Building culture | Daisy Linden & Kristen Kee

TL;DR

Coinbase and Uniswap share their experiences in building and scaling company culture in a remote-first environment, emphasizing the importance of clarity, flexibility, communication, integration, and realignment.

Transcript

thank you so it is early March 2020 and it's a few minutes before our weekly AMA is due to start at coinbase and normally this would put us in a big conference room bigger than this with our whole San Francisco team broadcasting all of the questions from our employees as well as all the company updates out to the world but today it's just me and Em... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Writing down the desired culture is vital for clarity and alignment within the company.
• ⚾ Flexibility in adapting culture based on data and feedback is important for growth.
• ❓ Clear communication, even if it includes tough messages, fosters transparency and trust.
• ❓ Integrating culture into company systems and processes supports consistent implementation.
• ❓ Realignment of culture should be done proactively to maintain its desired impact.
• ❓ Subcultures should align with the overall culture to ensure cohesion and efficiency.
• 🏃 Balancing remote work with in-person activities creates a well-rounded employee experience.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why is company culture important and how does it impact employees' experience?

Culture has a direct impact on the overall employee experience, including how easy or hard it is to get work done. It sets the tone for how employees should show up, succeed, and navigate uncertainties.

Q: How can companies get started with building and scaling their culture?

Companies should start by writing down their desired culture, even if it evolves over time. They should be flexible, communicate early and clearly, integrate culture into team processes, and be willing to realign culture when necessary.

Q: How do you balance being remote-first with the need for in-person connection and activities?

Both Coinbase and Uniswap have implemented virtual social activities and off-site meetings to foster connection and alignment. They balance remote work with in-person interactions based on the specific needs and objectives of the team.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Coinbase and Uniswap discuss their journey in building and scaling company culture in a remote-first environment.

• Lessons learned include the need to write down the culture, be flexible in adapting to changes, communicate clearly with employees, integrate culture into company systems, and realign when needed.

• Culture is defined as the language, behaviors, rituals, and standard practices of a company, and it should have a direct impact on everything employees experience.