In your view, what unique qualities or strengths does the Arius team bring to Akur8, and how do you see these contributing to our broader organizational goals?

The Arius team brings a number of unique strengths that are incredibly valuable to Akur8. Despite being established years before Akur8, they embody a start-up mindset that aligns seamlessly with our culture and fosters innovation across the organization.

The team is also very tight-knit, having worked together for many years. Their resilience and cohesion add tremendous value, especially as we merge our efforts.

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What were some of the biggest challenges and opportunities in merging two teams with unique company cultures, and how did you address them?

Merging the two teams was a fascinating process, filled with both challenges and opportunities. For Akur8, it was our first experience with a merger, while the Arius team had been through several. They brought valuable insights from their past experiences, as some of their prior mergers had been successful, while others were less so, lending a wealth of knowledge to the process.  To ensure a smooth transition, we prioritized meeting the entire Arius team and held individual discussions with each member. These conversations allowed us to understand their company culture, address any concerns they might have, and foster a shared sense of optimism about the merger.

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One of the biggest challenges was the shift in work dynamics. The Arius team primarily worked remotely, while Akur8 values regular in-office collaboration. Since the Arius team isn’t entirely based in Atlanta, it wasn’t feasible to have everyone in the office weekly. However, we encouraged as much in-office engagement as possible and organized workshops and cross-team events, bringing remote members together for meaningful interactions.

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This merger has reinforced our shared values. Just a few months after the integration, it’s clear that the Arius team resonates with the values we hold dear: Excellence through expertise, Drive to go further, Humility in all we do, and Empathy for our clients and colleagues. Together, we’re living out our company ethos: challenging the status quo, embracing innovation, staying human in an AI-driven world, and building things that last.

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As Akur8 expands globally, including the new offices in Atlanta and Montreal, what strategies are you implementing to ensure consistent values and team cohesion across all locations?

Ensuring consistency across our expanding global footprint is a top priority. For example, when we integrated the Arius team, we organized a kick-off week in Atlanta, which included securing a new office space tailored to their needs while embodying Akur8’s culture — spaces designed to be comfortable, luminous, collaborative and fun.

When we opened the Montreal office in November, we adopted the same approach. We secured the ideal office for our new Canadian team and ensured a seamless onboarding process. Our first four employees from Montreal spent a month in Paris, just like most of our international newcomers, to fully immerse themselves in Akur8’s culture and values.

These onboarding practices ensure that, regardless of location, everyone feels part of the larger Akur8 family.

Looking ahead, our international kick-off week will take place in Paris in February 2025. This annual event brings the entire Akur8 team together to celebrate the past year’s achievements, and align on goals for the year ahead. It’s a cherished tradition and a powerful opportunity to strengthen team cohesion and inspire everyone as we move forward.

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Delphine Marsh is Chief Talent Officer at Akur8. She started her career in an international recruitment company Sthree, where she evolved as a recruiter in the French Tech ecosystem helping companies to grow from small start-ups to big players. She continued her career internally as a Talent Manager at Genetec, a Canadian software company to lead all recruitments and talent management for the EMEA region and offices. With her experience in the tech ecosystem, she leads Akur8's People & Office team, which helps accelerate the company’s growth.