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Wise insights

Corporate values are at the core of Wise Engineering. We sat down with the company’s CEO Max Drogobytskyi to talk about Wise corporate culture and values-driven business. Max has shared what corporate culture means to him, how the company prioritized shared values, explains what values-driven environment is really about, and how values keep company integrated in the long run.

## What makes a values-driven business

**Q. When you started a company what was your idea of a successful business? What was the most important for you at that step?**

M. At that point, the freedom to make decisions myself was what I strove for the most. I didn’t look at other companies and, therefore, never took them as role models. Perhaps, it was my mistake. If I looked, I would, perhaps, make fewer errors and someday would build something similar. Still, I don’t regret anything. I wanted to do everything my way, learned from my mistakes, sometimes I started over. It was a bumpy road, but I am very happy where it got me and Wise Engineering now.

**Q. What does a values-driven company mean to you and at what step did you understand that you need to invest in the culture? **

M. A values-driven company is a company in which when there is a decision to be made, corporate values are taken into account above any other reasons, including rational or financial.

We say that Wise Engineering is a values-driven company because our shared ethics is behind every decision I make as a leader and every action we take as a team. When faced with any difficult choice or any everyday behavior, we are answering the question – does it correlate with our values?

How did Wise become a values-driven company? At what point? I don’t know. It is who we are and how we operated from day one. I was never a manager that made data-driven decisions. My decisions were made based on my subjective beliefs. Yet, we did not always understand what exactly drove us. At some point, we started to question it and, so to say, turn our values into words across the team.

**Q. Can you describe this process a bit further? How was it organized?**

M. It was eight years ago, as far as I recall. At that point we hired the company’s first HR manager, and this was her first major task. We wanted to understand what values we had in common and what aspects made up the company’s value system.

We got three random groups that included almost everyone from the company at that point (everyone who wanted to participate in the initiative). We had several iterations where people working in the groups defined values they shared. At first, they described some eloquent situations, behavior models, attitude, wrote everything down. Then they proceeded with grouping and identifying the values behind these patterns. Then the management team worked on the results each group provided. We assembled a list of values we share on the organizational level and included clarifications for each. 

So we created a document that is now used across teams and all company departments. The greatest part about company values is that you don’t have to invent them. They already exist. All you need is observe what culture you have, make a decision to shape it, and then act upon it. 

![Wise Engineering team](https://wise-site.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/values_driven_company_team_fcc26af32a.jpg)

**Q. What were the easiest and hardest parts in building a values-driven business?**

M. Finding the right people is the hardest part. It is much easier to check tech expertise. Several questions and a test task – that’s all you need. With values, the answers are not on the surface. We always include culture fit interviews during the hiring process, still, sometimes you need to let people go after some time working together. Even if it is very important financially to keep this position filled, we never compromise the culture fit aspect. 

Besides, it also might be problematic to differentiate between current core values and aspirational ones. Yet, it is something one needs to learn – see clearly where we are now and where are we heading. And not to mix the two. 

To me, the easiest part is to live by the values you’ve defined. The answers to disputable questions become obvious. You don’t need to create a policy for every situation that might happen in the workspace, and still the whole team has guidelines that they share. Living by values gives you freedom of being who you are, helps build an open culture that is about honesty and integrity.

**Q. Is there any difference between the specifics of building values-driven culture for a product and a service tech company?**

M. Sure. There are not only differences but consequences if the values system is not built. What I mean is that every product company has a very unique mission and set of values based on it. It requires work, but still with people united by this unique mission, even when being spread across continents, they feel more aligned by it.

The mission behind service IT companies is very similar, because so are the goals. Thus, when everyone goes remote in the service company, and there is no culture behind, you no longer talk about the team. In this case, the engineer from an outsourcing company is no different from the one working as a freelancer. Yet, if you work with a service company with embodied culture, you can base your collaboration on shared values. The attitude to work here is different, and so are the results you receive on the outcome. 

That is why, at Wise Engineering, we pay so much attention to us working together more time in our office, why we hold so many corporate events, and always speak of who we are, and why it is important to preserve. 

## People behind Wise Engineering culture

**Q. The company has evolved so much since 2006, what are you proudest of from all these years?**

M. That’s an interesting question. There are many things I’m proud of, but most of all I’d say – people. People behind Wise Engineering I admire the most. And these are both our in-house team and our clients. 

I am very proud that we managed to bring together specialists with deep tech expertise that at the same time are united by the values of growth and ownership. Meantime, our clients become our long-term partners that collaborate with us for years. We cope together with world crises and a variety of challenges. The global projects we are part of are impactful, with unique missions that fully correlate with our worldview.

Being surrounded by these people and contributing to global change-driving businesses makes me really proud today. Especially today. 

![Wise Engineering team](https://wise-site.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/values_driven_company_wise_team_c716193276.png)

**Q. How would you describe a person behind the Wise Engineering culture?**

M. Proactive, that’s on top of mind. This person offers and initiates help when that help is needed and gives feedback openly.

