Ocula Technologies celebrates prestigious Breakthrough Culture Award win
We are delighted to announce that Ocula are Breakthrough Culture Award Winners 2024.
The Breakthrough Culture Awards recognise and celebrate the 100 greatest growing companies to work for in the UK, spotlighting game-changing organisations that prioritise their people.
We faced stiff competition from over 5,000 companies of all sizes, from early-stage startups to global giants. This incredible achievement reflects our commitment to fostering a culture where our people have fun, innovate, and excel together – and we couldn’t be prouder!
In this feature interview, Louise Stewart-Murray, our VP of Operations, reflects on Ocula’s Breakthrough Culture Award win and shares her advice for building a thriving company culture in the modern world.
About Louise
Louise Stewart-Murray is our VP of Operations at Ocula, and looks after all things People & Culture.
Louise has spent over 15 years working with some of the UK’s largest food retailers (Tesco, M&S) and CPGs (Cadbury, Unilever, Johnson & Johnson), specialising in operational excellence and business transformation.
What does the Breakthrough Culture Award mean for Ocula?
Louise: Our people and our culture are at the heart of our business and success, and so having this recognised is testament to our incredible team and the culture we have created. It’s so great to be recognised in this space so early in our Ocula journey, as it demonstrates our commitment to our people and our culture from day one.
What strategies do you use to nurture Ocula’s culture?
Louise: At Ocula, we’re building a high-performance culture and environment where everyone can thrive, underpinned by our values.
Firstly, “Be Brave”. We strive to innovate and challenge the status quo for our clients, our colleagues, and ourselves.
Our second value is “Empower Others” – which means we trust and empower everyone to do their job and reach their potential.
Our third core value is “Seek Growth” – because we’re continuously learning both for ourselves and for Ocula.
And finally, “Spark Joy”. We focus on doing (and building) things that people will love.
What are your goals for Ocula's culture going forward?
Louise: Scaling is a big one. Our main focus is on preserving our awesome start-up culture as we scale – we’ll definitely be leaning into our value of empowering others here. On the D&I front, we’re creating a safe, diverse and inclusive space for everyone to thrive. And we also want to consolidate that “purpose” – we want everyone at Ocula to feel part of something special, with a clear understanding of how individual contributions feed into our collective mission.
Why is a thriving company culture so vital in the modern world?
Louise: In a world full of choices and opportunities, having a great culture is one of the reasons our team will choose to stay or go. It’s also our USP when it comes to attracting new talent.
We spend a big chunk of our lives at work, and we’re passionate about retaining our special culture to ensure the team can enjoy the work they do, with a great team around them.
What advice would you give to other organisations striving to create an award-winning culture?
Louise: Put your people at the heart of your decision (and policy) making. Then start with your values: we created our values as a team very early on, and while they may evolve over time, they are what underpins our culture. Spend more time in the recruitment stage, really understanding what newness and diversity your new hires will bring to your culture so that you hire the right people. And lastly, be flexible – fail fast and be open to adapting as your needs change.
A big thank you to our team, our partners, and the Breakthrough Culture Awards judges for sharing our passion for Ocula and the values we stand for!
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