Hala Khoursheed jumped at the opportunity in May 2018 to join Connected, a Toronto-based product development firm that develops leading-edge software used in automobiles, consumer electronics and numerous other mass-market products. “Our clients are extremely ambitious, innovative companies that are always trying to create something new,” she says. “It’s super exciting.”
And when it comes to ambitions, Connected is an upstart five-year-old company that has set some determined goals. “We have a vision of becoming the leading product development consultancy in the world,” says CEO and co-founder Mike Stern. “We want to be the gold standard.”
On the path to achieving that recognition, Stern says the company is acquiring a reputation in the industry as a place that nurtures and develops talent. “We accelerate people’s careers,” says Stern. “Teaching and learning are at the heart of everything we do here. It helps us deliver the most impactful results for our clients and their end-users. This is ultimately what our people come to Connected to do every day.”
One way the company promotes teaching and learning is through delivery and discovery clinics that are held once a week. Outside experts occasionally come in to share their knowledge, but employees usually lead the clinics. Subjects range from sharing experiences in developing new products to seeking feedback before important client meetings.
Connected is built around three departments, or guilds as they are called internally: engineering, design and product. Within each, there are specialists in research, design, software development and product management, with a wide breadth of experiences across technologies and industries. Stern says the company goes to great lengths to encourage collaboration and prevent these groups from becoming isolated silos.
For one thing, all those with various specialties remain involved in the life cycle of product development from start to finish, from generating ideas and conducting research to design and engineering. “There are so many opportunities at Connected to share your knowledge or to learn from someone else,” says Khoursheed.
Another measure, which is aimed at promoting connections and collaboration, is the company’s house system. Each employee belongs to one of six houses, each named for a neighbourhood in Toronto. “Every house has diverse membership based on departments, tenure and level of experience,” says Stern. “It encourages cross-silo bonding and provides leadership opportunities for employees who want to be house captains and organize events.”
Every house has its own quarterly budget to cover the cost of off-site social activities. Khoursheed, who became a member of York house when she joined the company, says they have gone bowling and out for meals. In addition to house events, each guild is encouraged to plan outings and activities together. Khoursheed’s guild, design, has taken a cooking class and attended workshops on making pottery as well as maintaining succulent plants.
The company also holds a special retreat for all employees once a year at Camp Ahmek on Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park, where Stern worked in his youth. These trips are called “Disconnects” because the Connected team gets to unwind and relax together, enjoying a few days of activities such as canoeing, hiking and friendly competitions between houses.
“We’ve been doing it since our first year,” says Stern. “It’s an incredible few days of nature and bonding around the campfire.”