This person takes part in company life and takes full responsibility for the things initiated. And this includes multiple non-work related initiatives that we hold at Wise Engineering. We describe this attitude as ownership. To me, this is where the Wise team stands out the most. 

**Q. What ideas hit on you when the war started*?**

**On February 24, 2022, russia started a military invasion of Ukraine. When this interview is published, Ukraine is still fighting for its rights as an independent, sovereign state. *

M. Honestly, there were no new ideas. This war escalation only strengthened the importance of ideas that we had before. This includes our aim of giving our people the ability to work from abroad and gradually moving towards a product company targeting the global audience. This does not mean we wouldn’t take the outsourcing projects, but we plan to transform our expertise in the SaaS products that would address the complex tech challenges. We want to move in this direction. That’s for sure.

Also, like never before, I felt loyalty from both our employees and our clients. Hard times erase all layers and show who are the people around you. I can’t say enough how valuable it is now to feel the integrity of our team and our partners. Wisers did everything to fulfill our obligations to our clients, we continued hard work no matter what, and some teams had even the productivity rise. At the same time, we received immense support from companies and teams we collaborate with as outsourcing tech partners. We are very grateful for this attitude. Today I feel the results of the culture we’ve built for years.

## How to build a values-driven work environment

**Q. What would be your imperative for businesses who try to build a values-driven company?**

M. You can’t create a value system for yourself and your team. You just need to reflect and name what you already have. Faking culture won’t work. Of course, there can be a list of aspirational values that you aim at, but my idea is to start with what drives you currently. 

Explicit values help your company stop operating by rules and policies and start operating by principles. This helps build integrity, open culture, and a strong team that is aligned by shared ethics.  

Don’t be afraid to let your values impact what you do next. You won’t regret it in the long run.










Our CEO, Max Drogobytskyi shares his thoughts on what a values-driven company is, how corporate values are defined, and what impact they make. 

Values-driven company: A Conversation with Wise Engineering CEO

Our CEO, Max Drogobytskyi shares his thoughts on company values and changes that are driven by them. 

Values-driven company: A conversation with Wise Engineering CEO

Wise blog_traditions-09 (2).svg

From our Tech Talks to group skiing lessons, Wise Engineering company traditions are rich, inspiring, and fun. We are a Ukraine-based company, and it is our corporate culture that helps us today like never before, live through the hard times, stay productive, help those in need, and feel the support from each other. 

Our traditions are aligned with our values of growth, ownership, and our aim to build a work environment of close friendships and caring human relationships. This year our company celebrates the 16th anniversary, and we are proud to say that some traditions are with us from those early days.

We hope our collection will spur some ideas for your workspace and will be happy if you share your company traditions in the comments for the <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6925711789867335680" target="_blank">post on our LinkedIn</a> page.

![Family day at Wise Engineering](https://wise-site.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/CW_204544_eba98fbf7c.jpg)

## Growing together

At Wise Engineering, we aspire to high engineering standards and work in the domains that evolve rocket fast. That’s why we never stop learning new technologies and improving our skills. 

### TWIL meetings

The *This-week-I-learned* initiative helps us stay up-to-date with the latest technology news and share knowledge across teams. The slot for this meeting is booked in advance every Friday afternoon for all Wise Engineering teams. If you have an interesting topic to share, you announce it in the Slack channel and get about 15 minutes for a short presentation. Sometimes there are more than one speaker. All depends on the week load.

The topics are not necessarily technical (though they usually are). Sometimes we speak of Mars exploration, plane engines, and handy devices our engineers built.

### Book clubs

Several book clubs are operating at Wise Engineering all year round. You can join a technical book club or the one where we read books on innovations, soft skills development, and business growth. The book club owner selects a book and gathers a group of people who would read it together. Once a week, group comes together to discuss the chapters planned for reading and share insights and their experiences. We read in English, of course.

Among the latest books that impressed us the most were *Turn the Ship Around!* by L. David Marquet and *The Culture Code* by Daniel Coyle. From the first we’ve learned from the former Navy captain David Marquet’s true story on how to grow ownership attitude within a team. Reading the second, we had active discussions on how the corporate culture is built and what makes different teams succeed. It seems like at Wise, we like books that are based on real life stories one can then further explore.

### Tech Talks

Wisers like to share their knowledge. We do it all the time: when meeting in the office kitchen for coffee or holding internal knowledge-sharing events. We also love to spread our expertise outside the company. 

Before the pandemics, Wise Tech Talks was one of the coolest tech events in our city and always gathered a lot of professionals. Last year we experimented with the online format, and that was a great experience as well. So in future, we plan a mix of both online and offline events.

![Wise Tech Talks](https://wise-site.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/00184_3f68691e0f.jpg)

## Raising ownership

Ownership is one of the Wise Engineering core values and it is encoded in a Wiser DNA. We own what we do, no matter if this is a work project or a charity initiative. We initiate changes and manage their realization. Our ideas at the company have all the chances to turn into startup businesses. 

### Thank you cards

Ownership always requires effort, and at our company we understand and value the impact that was made. We have a firm tradition to thank people in person as well as post thank you cards on a special board. This helps us emphasize the importance of the help received or the initiative that was successfully realized.

