19 Feb 2019 Spotlight on Vivo Team Development
Describe your company and its product.
Vivo Team is a Vancouver-based company that has developed the first proven Descriptive, Predictive & Prescriptive People Analytics SaaS-based platform. It measures how the team and leader behaviours contribute to the bottom-line.
What year did your company start?
2012
Which city (or cities) are you located?
Vancouver, Toronto, and Halifax
Describe your company culture in three words.
- Team-Centric
- Fun
- Accountable
How do you celebrate company or employee wins?
We have a culture of celebrating wins – big and small! We have a slack channel called “Vivo Victories” and when we are in person, we share and celebrate wins during “Vivo Vino”… with (you guessed it) VINO!
What is the problem that you are trying to solve?
We are trying to solve the global workplace disengagement crisis.
What is your biggest milestone to date?
I hope that by the time this article runs, the answer is that we closed our first seed round.
What is your biggest challenge?
Sales resources. Finding the right people to help support business growth and scaling.
What is your motto?
Say many small and big yeses.
How are you making an impact?
We are making an impact on the fabric and culture of the businesses we work with, by teaching the behaviours necessary to be highly productive and effective. And we are changing the lives of the people who work on those teams by making their jobs more rewarding and engaged.
What is your hope for the future of tech in BC?
My hope for the future of tech in BC is that it continues to thrive and that we continue to attract exciting talent from the globe.
Lightning Round with Renée Safrata, CEO of Vivo Team Development
What excites you about your job?
Every day is different and I get to work with a fantastic team of highly engaged and accountable individuals. Our small team does the work of double our size (at least)!
What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome?
Maintaining my health with the stress of cash flow challenges. It’s hard work growing a company.
Wildest thing you ever have done?
While heli-skiing with 18 men, I went to a cocktail party dressed in materials I found at the local Canadian Tire.
What are your pet peeves?
When I’ve worked hard and covered all angles to get something done, and it falls through.
Words of wisdom to other tech CEOs or founders?
Find your people. Every Batwoman needs to find her Robin. Mine is Erin Berube, Vivo Team’s GM.
Favourite city you visited?
Ischia on the Amalfi Coast in Summer 2018.
What is your formula for success?
Thinking that everything is possible and having an attitude of “why not?”. Decreasing those risks by double checking with your mentors.
Name one book that everyone should read.
Herman Wouk Don’t Stop the Carnival
How do you decompress?
Great meals and tasty wines with friends.
Favourite movie?
Wizard of Oz.