We speak with Engineering Manager Chloe Akerman about what attracted her to BRYTER.
At BRYTER, we are our people — and our flexible working environment is one aspect of our culture that helps us be inclusive while attracting brilliant minds from around the world.
Below is an excerpt from a conversation with Chloe Akerman, Engineering Manager at BRYTER, on what attracted her to BRYTER and what her experience has been like so far.
What attracted you to BRYTER as an Engineering Manager?
Chloe: So many things! At the very start, I was really attracted to the culture. Reading about the bottom-up mentality and that everyone is a leader was super exciting for me. Also — how they achieved being a successful remote team. I watched this great video with Mic Hübl where he talks about working at BRYTER, and everything BRYTER does to not only make remote working actually work, but to make it a seamless experience that makes you forget it’s not the norm (spoiler alert: this really is the case here!).
I also loved the no-code concept of the product and how the business is empowering and helping people to digitize and automate without needing to have some kind of computer science degree before they even start. It seemed like genuinely powerful stuff.
I have to admit, I had one doubt, though. When I was considering BRYTER, I had only returned from maternity leave just 5 months prior. I had a spritely toddler who had engulfed my life (in the best way possible!) and I just wasn’t sure how changing jobs might affect that. My brain didn’t feel like it was working like it used to, I still felt a little rusty and that’s not even thinking about the mum guilt or all those lovely germs she brings home from nursery. How could I balance a new job and still give her enough time? Would I be able to work part-time? Could I change my hours at short notice to cover childcare when the dreaded thermometer confirmed she had a fever (made that bit worse by being in the middle of a pandemic)? After reading more about the company and particularly the flexible working, I decided to take the plunge and apply.
What happened next?
Chloe: So what happened regarding those worries I mentioned above? They faded away very quickly on talking to everyone during the process. From the start, it wasn’t a problem that I worked part-time. The openness to me, the confirmation that you work when it is best for you, and the real care given towards having a great work-life balance became evident very quickly. I was taken aback by the friendliness of everyone I spoke to as well, and I felt like I was seeing the real BRYTER as opposed to a “recruitment sales pitch” view.
You are probably thinking, but what about the role itself? I learned during the process about all the things that make the product team so great, but also (and somewhat more importantly), about where they felt they could do better. I cannot emphasize how refreshing it was to hear such honest and open answers. But the real key thing for me, especially as an Engineering Manager, was to hear how units drive their own areas — from ways of working, right through to their roadmaps. What they work on isn’t dictated to them; everyone is hired as an expert, and they are empowered to be just that. I remember thinking “now that is how you do it!”
How has your experience working at BRYTER measured up to the interview process?
Chloe: So the biggest question of all… were my impressions about the role and the company right? The short answer is very much yes! I have never felt this at home so early into a role. I feel supported both from a work and personal perspective. When I’ve hit the unexpected hurdles that life has a habit of throwing at you as a working parent, I’ve not only been supported but I’ve been reassured that it really is ok. Plus, the team truly is as awesome as they seemed; everyone is super friendly, so amazingly helpful and egos are non-existent.
This is going to be an exciting year, it’s the year we get to do all the stuff we’ve wanted to do for a while, and I’m privileged to be part of the journey.
To learn more about BRYTER and see our open positions, check out our BRYTER Careers page.