Very often we share thank you cards for the people who initiated some charity events, arranged exciting trips, or workshops. Each of such events results in numerous personal thank you cards to the owner. 

### Anniversary certificates 

70% of Wise Engineering tech teams work together for more than five years. The first Wise employee recently celebrated his 16th anniversary.

Work anniversaries are important and pleasant small celebrations at our company. Personal anniversary certificate is one of the tradition related to it. A certificate is a fun document that indicates the top work and personal achievements of a person celebrating the anniversary. 

The process of the certification creation is interesting as well. The current team and people closest to the person join a Slack channel where they share all the things they are thankful for to this person, major achievements, and some funny stories. The best of them are included in the final certificate version that is printed and presented in solemn atmosphere.

![Wise anniversary certificate](https://wise-site.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/Ihor_anniversarry_ab15522f5d.png)

In the peaceful times, the certificate was accompanied with a present which since the military invasion we now transformed into the donations to the selected charity funds on behalf of the person celebrating.

### Suit up day

Long ago, at Wise Engineering, we once had an employee with an exquisite love for suits. It is not a usual outfit engineers select for daily work but Oleh, the manager, looked very elegant every day. So once, to surprise him for his birthday, everyone in the office wore their best suits and dresses. Since that time, we have been committed to suit up on Oleh’s birthday every year. Many married Wise guys joke that this is a great opportunity to wear their wedding suits.

The tradition was not broken even during the pandemic times. Photos in official clothes were taken and shared online. This year, we invited Oleh to our new office and presented him with a bow-tie. He was moved. Every person matters at Wise Engineering, everyone can start a tradition, or we can start one for you.  

![Wise suit up day](https://wise-site.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/IMG_2034_ec80c70a15.jpg)

## Great times together

It is worth mentioning that while our country is at war all the celebrations are postponed till the Victory day. Still, to cope with the current stress, it helps to have all these dear memories of marvelous time we’ve spent together. They empower our hope that very soon we’ll be able to plan another great event for the Wise team.

### Family day

When days are getting warmer we organize a celebration where Wisers can invite their families to join the celebration. Pets are also welcomed.

To tell the truth, this is the favorite holiday of all the small Wise-kids as we always plan a lot of fun activities for them. They visit parents in the office every now and then, but it is much more fun to play outdoors and with other small *partners-in-crime*. Our best company photo shoots come from the Family Day celebration, as the atmosphere there is truly unique.

![Family Day at Wise Engineering](https://wise-site.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/CW_204920_1_ee0c84dea5.jpg)

### Wise-parties

Besides Family Day, Wise Engineering holds three events yearly – Programmers Day, New Year Party, and Wise Day (an official company’s birthday). For Programmers Day and New Year celebrations we always opt for some holiday theme that everyone prepares for very thoroughly. The previous year, for example, for the Programmers Day we selected the Oktoberfest theme, and many Wisers ordered national outfits directly from Austria and Germany to look as authentic as possible. There is always a competition for the best costume, and it is always a battle hard to win. 

For the Wise Day, the team goes to the Ukrainian Carpathian mountains and spends weekends there breathing the mountain air, celebrating achievements of the year and brainstorming ideas for the future. Another tradition associated with corporate parties is that, when you visit one, you get a badge with a unique engraving for each celebration.

![Programmers Day at Wise](https://wise-site.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/1031_4464f56065.jpg)

### Corporate sports

Running semi-marathons is one of many Wise sport passions. We have a team of runners who train together and take part in the competitions. The Wise team admires their incredible achievements after each race.

Skiing is considered a corporate sport. Expect to get *Do-you-ski?* question during the initial interview. If not, you will eventually. The best practice is received during the Wise Day, where you receive 2 or 3 days to practice. Wisers enjoy skiing and snowboarding. Wise-kids learn to ski starting from the age of four, and group lessons are arranged for the company newcomers. 

This year we prepared for the Wise Day in advance and were about to set for the trip on February 25th. Instead, we donated the money planned for the celebration to the Ukrainian military and focused on the volunteering tasks and our main obligations to Wise clients.

![Wise corporate sport](https://wise-site.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/Foto_2022_02_02_04_38_13_pp_8bfb462109.jpg)

## New traditions will start soon

We have a firm belief that after our country’s victory, we'll have some more wonderful Wise-traditions. To start with, Victory Day will be the most cherished holiday for all of us. We’ve already spoken of visiting the regions of Southern and Eastern Ukraine, which currently suffer from the military invasion the most. We’ll definitely dive more deeply into the country’s history and learn more about its beautiful traditions. 

Today, we do not write thank you cards to each other. All the thankful words are addressed to the Ukrainian military who are fighting bravely for all the traditions we have on national, corporate, and family levels. 


Learn about Wise Engineering company traditions to know us better and get some ideas for your workspace.

Wise Engineering Blog

#company

Values-driven company: A conversation with Wise Engineering CEO

Corporate traditions WE cherish today more than ever