If you are under 30 and looking for happiness, Lithuania is the place to be. At least that’s what the World Happiness Report suggested earlier this year, ranking Eastern European countries first among young people.
Happiness can be difficult to define, but it is evident. CEO of a Lithuanian known agreements He clarified his remarks as a company based in the capital Vilnius.
Nord Security, known for its VPN tool, is a technology company with a workforce of over 1,600 people, 70% Millennials and 20% Gen Z workers.
The energy of Nord’s employees is infectious, something that Tomas Okmanas, CEO and founder of Nord, witnesses every day.
“They’re all, you know, young, happy, hungry, talented,” he said luck in an interview “People want to be part of the culture.”
BY NORD SECURITY
Lithuania did not always have a good reputation. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the country had a complicated journey. He is talking to an astronomer suicide rateespecially among the male population, due to socio-economic factors.
However, Lithuania has managed to overcome its dark past for the race to the top World Happiness Ranking this year. Over the years, Lithuania has successfully established itself as the ideal place to combine work and life: only 1% of its workforce works long hours. According to the OECD.
The country has invested in new schemes to attract foreign talent and is developing an outreach $110 million technology campus. It has created some promising European companies such as Nord, Vinted, PVcase and Surfshark. The emerging startup scene, low cost of living, easy visas and Lithuania’s EU membership created the perfect opportunity to attract talent. after brexit.
What about Lithuania?
Despite living in Lithuania for most of his life, Okmanas admits that the first place was a surprise.
“Although we are used to seeing positivity and good humor in our offices, it is a great feeling to know that the rest of the young people in Lithuania are also happy,” he said.
The fast pace and hunger of an early setting is not lost on Okmanas. While the Nord team pulls a few late nights, if there’s a product launch or other urgent things to deal with, “Would you see a lot of lights still on in our offices after 6:00? I’m not sure, and even then there’d be a good chance people would be there from work leaving,” he says.
Aytac Unal—Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
A key element that Nord’s founder has worked on since founding the company in 2012 is finding talent with more than just a passion for technology and cybersecurity. Nord employees, whom Tom defines as “geeks”, are carefully selected for those who invest in company cultures and friendships.
Nord employees get together outside of work, whether it’s going to concerts, long-distance bike rides, or connecting with other car enthusiasts. With so many hobbies, Nord simply gives people a way to connect with other people who share them.
But the best thing about having a company full of so-called “geeks”? There is always an expert on every subject.
“For example, if someone raised a question on one of the company’s channels about some niche lawnmowers, you can be sure that within minutes someone would write: ‘yes, I can consult you, here (this) 5 models available, pros and cons and 10 suppliers I updated the spreadsheets about the different ones yesterday,’” said Okmanas.
Nord’s culture, according to its CEO, at least mimics much of what is said about Lithuania. If happiness wasn’t enough of a magnet for new talent, a burgeoning startup culture could do the rest to support the rise of Eastern European countries.
