Building Exceptional Workplace Cultures: Insights from CREATEQ and Insightful
At Joberty, we aim to spotlight companies that excel at creating environments where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired. Among the top-ranked in the “Culture & Team” category on our platform are CREATEQ and Insightful. Through their responses to key questions about workplace culture, these companies share insights into how they create thriving teams. Their stories reveal two distinct yet harmonious approaches to creating great workplaces.
What Defines Your Company’s Culture?
For CREATEQ, culture is about people, connection, and innovation. They explain:
"In CREATEQ, our company culture is built on strong interpersonal relationships, dedication, and the innovation we apply daily to provide top-notch software solutions. For over 20 years in Serbia, we have fostered an environment where people come first, open communication is encouraged, and ideas are shared freely. We believe the best results come from teamwork."
Insightful places trust and individuality at the core of their company culture:
"What’s unique about Insightful is the sense of unity and building something that feels personally ours. Every team member contributes with their expertise, takes full responsibility for their work, and collaborates seamlessly —all while leaving ego at the door. Despite being a diverse team, everyone can be their authentic selves here."
What Motivates Employees?
Motivation at CREATEQ is rooted in the strength of community and the opportunity to be part of something significant. They share:
"Our greatest source of motivation is our people and the collective spirit we share. We actively work to make everyone feel welcome from day one. This sense of belonging inspires our employees, especially when they see how their contributions impact long-term projects. We’re proud that many employees have been with us for years, and even former colleagues often return to CREATEQ."
This sense of belonging fosters loyalty and pride among team members.
At Insightful, employees are motivated by a clear sense of purpose and achievement:
"What unites Insightful employees is the feeling that we’re all working together toward a common goal. Every contribution is visible, and that visibility brings a sense of accomplishment. Knowing that we’re solving problems and completing tasks as a team pushes everyone to give their best."
The focus on impact and collaboration helps employees feel their work is meaningful and valued.
How is Work-Life Balance Supported?
Both CREATEQ and Insightful understand that fostering work-life balance is key to employee satisfaction and well-being, and each has developed thoughtful approaches tailored to their teams' needs.
At CREATEQ, flexibility and family inclusion are at the heart of their efforts:
"We encourage a balance between work and personal life because we believe that happy employees and their families are key. Hybrid work allows teams to organize their schedules, and events like Family Day strengthen connections by bringing employees and their loved ones together in a relaxed environment."
Similarly, Insightful prioritizes flexibility but with a focus on tailored benefits for diverse needs:
"Insightful is built on a remote-first model, meaning every team member can decide whether to work from home or the office each day. We also offer flexible working hours to accommodate personal needs. Our Family-in-sight program includes extended parental leave for fathers, support for children’s early years, paid days off for parents on their child’s first day of kindergarten or school, and additional benefits to ease family life."
How is Team Spirit Fostered?
Both CREATEQ and Insightful strongly emphasize building team spirit, ensuring employees feel connected and supported in ways that align with their unique working environments.
At CREATEQ, team spirit is nurtured through meaningful connections and shared growth opportunities:
"We foster team spirit through a combination of company-wide events, city-specific gatherings, and team-level activities. With offices in Belgrade, Kragujevac, and Niš, it's important for us to occasionally bring everyone together to connect. Annual company events and celebrations of employee milestones are a key part of this.
At the city level, we organize events like Pub Quizzes, Christmas parties or even going to the cinema and theatre where we mix people from different teams to encourage collaboration. On a more personal level, teams have the flexibility to plan their own "mini team-building" activities, whether it’s going out for drinks or enjoying a game night at the office. These initiatives create opportunities for bonding and build a strong sense of community across all levels."
For Insightful, fostering connection in a remote-first setting involves creating dedicated moments for collaboration and bonding:
"The greatest impact of teamwork on company culture occurs during the onsite week, when team members from different locations come together. This provides an opportunity to sit together in cross-departmental meetings, better define cross-team processes, and deepen collaboration and understanding between teams.
Additionally, there is the office day initiative. At the company level, each individual team gathers in the office once every two months to spend the day together. These days often strengthen team spirit, as the focus is on collaborative work and fostering a sense of unity within the team."
What Traditions Make the Workplace Special?
CREATEQ cherishes its Family Day tradition, which brings employees and their families together:
"One of our favorite traditions is Family Day, where employees and their families come together. It’s an opportunity for loved ones to meet our colleagues and participate in activities in a casual setting. It’s a day filled with fun and connection for everyone."
At Insightful, the annual Onsite Week holds a special place in their culture:
"We’ve introduced initiatives like the annual Insightful Onsite week, where the entire team gathers in one location for five days, as mentioned above. This is especially important to us as a global company. In addition to our hubs in Belgrade and New York, we have colleagues from various other countries, including Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Armenia, Colombia, Argentina, Australia, and more. We also organize company-wide team-building trips focused solely on relaxation and fun. Another wonderful tradition that has been happening for several years now is the New Year tradition of collecting donations for a specific vulnerable group. The choice of donation recipients is made by the entire team, who propose ideas and then vote on which of the suggested causes will receive the donations."
These traditions reflect a shared commitment to fostering connection and community, tailored to each company’s unique identity.
How Do You Support Employee Growth?
Employee growth is a cornerstone for both CREATEQ and Insightful, and each company has developed thoughtful strategies to empower their teams with opportunities for professional and personal development.
At CREATEQ, the emphasis is on cultivating a culture of mentorship and continuous learning:
"We support our developers with access to online courses, soft skills training, and conferences. Our most valuable resource is our experienced engineers, who generously share their knowledge with others. This creates a culture of continuous learning and improvement."
For Insightful, growth is guided by a personalized and structured framework:
"Twice a year, as part of our performance review process, we organize educational activities ranging from books and certifications to international conferences. Each team member has the opportunity to share their interests and goals, allowing us to tailor personalized development plans. In addition, internal training programs - covering topics such as interviewing, mentorship and leadership, help employees take on new roles within the company."
Conclusion
The stories of CREATEQ and Insightful remind us that thriving workplace cultures are built with trust, flexibility, and intentional connection. From fostering individuality to celebrating shared values, their approaches highlight the many ways organizations can create environments where employees feel supported and inspired.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, what matters is finding a culture that aligns with your own needs and values. Different approaches can lead to thriving teams, and the right fit can make all the difference in job satisfaction and professional growth.
Explore more about workplace culture and team dynamics on Joberty to find what would fit your needs.