Author Archives: Crystal Henrickson

Creative Cultures: Unbounce’s Growth In Moderation Success Strategy

In our Creative Cultures series, contributor Crystal Henrickson spends a day inside companies to learn how hiring, onboarding and company culture play a role in employee happiness. From startups to design firms and all in-between, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like to work in inventive and productive environments.

When you think of a stereotypical tech startup, a scene of ping pong tables, foosball and beer on Fridays emerges. But every day at Unbounce, an eagerness and earnestness to create a welcoming space for team members and customers alike bucks the cliche. I spent a day visiting their Vancouver office to experience its forward-thinking and transparent approach to business myself.

Unbounce is a marketing company providing software for professional marketers to create, publish and test landing pages, without engaging a developer. The company, which was founded in 2009, has surged to more than 110 employees (and counting!), servicing over 10,000 customers with offices in Vancouver and in Montreal. Continue reading →

Creative Cultures: Curiosity is core at HCMA

Crystal Henrickson

Every day, 50+ creatives convene above the corner of Granville and Hastings in downtown Vancouver. They’re pushing limits and redefining the approach to architectural design. Today, I’m visiting HCMA to learn how developing a community-centric culture is propelling the company beyond traditional practices and into the future of architecture.

The firm’s history reaches back to the mid-1970s and in the over 45 years it has been actively engaged in community oriented projects. “Throughout our history we’ve developed a strong belief in the power of design to positively impact the community.” says Managing Partner, Darryl Condon. When visiting their offices it is clear that this firm is on a path of discovery that looks to push this potential.

HCMA is a nationally and internationally recognized architectural firm evolving to meet the needs of the future. At every level, creativity and curiosity are being fostered: during charettes (brainstorming sessions specific to architecture), in staff library book suggestions, on Wednesday’s lunch club and even while selecting a new coffee bean to try during “kitchen duty.” Continue reading →

Creative Cultures: Vega’s Energy is Contagious!

Crystal Henrickson

There’s a building in Burnaby that’s buzzing with the contagious energy of some of Greater Vancouver’s health and wellness minded individuals. When I arrived to spend a day inside the offices of Vega — a company that is as passionate about clean, plant-based nutrition products, as they are about company culture — I could feel the energy radiating through the building. It was infectious! Within moments of arriving I was led on a tour by Trevor Ellestad, PR Specialist. From talking with employees, and participating in activities like lunch hour yoga and 3pm planking, the heightened happiness levels and willingness to be involved in every aspect of Vega life was apparent in everyone I encountered.

“We’re all on the same wavelength about work hard, play hard,” enthuses Anthony Rosenfeld, VP of Marketing. “The people here, more than anything, make the experience awesome. It feels good to work for a company that’s doing something good for people and the planet.” Continue reading →

Land A Role In A Learning Organization: Ask These 3 Questions

Crystal Henrickson

Image of Business man running on stairs to success from Shutterstock.

A 2015 workplace survey* discovered that 85 per cent of employees do not feel the training they are getting at work is preparing them for their next position.

Evolution in career management has put individuals, not employers, in control of their learning and development, and YES, of your own career. This shift brings great responsibility for employees and job hunters. The onus is on you to ask questions that will ensure you are receiving the training, learning and opportunities necessary to progress in your career.

Before you accept your next job offer, make sure you are landing a role with a company that will support you in reaching your career aspirations and goals by asking these three questions to evaluate its workplace learning culture: Continue reading →

Creative Cultures: 7Geese fly together, build trust together

Crystal Henrickson

In our Creative Cultures series, Contributor Crystal Henrickson spends a day inside companies to learn how hiring, onboarding and company culture play a role in employee happiness. From startups to design firms and all in-between, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like to work in inventive and productive environments.

Headquartered in Gastown, Vancouver, 7Geese is a performance management and goal-setting solution that helps companies achieve sustainable results. Every Wednesday, the 7Geese team gathers for a lunch and learn presented by employees on a topic of their choosing. On the day of my visit, a new addition to the business development team shares learnings from a book he received during his onboarding.

The value of culture

“These lunches promote the value of being a learning organization and striving for ongoing development,” says Kendra Moroz, Director of Customer Engagement. “We share a few laughs with some of the presentations, and as you dig below the surface you can see the assumption about culture: continuous learning is necessary for employees and the organization to remain competitive in a constantly changing business environment.” Continue reading →

Five Things Friday: Kei Baritugo of BoldLove Communications

Crystal Henrickson

We’re unveiling a new series here at FreshGigs. Five Things Friday is a departure from the interviews and features we typically post. Part conversation, Part Proust Questionnaire – but with just five questions, Five Things Friday (hashtag alert! #5TF) shows the lighter (and sometimes sillier) side of our interviewees. We’ll be talking to everyone we can get our grubby little hands on; it’s our way of introducing you to the communications, marketing and creative cognoscenti who rock their respective industries. This week, Crystal Henrickson gets Kei Baritugo of BoldLove Communications to open up.

Firstly, tell us about BoldLove. What do you do? Who do you represent?

If BoldLove was a song, it would be Voodoo Child by Jimi Hendrix. As a PR agency, we’re very passionate and a tad rebellious. We’re also a bunch of nerds who love storytelling, strategic thinking and executing measurable impact. It’s no wonder we represent big thinkers, dream chasers and change-makers in the arts & entertainment, technology, and non-profit / social enterprise fields. We get along swimmingly with clients who Kerouac would refer to as the “mad ones.” Continue reading →

Creative Cultures: iQmetrix lives up to its give-back values

Crystal Henrickson

In our Creative Cultures series, Contributor Crystal Henrickson spends a day inside companies to learn how hiring, onboarding, and company culture play a role in employee happiness. From startups to design firms and all in-between, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like to work in inventive and productive environments.

iQmetrix is a leading provider of retail management solutions for the North American retail industry. Its vision of creating great experiences for its people, partners and clients is evident in the creative, collaborative and open culture across their five offices: Vancouver, Regina, Winnipeg, Charlotte, North Carolina and Sydney, Australia.

Every morning, employees participate in an open meeting invitation to “Link Share,” and today, I’ve been asked to join them at their downtown Vancouver headquarters. The kitchen and lounge provide an informal place for an open meeting such as this one; staff are encouraged to stay ahead of trends, and these daily syncs feed blog commentary and social media fodder. Continue reading →

Ace your next interview with these HR-approved questions

Crystal Henrickson

Photo of Two women meeting in the office from Shutterstock.

When you’re job hunting, it’s only natural to want to appear eager to win over potential employers and land a new gig. But if you don’t invest the time to ensure that a company is the right fit for you, that new job can quickly become a nightmare.

You can learn a lot about an organization by researching online, asking the opinions of people who have worked there and through the interview process itself. However, a surefire way to get the information you need to decide whether a company is right for you, is to come to the interview prepared with purposeful questions. We canvassed five talent and recruitment professionals to share some of the best questions former candidates have asked. Continue reading →