that permeates throughout Prologis — which I have not found in other organizations.”
Why is that important for someone in your role?
In my position, I work with individuals across the Prologis offices and at all levels in the organization. Regardless of location, people are not only passionate about what they do but interested in what others are doing.
Known for its elevated design and thoughtfully sourced materials, Artifact Uprising turns people’s digital images into customizable photo goods, like photo albums, framed mementos, calendars and cards. Director of CRM and Email Marketing Heather Dettmann said humility and support are at the core of the company’s unique culture.
How is the company culture at Artifact Uprising different from what you’ve experienced at previous companies?
The word that stands out to me to articulate this is support. One of our company’s core values is that “we elevate those around us,” and the team walks the walk. Team members at all levels foster and celebrate growth in each other, checking egos at the door, at a level that I haven’t experienced before.
I think it’s pretty special to find and build a team where people take the time to teach, empower and celebrate each other.”
Why is that important for someone in your role?
This mentality is important to me because, even as a team leader, I am eager to continuously learn. I want to surround myself with smart people who can help me grow and want to give the same in return. I think it’s pretty special to find and build a team where people take the time to teach, empower and celebrate each other.
Leveraging a multifaceted team of digital marketing experts and its own proprietary technology, Adtaxi helps businesses launch custom, performance-driven marketing campaigns across a range of digital channels. Sales Development Representative Joe Forszt explained how Adtaxi’s culture starts at the top, making for an environment where every team member is invested in the company’s success.
How is the company culture at Adtaxi different from what you’ve experienced at previous companies?
The leadership here really cares about our company culture and works with us to ensure a quality work environment. A lot of our incredibly awesome, superhuman, highly intellectual colleagues like to get involved as well, versus just watching from the sidelines. It’s great to see so many people participate and have a company that cares about your production, growth, job satisfaction and work-life balance. So many companies don’t have those categories on their priority list, which can make it hard to wake up and go to work every day.
The leadership here really cares about our company culture and works with us to ensure a quality work environment.”
Why is that important for someone in your role?
It breaks up the monotony of some of the everyday tasks that everyone experiences from time to time. Something as simple as “Burrito Thursday” or “Massage Wednesday” — or even our annual meat-cooking competition — gets you excited to come into work. We spend a great majority of our lives working, and these things help to make it that much more enjoyable.
Beatport is the home of electronic music for DJs, producers and their fans, providing a platform for users to stream music, download songs to perform live, connect with other members of the community, and keep up with the latest music from up-and-coming and established artists alike. Office Manager Jordan Kennedy shared how she plays a part in ensuring the company’s passion-driven culture is felt across the entire organization.
How is the company culture at Beatport different from what you’ve experienced at previous companies?
Working for a music company, the culture has to be a little different. While our Denver office is focused on technology, all of our team members have a legitimate passion for music and the products we are building. That passion spills over into an office culture built on diverse perspectives and collaboration. Like the DJ community we work with, there is often a pulse that you can feel through the office with DJs stopping by to play sets and teams spread throughout the office collaborating on new ideas. While it’s not always possible, we really try to live the brand we represent on a daily basis.
Like the DJ community we work with, there is often a pulse that you can feel through the office with DJs stopping by to play sets...”
Why is that important for someone in your role?
As office manager, I am partially responsible for ensuring the culture we promote is realized in the office. This includes a work-life balance and genuine enthusiasm for being a part of Beatport. While the team managers are tasked with ensuring each team member is recognized for their contributions and being successful in their job, I want to see that positivity extended to the office and culture — and beyond.
OrthoFi develops software solutions that support both orthodontists and their patients by streamlining time-consuming administrative processes for doctors and helping them grow their businesses, and giving patients more control over their payment plans and orthodontic care. VP of Technology Steve O'Quin said building strong internal relationships and aligning everyone behind company goals helps build trust and respect around the office.
How is the company culture at OrthoFi here different from what you’ve experienced at previous companies?
Many companies focus on culture, but it is often a difficult concept to pin down. At OrthoFi we feel culture, and our incredible team members are the foundation of everything that we do.
We believe that the base of every great culture is trust and mutual respect. OrthoFi places additional focus on this by investing the time to establish true relationships with our teammates and ensuring that everyone shares the same goals. Through this shared consciousness, we can enable our teams to truly own their results and also collaborate openly to ensure the best idea wins. We feel that this ultimately allows our team to deliver effectively while also creating a culture that enables us to get better every day.
At OrthoFi we feel culture, and our incredible team members are the foundation of everything that we do.”
Why is that important for someone in your role?
This is important to me because I believe that these established practices will create a winning culture that enables our team to move fast, through an assumed positive intent amongst our teammates. There is nothing more satisfying than accomplishing a team victory together through our collective hard work and dedication! If our team is winning together, our client happiness and satisfaction will ultimately follow.
T-Mobile Home + Entertainment is transforming the TV industry with premium TV services that put consumers first and provide a more personalized and integrated experience — without contracts or hidden fees. Creative Development Manager Kole Kostelic explained how the company’s unique culture creates an environment where creativity and collaboration thrive.
How is the company culture at T-Mobile H+E different from what you’ve experienced at previous companies?
The culture here has been unique in that, for the most part, we have been able to craft and shape it as we grow and evolve. I’ve only ever worked at design agencies, so I was a little nervous going in-house. But I was extremely grateful that T-Mobile Home + Entertainment shows the same reverence to collaboration, creativity and potential for personal growth. The small team I work with has become an agile and competent force within the company, as well as a group of dear friends.
I know that when I come into work every day, I’ll have the chance to explore new projects and ideas with a team that I respect and admire.”
Why is that important for someone in your role?
I absolutely love the culture we have cultivated in the past couple of years. It feels open and honest, which allows for greater creativity and ideation. It’s important to have creative freedom and a team where ego doesn’t play a part in the work we produce. I know that when I come into work every day, I’ll have the chance to explore new projects and ideas with a team that I respect and admire.
Bounteous’ expertise spans nearly every aspect of modern business — from strategy and design to engineering, analytics and marketing — and they use that expertise to help companies develop rich and engaging digital experiences. As a major driving force for company culture, Talent and Culture Experience Specialist Nicole Schroeder said she works to create a place where people leave each day feeling valued, accomplished and cared for.
How is your company culture here different from what you’ve experienced at previous companies?
At previous companies I’ve worked at, we never had much of a culture. There was always a huge need to figure out what our “culture” was, but it never felt organic. There would be activities or events that no one really had an interest in, which created a disconnect between the employees and the company because we felt we weren’t being listened to or cared about.
At Bounteous, specifically in Denver, the culture formed naturally. The employees are able to see what the company stands for as a whole, but recognize that each office has its own unique qualities and can create its own experience and culture within those walls. We collaborate with each other and find commonalities, such as outdoor activities, personal interests and beer, of course. The culture feels authentic and actually acted upon, rather than how other companies say they have a culture but there isn’t any definition or truth behind those words.
Culture isn’t created overnight, and we want to bring in people who will contribute to and challenge it in a positive way.”
Why is that important for someone in your role?
In my role in talent and culture, the importance is right in my title. On the talent side of things, we want employees who are going to live by the culture we stand for. Culture isn’t created overnight, and we want to bring in people who will contribute to and challenge it in a positive way. From a cultural perspective, I want people coming into work every day feeling excited and also safe in their work environment. For many, the average person will spend about one-third of their life at work. If we’re spending this much time in an office, we want everyone to come in and leave feeling valued, accomplished and cared for.
