91ԭ��

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Video:

In this episode of the 91ԭ�� Podcast, Dr. Joshua Liu, Co-founder & CEO at 91ԭ��, and marketing colleague, Alan Sardana, chat with Yolanda Ho, Human Resources & Operations Manager at 91ԭ�� about company culture & hiring during COVID-19. See the full show notes below for details.

Guest(s): Ms. Yolanda Ho, Human Resources & Operations Manager at 91ԭ��

Dr. Joshua Liu (), Co-founder & CEO at 91ԭ��

Episode 23 – Show notes:

[0:30] Introducing Ms.Yolanda Ho, HR & Operations Manager at 91ԭ��;

[1:34] How Ms. Ho definesworkplace culture using a choir/band analogy, indicating how the sum is greaterthan its parts, not by ping-pong tables and overall “coolness”;

[3:54] How Dr. Liu hasmaintained his own operational definition of company culture, wherein thecompany can serve as a place for different people to come together with ashared set of values such as 91ԭ��’s three operating principles: Speed, Simplicity,and Customer-centricity;

[6:51] Why 91ԭ��’sculture adapts and grows as people join the team while maintaining coreprinciples and values;

[7:50] Why 91ԭ�� hasa weekly all-hands meeting to hear patient stories and feedback and to give shout-outsto team members to highlight team achievement and recognition;

[11:46] How 91ԭ��has a weekly “lightning talk”, where each week, someone is given theopportunity to present any topic for the team to learn more about their fellowcoworkers’ interests in a pseudo-TED Talk format;

[14:23] How thetransition to remote work has impacted 91ԭ�� from a cultural standpoint includingadditional challenges for the group to overcome, such as not being able tocheck the group “vibe”;

[20:29] How 91ԭ��maintains diversity and inclusion in hiring and why 91ԭ�� is fortunate tooperate in Toronto due to it being so multicultural;

[26:36] How 91ԭ��is rapidly growing the team after raising a Series A, and why Ms. Ho hasconcerns such as a possible divide between the OG team members and newemployees who may be unfamiliar with company culture, as well as for theincreased need to be patient and open to allow for mistakes and learning;

[30:39] Why Ms. Ho believes an indefinite transition to remote work would be detrimental for 91ԭ��’s culture due to the importance of in-person interactions in facilitating and maintaining a positive work culture/environment and how 91ԭ�� will likely have a flexible remote work policy wherein team members would come to the office 2-3 days per week;

[36:52] How workingfrom home has benefited the team by increasing freedom around taking breaks, theconvenience of home-cooking, and for the increased propensity to using onlineplatforms over in-person meetings;

[42:33] Lightning Round / Fast Five:

Q1: Favorite book/book gifted the most?

A1: Two books: “In the Realm of Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction” by Dr. Gabor Maté, and “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman

Q2: Who is a person, either dead or alive, that you’d love to meet?

A2: I would like to meet either Jesus Christ, or Abraham, or Buddha; any of the major figures that have shaped the major religions of the world.

Q2.5: If you had a time machine and you could go back to any time and any place for a week, when/where would you go and why?

A2.5: Rome because of the TV show, Rome!

Q3: Do you have a favorite food, and if so, what is it?

A3:  I love pizza! I think I eat it at least once a month… for an entire week!

Q4: Would you rather have super strength or super speed!

A4: Super strength because strong women are important, and strength can be both physical and mental. Though, I’d opt for super physical strength because if you’re super strong and you do strong people things… you burn more calories and can eat more pizza!

Q5: What is one hobby, activity, or skill you’ve gotten into since the beginning of the pandemic?

A5: Running and keeping plants alive!