Empowerment through Diversity: The Journey of Outreach in Prague
Tomas Bergl, the co-sitelead of Outreach office in Prague, shared the thought process behind a decision to open an office in Prague in a recent Jury Starynec podcast “From Seattle to Prague” (in Czech). The main motivation to have an office in Prague was built on the idea that:
“PRAGUE WAS THE PERFECT CHOICE FOR US BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION IN THE HEART OF CENTRAL EUROPE, WHERE YOU CAN ACHIEVE BOTH: HIRE EXCEPTIONAL TALENT AND BUILD A REMARKABLY DIVERSE TEAM”.
We have already shared the story about opening our Prague office during the outburst of Covid-19. In this blogpost, we will shed light on how we succeeded in our initial plan to build a unique and vibrant office culture.
Prioritizing Internal Culture
Right from the start, establishing a unique and strong company culture was a priority for our branch in Prague. We wanted to create an independent office where individuals had a space to grow and thrive.
At the start, the hiring process relied heavily on personal connections, with 100% of new hires coming through referrals. As Tomas highlights:
“WE HIRED A LOT OF TECH SUPERSTARS TO HELP US TO BUILD THE INITIAL TEAMS. WE WERE LUCKY TO GET PEOPLE WE ALREADY KNEW WELL, AND WHO WERE ABLE TO BUILD A CORE TEAM WITH DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.”
Right now we can state that diversity at Outreach Prague extends beyond nationality and gender; it encompasses different mindsets, communication styles, and perspectives. Our team’s aim is to foster an environment where everyone feels valued and heard.
The Hiring Process: Cultivating a Vibrant and Values-Based Selection Process
Gradually we started to change our interview process to prioritize shared values alongside technical skills. As Tomas mentioned:
“ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT VALUES THAT WE SHARE GLOBALLY IN OUTREACH IS HONESTY — HONESTY WITH OURSELVES, OUR COLLEAGUES, AND OUR COMMUNITY. BUT I THINK THAT WE ALSO EMPHASIZE THE NEED FOR EMPATHY TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER WELL”.
To make sure we build a “PLAY-FULL-OUT” culture within our team, Outreach Prague follows an extensive and thorough hiring process. Our recruiting cycle is not only about the technical rounds, but we make sure to dedicate enough time to share all the necessary information about who we are.
We emphasize building a team of open-minded friends, creating an environment that is dynamic, fun, and far from corporate. We foster an environment where every candidate feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and allowing us to discover more about them, including their hobbies and interests.
Tomas likes to joke around, saying:
“FEW CANDIDATES TOLD US OUR INTERVIEW PROCESS WAS TOO LONG, SO WE MADE IT EVEN LONGER! JOKES ASIDE, WE BELIEVE IN DEDICATING TIME TO ESTABLISH A PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH EACH CANDIDATE AND MAKING THEM FEEL VALUED. IF ANYTHING, OUR RECRUITMENT PROCESS IS NOT SHALLOW.”
We’re not interested in people who take this process lightly; we want individuals who embrace it. Fairness is crucial to us, so every candidate goes through the same interviewing process. We’re flexible when it comes to its timing, whether it’s onsite or remote. We don’t have an extensive checklist of tech skills, but we’re focused on understanding how a candidate thinks, their acquired experience and potential, and their shared values to determine if they are going to be a great fit for our team.
“IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT SKILLS; IT’S ABOUT FINDING THE RIGHT MINDSET AND CULTURE FIT.”
And what are the takeaways?
Embracing diverse backgrounds and opinions has statistically proven to be beneficial, enabling the team to create a vibrant culture by encouraging innovative ideas. By prioritizing inclusivity from the start, we’ve grown to a strong office that encompasses various teams, including Engineering, Product Management, UX Design, Product, QA, Automation, Infrastructure, Technical Support, but also HR, IT, Finance, Facilities and more. Our commitment to embracing diversity has paid off, making our workplace more inclusive, equitable, and contributing to our collective success.
