When people talk about company culture, they usually mention perks, flex time, snacks, summer Fridays.
But for me, culture is about how people treat each other when deadlines are tight, when decisions are hard, and when things go wrong.
Here’s what I look for, and what I try to build inside my teams.
1. Curiosity Over Ego
The best teams I’ve been part of encourage questions over bravado. They prize learning, not just knowledge.
In my own career, the most successful projects came when people felt safe asking “why?” or “what if?” and chasing better answers. That curiosity-first mindset is exactly what I look for in a company.
2. High Standards, Shared Success
I want to work with people who care about doing great work. But not at the cost of each other.
I’ve been in teams where performance came at the expense of safety, and others where collaboration lifted everyone up. I’ll choose the latter every time.
The healthiest environments I’ve worked in balanced excellence with respect, where individuals held themselves to a high bar, but measured success by what the team accomplished together.
3. Work That Matters
It’s easier to give your best when the work connects to something bigger.
The most rewarding roles I’ve had were the ones where I could see the direct impact, whether improving systems for healthcare professionals, or building tools that made life easier for hundreds of colleagues. Knowing the work mattered made the late nights and tough calls worth it.
4. Teams That Reflect the World
Inclusion isn’t a side initiative. It’s a leadership priority.
I look for teams that value diverse perspectives, and make space for all voices at the table. Over the years I’ve worked with teammates across countries, backgrounds, and time zones, and I’ve seen how different viewpoints consistently lead to better solutions.
Because the best ideas don’t come from a monoculture.
Final Thought
You can’t fake culture. And the best companies don’t need to.
That’s the environment I look for, and the one I try to create wherever I go.