How to build a global & autonomic company?

Summary of #TalentBuzz Episode with Ilkka Mäkitalo from Howspace

Introduction

• Host: Samuli Salonen
• Guest: Ilkka Mäkitalo from Howspace
• Topic: Discussion about Howspace's growth, organizational structure, and talent acquisition strategies

Howspace: Company Overview

• Size: Around 80 employees in over 10 countries
• Operation: Remote-first approach
• Business Focus: Transformation design and implementation platform, including workshopping, learning programs, and community collaboration
• Growth: Revenue of €7.2 million last year with customers in 50 countries and about 200 global partners

Remote-First Culture

• Adoption: English as the main language for inclusivity and remote work flexibility
• Offices: Available but remote work encouraged for autonomy
• Challenge: Balancing office culture with remote workers to maintain inclusivity

Recruitment Strategy

• Collaborative process for role definition and interviews
• Focus on expertise, cultural fit, and willingness to adapt to a growing company
• Emphasis on practical skills and autonomy in work

Organizational Structure

• Growth: From 7 to 80 people, leading to changes in structure
• Approach: Agile, collaborative, and values-driven
• Structure: Navigation group instead of a traditional management team
• Focus: Maintaining flexibility and autonomy while implementing necessary structures and processes

Data-Driven Approach

• Goal: To become more data-driven for business decisions
• Challenge: Balancing autonomy with adherence to systems and processes for accurate data collection

Retention and Career Development

• Vision and mission alignment for employee motivation
• Fostering a culture of reflection, co-creation, and practical execution
• Career paths focused on expertise rather than traditional hierarchical progression

Lessons and Reflections

• Scale only proven aspects of the business
• Blend sales skills with domain expertise for effective teamwork and learning
• Embrace social and collaborative learning as part of the company's product and culture

Conclusion

• Ilkka Mäkitalo emphasizes the importance of a strong vision, a flexible and inclusive culture, and a continuous learning environment for scaling a SaaS company effectively.

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