Why this finalist deserves to win Best Tech Work Culture:
Slalom Build functions on a Build as a Service model, so you have an always-on engine capable of crafting custom-built modern technology products from the ready-for-use platforms born in the cloud. We’re talking about the software businesses run on, the experiences customers rely on, and the analytics that help you see around corners. So you always know what’s next.
Build as a Service was created to drive change and innovation – at scale as well as velocity. It’s the perfect solution for companies who are ready to make something new, now – and just need a team of revolutionaries to help them do it. That means the experience and acceleration to help bring to life the ideas that will disrupt industries and change trajectories.
Our global network of Build Centers is crewed by Builders who are hyper-focused on their craft, with the skill and talent to pursue it. Every day they show up in teams, ready to dive in, excited to build world-changing technology products in partnership with clients. Build Centers give us a center of gravity. They’re our arena for the open, honest exchange of information and free sharing of knowledge, through each sprint, every stand-up. Whether in a pod of interdisciplinary teams or in the weekly brown bags, quarterly hackathons, and frequent activities, this ecosystem helps us co-create – with our clients, in their time zones – products expert in quality, and adventurously fun. Our Build Centers also hold quarterly events to reflect on the awesome work throughout that quarter. During these events, we give out awards to honor certain individuals and teams for the impact they made on client engagements, in our community, and internally at Slalom.
Our global network of Build Centers features people with all the disciplinary backgrounds necessary to build the most ambitious modern technology products imaginable. Engineers, scrum masters, designers, testers, cloud experts, gear heads, data wonks, and so many more. We use our highly integrated network to light up well-oiled teams, comprising just the right skill mix, at just the right time. Then we have the flexibility to cycle them down as the client sees fit or the project requires.
The large, complex products worth building have something in common: they defy dogmatic methodologies and canned architectures. Our Product Engineering Methodology (PEM) provides flexibility within a framework. Starting at our client’s location, with their teams, we quickly create the leanest set of plans necessary to create vibrant, user-centric experiences. And after each sprint, on every project, we continue to improve, with our clients, as one team.
Our clients expect us to help them build new modern technology products, but that doesn’t stop at delivery. We embrace the opportunity to create lasting, positive change in our client’s teams, elevating the capability of people, installing lean process, and establishing the technology tracks necessary for them to continue the work beyond us. We are all-in on this mission to co-create product and capability for our clients.
Our Chicago Build Center in particular is fueled by some of the brightest engineers and engineering leaders in Chicago as we strive to hire top talent in the area. Our culture is inviting, and inclusive, and is fueled by individual passions around the office. Everyone is able to make an impact and everyone's voice is heard. We host many events monthly including: hackathons, meet ups, tech talks, charity events, and are known to have a pizza party from time to time. Every year we have a fun off-site retreat, Elevate, where Slalom Build will cover our hotel/resort, and food in an awesome location somewhere in the Midwest. We also have Friday at 4's which is a great way for everyone to unwind every Friday and tap one of our kegs, pour some wine or sparkling water, and relax with fellow builders.
