
Name
Olga Klimentieva
Title
Head of People & Culture
Joined Willow
April 2020
Location
Sydney, Australia
What does your role as Head of People & Culture involve?
Ultimately it is my job to help every Willower reach their full potential and continue to make Willow the best place to work!
I partner closely with our leaders to work on a number of engagement initiatives and I am also responsible for building a world-class global people strategy, which will allow us to accelerate Willow performance through inclusion, diversity, talent engagement and people growth.
My days currently can range from designing new people processes, working on employee value proposition and employee onboarding, to overseeing global employee relations and coaching…to so much more. No day is the same and I love it.
What were you doing before joining Willow?
Before joining Willow, I worked within the tech, gaming and digital media industry. I have always been a bit of a gypsy when it comes to my living arrangements and love to travel, and I have been fortunate enough to work across the United States and Australia throughout most of my career.
What are some key things you learned about company culture through your previous experience?
The most important thing I have learned so far is that company culture can make or break a company. A strong company culture is not just about fun, it is about encouraging our people to see their job as more than just a job, and help them reach their full potential by supporting them not only with their professional, but also personal aspirations.
For a positive company culture to thrive, it is vital for us to have shared beliefs and values and understand that every role, no matter what department or level contributes to our collective success.
It also helps when you genuinely like the people you spend most of your days with and want to head down to the pub for a glass of wine or a beer after a long day!
Why did you join Willow?
I joined Willow for many different reasons! I loved our product and the vision. I loved the genuine opportunity to be able to make a difference and an impact in my role. But what sealed the deal for me was the people I met during the interview process. I have never met a more diverse and passionate group of people. It made it very clear to me that Willow hires based on talent and value alignment, which a lot of companies talk about but not actually follow through.
What are you most excited for at Willow?
The sheer amount of opportunity! I am also excited to be able to support Willow and Willowers at a very exciting time of our journey and watch our growth internally and externally. And of course, meeting the team face to face once we are all back in the office.