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We Lead By Example, Says Salesforce UK MD
Glassdoor Team
Glassdoor Team | Author & Career Expert at Glassdoor | 9 Jan 2017
You've got to be doing something right if you're voted (by your own employees) as a Best Place To Work in U.S., Canada and U.K within a year. Employees at Salesforce live and breathe the culture which is why their Culture & Values rating on Glassdoor is the highest of any of their workplace factors at 4.4/5, with an equally high 97% approval of the current CEO.
To discuss this in more detail we caught up with Andy Lawson, SVP Northern Europe and Managing Director UK and Ireland of Salesforce, to find out how they are getting so much right and what makes their company one to consider in 2017.
Tell us a little about your story and why you joined Salesforce?
I’ve worked in the tech industry for over 20 years, in a range of sales and management jobs, and joined Salesforce as UK and Ireland Managing Director in the summer of 2013. I’d admired Salesforce for many years, mostly because of its culture and brand values – I’m a big sports fan and from a young age have appreciated the value of teamwork and taking everyone with you.
What I found when I joined the company is that people really live for these values and the Ohana (family in Hawaiian) culture is the beating heart of our organisation here. I think that’s a big reason that Salesforce has become such a success.
How do you overcome the challenges of working for such a successful brand away from HQ?
As with many things in life, open and clear communication is key, and it’s no different here. If I’m honest, it’s the first company I’ve worked at where everyone’s opinion really matters – regardless of their position or where they’re based. I think it’s because we have a very strong commitment to agility and transformation within the company, and so our culture allows everyone to feel confident about sharing their opinions. I really encourage and empower managers to share information with employees because transparency is a core value for us - and critical for everyone at every level to understand what our goals and aspirations are. We all know that great ideas can come from anyone, at any level of the organisation, and I remind my managers that leading by example means that we’re able to create a transparent environment where we all feel comfortable communicating openly and honestly.
How do you translate the Ohana culture to your offices in the UK and Ireland?
As I mentioned, at Salesforce our culture is rooted in ‘Ohana’ - the idea in Hawaiian culture that family members are all responsible for one another. When our CEO (Marc Benioff) founded Salesforce, he felt this attitude and approach was lacking in corporate culture and he thought that if businesses put more emphasis on caring and cooperating, truly amazing things could happen in our workplaces and our communities. After all, every workplace is also a community isn’t it?
Now, 17 years later, Ohana defines how we all work together at Salesforce – it crosses borders and every single office around the world has embraced it. We’ve brought it to life in every aspect of our own offices in London, for example. It works because it’s a concept that resonates with everyone.
Regardless of culture or background, a sense of community matters to all of us.
Personally, I try really hard to ensure that every single employee in the UK and Ireland knows they play an important role, regardless of their job function. We do this through a range of ways from our induction process and mentoring scheme to the tone of my communications with employees. For example, I like to make an effort to celebrate the end of every quarter with little perks like drinks and pizza or manicures and backrubs in our offices to show every employee at every level that their contribution in that quarter has mattered.
Can you provide an example of how employees have adopted Ohana?
One of the key ways we bring Ohana to our communities is through our model of integrated philanthropy: Salesforce contributes its technology, people and resources back into the community, and every single employee gets seven days a year of ‘volunteer’ time off to give their time to the cause that matters the most to them. I’ve found that more often than not, teams set up volunteering activities with local community organisations. Because of this, VTO becomes both a team-building and a giving back exercise.
Amazingly, in our UK office, employees have collectively volunteered more than 96,000 hours - creating a lasting impact in their communities.
What do you do in Europe to ensure that staff love their working environment?
We’ve brought Ohana to life in the design and the environment we create for employees. Each office follows core design principles that help the environment to feel warm and collaborative. For example, clean sightlines, an open flow on each floor, and a design that allows most of our employees to have the best sunlight and views. We’ve also created mindfulness areas for recharging and kitchens and sofa areas that feel like home. We’ve coupled this with other initiatives that help employees be more productive, like an IT support desk that employees can actually take their laptops to. Our kitchens are always stocked with healthy snacks and drinks, we offer lunchtime Pilates and yoga classes, and a whole host of office events. Then, as I mentioned earlier, there are our popular ‘giving back’ initiatives and our celebrations. In essence, we’ve tried to create an environment that promotes collaboration, fun and employee wellness – to offer everyone a “home base” that brings out the best in our employees.
We've heard that Marc Benioff reads Glassdoor reviews, but do you read them too?
Yes, I do. Not every day, but I regularly take time out to look at a few. Listening is a core part of our company DNA, and as well as Glassdoor, conversations happen via Chatter, our collaboration platform. Employees use Chatter to share insights or propose new ideas internally, and often use Glassdoor as a more public sounding board. Both are incredibly important for engaging with our workforce overall. What’s more, feedback received from candidates and employees on Glassdoor is fundamental to both individual growth and our continued success.
What do you think makes Salesforce such a great place to work?
I believe Salesforce’s approach is truly unique and I’m proud to help drive this positive culture of Ohana throughout the UK and Ireland. To me, it’s the secret sauce that builds our success. Everyone on the extended team understands our commitment to Ohana and cares not just that we do business, but how we do business, and we appreciate that we are all working together to achieve a great outcome.
Interested in applying to this inspirational organisation? Check out their open jobs here.
[Related: Discover Salesforce interview questions and reviews]
Glassdoor Team
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