In an exclusive conversation with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Christine Tatham, Chief People Officer at Redbrick, shares her innovative strategies for driving employee satisfaction and organizational effectiveness. With a proven track record since joining in 2021, Christine has spearheaded transformative cultural shifts that have strengthened Redbrick’s reputation as an employer of choice.
Christine highlights the importance of investing in people as the cornerstone of business success, offering actionable insights into attracting, retaining, and developing top talent. Her expertise provides a compelling roadmap for small businesses to cultivate thriving workplace cultures, ensuring sustained growth and innovation in today’s competitive landscape.
Christine Tatham is the Chief People Officer at Redbrick, a portfolio of disruptive digital companies, where she has driven significant improvements in employee satisfaction and organizational effectiveness since joining in 2021. Christine is passionate about enhancing Redbrick’s performance through its most valuable asset—its people. Under her innovative approach to people management, she has been instrumental in driving company-wide cultural shifts and creating an environment that attracts, retains, and develops top talent.
Purpose-driven business models are gaining traction. What are some of the key challenges companies face when integrating purpose into their core strategy, and how can they overcome these?
Integrating purpose into a company’s core strategy presents challenges such as maintaining authenticity and aligning purpose with business goals and employee values. From my experience at Redbrick, communication is crucial. Companies should clearly articulate to employees how their purpose drives business decisions and aligns with their operations. Additionally, setting measurable goals to identify the impact of both social outcomes and business performance is essential.
As the workplace evolves, how has the concept of purpose influenced employee engagement and company culture at Redbrick?
At Redbrick, the concept of purpose has become a cornerstone in shaping employee engagement and company culture. Redbrick benefits from an engagement feedback loop when building sustainability into our culture: taking action on a shared set of values rallies our team, allowing them to take on bigger and more demanding challenges each time with more dedicated employee adoption.
Purpose serves as a powerful motivator, encouraging employees to connect their roles with broader company goals, and fostering a sense of belonging and fulfillment. This alignment of personal and organizational values enhances motivation and satisfaction, resulting in a more cohesive and vibrant work environment. By embedding purpose into our culture, we’ve seen improvements in organizational effectiveness and employee engagement, as individuals feel more connected to the mission and are inspired to contribute meaningfully to our collective success.
With Redbrick recently achieving B Corp Certification, what role has this played in attracting and retaining top talent, and how does it align with the company’s vision?
Achieving B Corp Certification is a significant milestone for Redbrick, reflecting our deep commitment to fostering positive change and amplifying our sustainable impact. While we anticipate this recognition will bolster our efforts to attract and retain top talent, we decided to pursue B Corp Certification out of the desire to make a formal commitment to creating positive change.
The B Corp Certification underscores our commitment to building an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy, demonstrating that we are actively contributing to a better future. By joining a global community of like-minded businesses, we not only elevate our standards of social and environmental responsibility but also hope to inspire other tech companies to embrace this path. B Corp’s rigorous standards challenge us to continuously improve, ensuring that we remain adaptable and forward-thinking. This alignment with our values supports our mission and strengthens our company culture, making Redbrick a place where top talent is naturally drawn to and employees can thrive and contribute meaningfully.
What are some effective strategies Redbrick has implemented to drive employee engagement and create a thriving work environment?
At Redbrick, we’re dedicated to fostering a work environment that not only engages employees but also aligns with our sustainability goals. One of our standout initiatives is the bike-to-work program, which reimburses employees for bike-related expenses, encouraging our team to commute to work on their bikes. This program helps reduce our collective carbon footprint while enhancing employee well-being by encouraging healthy communities. Additionally, our volunteer program empowers team members to actively support social and environmental causes, fostering a sense of purpose and community involvement.
In celebration of Earth Day earlier this year, we hosted a clothing and item swap during our monthly Chill Friday event, where the Victoria team gathers for activities. This initiative aimed at waste reduction sparked meaningful conversations about sustainability and bolstered a sense of community among our team. Collectively, these strategies contribute to a thriving work environment at Redbrick, where employees feel engaged and connected to our overarching mission of positive impact.
Looking ahead, what advice would you give to other SMB leaders looking to harness purpose as a tool for boosting both profitability and employee satisfaction?
As SMB leaders look to harness purpose to boost profitability and employee satisfaction, it’s crucial to reflect on the daily operations of their business and explore ways to integrate sustainable practices into company culture. By initiating small but meaningful changes to existing policies or programs, leaders can engage their teams and cultivate collective efforts toward sustainability, setting the stage for broader brand initiatives.
Reinforce these initiatives by pursuing external commitments, such as acquiring B Corp Certification. This validates a company’s dedication to a purpose-driven culture and helps employees connect more deeply to a company’s mission. A work culture centred on purpose is increasingly appealing to employees who value alignment between their personal and professional values, contributing to higher job satisfaction.
Employees in purpose-driven organizations, like B Corps, often report feeling more confident and supported in their roles, as well as more optimistic about their career paths and the leadership they work under. By fostering an environment where purpose is a guiding principle, SMB leaders can create a positive ripple effect that enhances employee engagement, satisfaction, and ultimately, profitability.
