Nord Safety CEO weighs in on work tradition and Lithuania being the happiest nation for under-30s

It may be troublesome to outline happiness, nevertheless it’s palpable. The CEO of considered one of Lithuania’s well-known unicorns shed some gentle on his observations as an organization headquartered within the capital metropolis of Vilnius. 

Nord Safety, greatest identified for its VPN device, is a tech agency with a workforce of over 1,600 individuals, comprised of 70% Millennial and about 20% Gen Z employees.

The vitality of Nord’s workforce is infectious—one thing Tomas Okmanas, Nord’s CEO and cofounder, witnesses every day. 

“Everyone seems to be, , younger, comfortable, hungry, tremendous proficient,” he instructed Fortune in an interview. “Individuals need to be a part of the tradition.”

COURTESY OF NORD SECURITY

Lithuania didn’t at all times have a superb repute. Following the break up of the Soviet Union, the nation had an advanced journey. It’s grappled with an astronomical suicide charge, significantly among the many male inhabitants, owing to socioeconomic elements. 

Nonetheless, Lithuania has managed to buck its bleak previous to race to the highest of the World Happiness rankings this 12 months. Over time, Lithuania has efficiently constructed a case for why it’s an ideal place for work-life steadiness: just one% of its workforce works lengthy days, per the OECD. 

The nation has invested in new schemes to draw international expertise and is creating a sprawling $110 million tech campus. It’s minted a few of Europe’s most promising corporations in addition to Nord, similar to Vinted, PVcase, and Surfshark. A burgeoning startup scene, the low value of residing, ease of visas, and Lithuania’s EU membership created the right alternative to draw expertise following Brexit.

What’s it about Lithuania?

Regardless of residing a lot of his life in Lithuania, Okmanas admits the highest spot got here as a shock. 

“Whereas we’ve grown accustomed to seeing positivity and a superb temper in our workplaces, it’s an ideal feeling to know that the remainder of the younger individuals in Lithuania are comfortable, too,” he mentioned. 

The quick tempo and starvation of a start-up setting isn’t misplaced on Okmanas. Whereas the crew at Nord pulls some late nights if there are product launches or different pressing issues to handle, “Would you see a whole lot of lights nonetheless on in our workplaces after 6 o’clock? I’m unsure, and even then it will be a excessive probability that individuals there are hanging out after work,” he says. 

Aytac Unal—Anadolu Company/Getty Photographs

One key factor the Nord cofounder has labored in the direction of since organising the corporate in 2012 is discovering expertise united by extra than simply their ardour for tech and cybersecurity. Nord’s workers—who Tom characterizes as “geeks”—are chosen with care for many who may additionally put money into the corporate’s cultures and friendships. 

Nord workers meet exterior of labor, whether or not that’s going to live shows, going long-distance biking, or connecting with fellow automotive lovers. Since hobbies are in abundance, Nord simply offers individuals a option to join with different individuals who share these. 

However the most effective factor about having an organization filled with so-called “geeks”? There’s at all times an professional on each subject.

“If, for instance, somebody would elevate a query on one of many firm’s channels about some area of interest garden mower, you could possibly make certain that in a matter of minutes somebody would write, ‘yeah, I can seek the advice of you, right here [are] 5 spreadsheets on all accessible fashions, execs and cons and 10 completely different suppliers, I simply up to date them yesterday,’” Okmanas mentioned.

Nord’s tradition, per its CEO, no less than emulates a lot of what’s being mentioned about Lithuania. If happiness wasn’t a magnet sufficient for brand spanking new expertise, the fast-growing startup tradition might do the remaining to assist the Baltic state growth.