Leading with kindness, building with trust

Charlotta Oom, People and Culture Partner 

Tell us about yourself

I’m a People and Culture Partner at Zenseact. I focus heavily on team building and leadership, which I truly love because leadership is extremely important. Good leaders cultivate good people.

What is it like to work at Zenseact with People and Culture?

I would say it’s sort of a dream – working with culture at a place like Zenseact, where people come from all over the world. We have so many bright and creative people working here, and it’s inspiring to help them collaborate to create important innovations.

How do our people form the Zenseact culture?

When I think about our culture, I often think of our Slack channel, called the Appreciation Wall. If you scroll through it, you’ll see that our “People at Heart” culture is not just a nice hashtag – it’s real. People appreciate each other, openly share their challenges, and celebrate those who’ve helped them out. That kind of appreciation is a true reflection of our culture.

What does “People at Heart” mean?

To me, “People at Heart” means that you genuinely believe in people no matter what you work with, where you’re from, or what your background is. You listen. You try to understand others’ perspectives. And, most importantly, you strive to be kind. I think kindness is something the world needs now more than ever.

Which Zenseact value do you resonate most with?

My favorite value is trust. I believe that’s where everything starts. If you feel safe, if you can be your true self, and if you trust the people you collaborate with – then anything is possible.

What does diversity mean to you?

To me, it means that every single person has the same value, regardless of their appearance or background. Thanks to different people’s perspectives, we create a more colorful world. I cannot think of the word diversity without thinking about inclusion and belonging. I really like the “Dinner-invitation-metaphor” that makes these three words clearer:

• Diversity – who is invited to the dinner? 
• Inclusion – how is everyone around the table treated?
• Belonging – why do people stay at the table? 

Zenseact is a sponsor of Westpride. Why is that important?

It has never been more important than this year, after so many crazy things happening around the world, especially in the last half year, when some world leaders try to tell people that not everyone has the same value. I like to remind myself of one of my favorite quotes: “When they go low – we go high” (Michelle Obama).

What are your impressions and feelings after this year’s parade?

Peace, love and understanding. 😊