Introducing Vibe Committees: the new guardians of Dropbox culture in Virtual First
Before the shift to Virtual First, our in-office experience was a huge part of our culture at Dropbox. While we had a handful of remote employees, most Dropboxers were located close to an office and came in every day to collaborate in person with their teammates against the backdrops of meticulously styled conference rooms and study areas, our famous Tuck Shop (employee cafeteria), the bustling coffee shop, and other unique spaces. So when we announced we’d continue to work from home permanently with a new Virtual First work strategy, some Dropboxers were concerned about how our culture would change as a result.
Many cross-functional teams, including our Community & Culture workstream, shared in this discussion, but they couldn’t shepherd the evolution of our culture alone. We needed the voices of more Dropboxers across the world to represent different perspectives and complete the conversation. That’s why we created regional Vibe Committees.
A Vibe Committee is an employee-led group of Dropboxers who want to build and promote community, cultivate meaningful human connections, and foster engagement between Dropboxers in their local region. As they delve deep into how Dropboxers in their area are feeling, they can develop plans to help their coworkers feel more connected and supported in their roles. And in the name of total inclusivity, and making sure that all voices are heard and respected, Vibe Committees are open to all Dropboxers.
Vibe Committees are already in full swing, with the Japan committee hosting their very first virtual activity this summer. In this event, teams worked together to answer puzzle based quizzes. The response was overwhelmingly positive.
Our North American Central region committee also got together recently for their first virtual escape room. The climb up “Treasure Mountain” gave them the perfect opportunity to meet and build fun memories with Dropboxers outside of their regular teams.
And our Vibe Committees are just getting started. They want to do much more than just giggle over puzzles together; as Fred Mora from our North American East region team said, “Vibe Committees can help create personal, face-to-face contact that is otherwise very hard with Virtual First.” Jess Fisher from the North American West region team agreed, “It’s important to evolve Dropbox’s culture to fit this Virtual First world in a way that preserves the vital parts of our culture while adapting it to the future so its inclusive for everyone regardless of location or situation.”
We’re excited to see how their roles and activities evolve as we become more settled in our new way of working and connecting with each other. Rebecca Beaty, representing France on our EMEA team, said, “I think Vibe Committees will help Dropbox stay Dropbox by thinking outside the box to design creative events that can become more hybrid with time, by keeping ourselves honest and transparent with what’s working and what’s not, and by doing regular pulse checks to get feedback on what our people want and expect from a Virtual First environment — today and tomorrow.”
For more information on how we’re thriving in a Virtual First world, you can visit our new jobs site.
