Human beings, like so many of our animal companions, are deeply social creatures.
Biologically, humans are proven to be inherently social; the need for social connection is hardwired in our neurology alongside other essential needs like food and shelter. Early humans banded together to survive, grow and learn from one another more quickly and safely than they would have on their own in the wild.
Today, “the wild” may look more like a job board, and discerning job seekers are on the hunt for a new community they can thrive — rather than merely survive — in. Finding the right workplace, especially one with a strong collaborative culture, has many benefits comparable to those of early human communities. According to research compiled by B2B Reviews, 60 percent of employees are more innovative in a collaborative environment, and 73 percent of workers perform better when collaborating.
A more comfortable, highly social work environment where team members actively work together productively is a fertile ground for professional opportunities, networking, growing skills and overall career growth. For a potential new hire, a collaborative, social culture is a major green flag.
As the hiring season of the new year kicks off, Built In Los Angeles spoke with representatives from two currently hiring companies about the journeys — and the appealing team culture — that brought them to where they are today.
OpenX offers a range of digital advertising via its independent supply-side platform for both online media publishers and ad buyers.
What first attracted you to OpenX? When did you know it was the right place for you and your career?
Before OpenX, I was a field engineer for a software company and had the opportunity to work with a ton of companies, from startups to Big Tech. OpenX had the most genuinely collaborative and respectful culture of any company I had worked with, and it was tackling some of the hardest Big Data challenges, making it an easy choice.
“OpenX had the most genuinely collaborative and respectful culture of any company I had worked with, making it an easy choice.”
Share one exciting challenge or project you are working on right now. What impact will this have on the business?
Since joining OpenX, my role has expanded from data engineering to running an engineering team that is putting AI and machine learning into production at a massive scale. It’s not an understatement to say that this is transformative for our product and our industry.
If your company culture was a car, what would it be?
As a rider, I have to say it’s a pack of adventure bikes and cruisers, always branching off and reforming to adapt to the changes in our industry, no matter what the terrain!
Million Dollar Baby Co. is a children’s furnishings company with seven distinct brands ranging in style, aesthetic and price point.
What first attracted you to Million Dollar Baby? When did you know it was the right place for you and your career?
There were a few key things I was looking for in my last job search, and Million Dollar Baby checked all the boxes. I was looking for a design-driven company selling a physical product, but, most importantly, I wanted to work with kind, smart people. That sounds like it shouldn’t be that hard to find, but MDB was really a unicorn!
Once I was hired, things clicked into place right away. The comprehensive onboarding process focused on a combination of culture and skills. Everyone was so welcoming, and by my three-month mark, I already had the opportunity to be a part of projects that would have an impact on the company and contribute to my overall career development.
Our senior leaders make themselves part of daily life at MDB; they are accessible and are truly invested in the growth of each employee at the company. Working somewhere where we all want each other to succeed and lift each other up along the way is the best feeling.
“Working somewhere where we all want each other to succeed and lift each other up along the way is the best feeling.”
Share one exciting challenge or project you are working on right now. What impact will this have on the business?
There are almost too many to name! One thing I’m particularly excited about in 2025 is our continued omnichannel growth: we opened our first store in Los Angeles in September 2024. I work on our e-commerce accounts, so it’s been a new challenge to be part of the team thinking about how our online sales activities and customer experience translate into this physical space. I love working with our newly built retail team and am looking forward to our continued collaboration.
If your company culture was a car, what would it be?
I think I would have to go with Volvo — their cars are stylish, safe and sustainable! We’re in the baby business, so safety is of paramount importance, and safety is the first word that comes to mind when someone says Volvo. Volvo is also passionate about sustainability and has ambitious manufacturing goals to make greener vehicles. Sustainability is a core pillar for us at MDB, when it comes to the products we make or creating less waste in our office. And finally, Volvos look great. I know what I want for my next car — I mean crib!
