In an industry often defined by rigid corporate structures and stifling bureaucracy, Spatial Media has carved out a unique niche by prioritising company culture above all else.
As the Spatial Media and visualisation firm celebrates its 10th anniversary, the founders reflect on how their unconventional approach has been the key to their longevity.
"From the beginning, we had a real desire to do things differently," explains co-founder Aaron Bernard. "That includes the anti-corporate, the flat structure, the startup culture – all of those sort of things."
Rather than imposing a top-down management style, Spatial Media has built a culture of trust and collaboration. "Trust is key to collaboration, not top-down structure," says Bernard. "It's a collaboration thing. It's not a me versus you and us versus them."
This emphasis on trust and autonomy has been a driving force behind the company's ability to retain talent for over a decade - a rarity in the fast-paced world of startups. "Everyone is trusted to be a professional," notes co-founder Jai Eakin. "There is no one looking over your shoulder."
The remote-first approach has also been integral to Spatial Media's culture. "From the beginning, we had no office," Bernard shares. "We believed that creatives shouldn't have to pretend to be creative between 9 to 5, Monday to Friday and shouldn’t be driven by timesheets and billing increments."
“Business fundamentals are important, but providing people the freedom to excel is equally as important. In a creative industry, our brains don’t work in the same way as other industries. We need time to investigate, to trial new ideas and to work when our creativity is at its best. If that is 2 am on a Wednesday and that works for you; awesome. We’re focused on delivering the work to our client’s needs and timelines, not by the traditional idea of working from 9 to 5,”
This freedom has resonated with employees like Nathan Green, who joined the company after freelancing. "I wouldn't have lasted the 10 years if I suddenly had to go to the office," he says. "The autonomy and creative freedom are really compelling."
Beyond the lack of a physical office, Spatial Media has fostered a sense of community through regular team gatherings and events. "We get the whole team together twice a year, and we have a lot of fun, we do a lot of hard work, and that's the bonding time we do," Eakin explains.
This commitment to culture has paid dividends, even as the company has grown and expanded across the globe. "When we started, the idea of a totally remote workforce was seen as borderline insane," Eakin notes. “Then came COVID, and the world worked from home for a little while, and it rapidly became the norm. We were just a little bit ahead of the curve and while it was seen as risky by some, it has worked and we now have team members across every corner of Australia as well as in New Zealand, Canada, USA, the UK and Bangladesh and our people get to work where they want to live.”
For Morley Foster, who has served as a mentor to the founders, the key to Spatial Media's success lies in the talent and passion of the team. "You always look at the people and say, ‘Are they talented enough to be able to overcome those challenges? Are they talented enough to know when to pivot? Are they talented enough to make customers happy?’ And it was, yes. It was an emphatic yes to all of those."
As Spatial Media celebrates its 10th anniversary, the founders are proud of the culture they've built and the impact it has had on their business. "It's been terrifying, exciting, and worth it," says Eakin.
