In the event you’re underneath 30 and are chasing happiness, Lithuania is the place to be. A minimum of that’s what the World Happiness Report instructed earlier this 12 months, rating the Japanese European nation prime for younger individuals.
It may be tough to outline happiness, nevertheless it’s palpable. The CEO of one in all Lithuania’s well-known unicorns shed some gentle on his observations as an organization headquartered within the capital metropolis of Vilnius.
Nord Safety, finest recognized for its VPN device, is a tech agency with a workforce of over 1,600 individuals, comprised of 70% Millennial and about 20% Gen Z workers.
The vitality of Nord’s workforce is infectious—one thing Tomas Okmanas, Nord’s CEO and cofounder, witnesses every day.
“Everyone seems to be, you understand, younger, joyful, hungry, tremendous gifted,” he informed Fortune in an interview. “Individuals wish to be a part of the tradition.”
COURTESY OF NORD SECURITY
Lithuania didn’t at all times have a superb repute. Following the cut up of the Soviet Union, the nation had an advanced journey. It’s grappled with an astronomical suicide price, significantly among the many male inhabitants, owing to socioeconomic elements.
Nonetheless, Lithuania has managed to buck its bleak previous to race to the highest of the World Happiness rankings this 12 months. Over time, Lithuania has efficiently constructed a case for why it’s an incredible place for work-life stability: just one% of its workforce works lengthy days, per the OECD.
The nation has invested in new schemes to draw overseas expertise and is growing a sprawling $110 million tech campus. It’s minted a few of Europe’s most promising corporations moreover Nord, corresponding to Vinted, PVcase, and Surfshark. A burgeoning startup scene, the low value of dwelling, ease of visas, and Lithuania’s EU membership created the right alternative to draw expertise following Brexit.
What’s it about Lithuania?
Regardless of dwelling a lot of his life in Lithuania, Okmanas admits the highest spot got here as a shock.
“Whereas we’ve grown accustomed to seeing positivity and a superb temper in our workplaces, it’s an incredible feeling to know that the remainder of the younger individuals in Lithuania are joyful, too,” he stated.
The quick tempo and starvation of a start-up setting isn’t misplaced on Okmanas. Whereas the workforce at Nord pulls some late nights if there are product launches or different pressing issues to handle, “Would you see lots of lights nonetheless on in our workplaces after 6 o’clock? I’m undecided, and even then it will be a excessive likelihood that individuals there are hanging out after work,” he says.
Aytac Unal—Anadolu Company/Getty Photos
One key ingredient the Nord cofounder has labored in direction of since establishing the corporate in 2012 is discovering expertise united by extra than simply their ardour for tech and cybersecurity. Nord’s workers—who Tom characterizes as “geeks”—are chosen with care for individuals who may also put money into the corporate’s cultures and friendships.
Nord workers meet outdoors of labor, whether or not that’s going to live shows, going long-distance biking, or connecting with fellow automotive lovers. Since hobbies are in abundance, Nord simply offers individuals a strategy to join with different individuals who share these.
However the perfect factor about having an organization stuffed with so-called “geeks”? There’s at all times an professional on each matter.
“If, for instance, somebody would increase a query on one of many firm’s channels about some area of interest garden mower, you possibly can make sure that in a matter of minutes somebody would write, ‘yeah, I can seek the advice of you, right here [are] 5 spreadsheets on all out there fashions, professionals and cons and 10 totally different suppliers, I simply up to date them yesterday,’” Okmanas stated.
Nord’s tradition, per its CEO, a minimum of emulates a lot of what’s being stated about Lithuania. If happiness wasn’t a magnet sufficient for brand new expertise, the fast-growing startup tradition might do the remainder to assist the Japanese European nation growth.
