Congrid, a pioneer company in its field, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. We have interviewed Congrid's CEO and founding member, Timo Makkonen, about the company's different phases and the factors behind its success. Timo emphasized the importance of people throughout the company's entire journey.
First Steps: A Good Workplace for Oneself and Others
The founders of Congrid embarked on their journey with a desire to create a good workplace for themselves. They understood that their own job satisfaction would also affect others. "People are at the heart of everything we do. From coding to sales to customer service, our initial goal was to create a good workplace for everyone. We've always wanted to maintain the basics and ensure that our work environment is enjoyable," Timo explained. "This fundamental idea still is a cornerstone of Congrid's culture."
Founders also wanted to invest in human resources management, and they hired an HR professional early on, breaking from the conventional norms. "We've always aimed to be a family-friendly workplace. In practice, this means flexibility and understanding that employees have lives beyond work," Timo stated. "Congrid has been a remote work environment from day one, and all practices have been built around that. The office is dedicated for meetings, and to our delight, it is actively used for that purpose."
Personal Growth and Development
At Congrid, team leads understand that the personal growth and development of employees are key factors for long-term success. Timo mentioned that a separate budget is allocated for developing employees' skills, and self-directedness has always been central. Individuals are given the freedom and responsibility for their own growth, encouraging continuous learning and development. In Congrid, many employees have experienced rapid career growth, and roles evolve based on individuals' strengths.
A Changing Work Environment
Congrid has not remained static during its 10-year journey. The company has grown and evolved, with the most significant change occurring in 2020 when Congrid became part of the SmartCraft group. The focus shifted as they integrated into a larger entity, and adaptability has been a key part of this journey. "We have grown from a founder-led small company to becoming part of a larger company. Our actions have always aimed at growth," Timo explained. "When necessary, we have even invested proactively."
Participation and Listening
One of the secrets to Congrid's success is its open culture of dialogue and employee participation in decision-making. Timo emphasized that the threshold for participation is low, and discussions have been part of the company culture from the beginning. "The strength of our business lies in an open culture of ideation, where ideas can come from anyone within the organization," he said. "At the core of it all is a vision of where we want to go, and people brainstorm how to make that vision a reality. This forms our culture of experimentation. We believe in trying openly to learn." Employees are also involved in decision-making in other areas. "For example, benefits like the employee bicycle program and dental care were organized based on suggestions from employees," Timo added.
To celebrate its 10-year journey, Congrid is hosting a grand celebration with gala dinners and live bands for its employees in the end of September. Founding members and former employees from over the years have also been invited. The celebrations and their contents, naturally, were conceived and built by the employees themselves!