One of its greatest premises is the people who give Mind Source its essence, proof of which is the "best workplace" award given by Great Place to Work. What is it like to work at Mind Source?

Working at Mind Source cannot be explained, it must be experienced. It is the combination of key ingredients that, combined together, make Mind Source a Great Place to Work. The main ingredient is undoubtedly our human capital; we believe it is the foundation for the company's success. Quoting our Talents, "Working at Mind Source means waking up every day wanting to go to work." This is the feeling we seek to see in our people, which reflects professional fulfillment and is only possible with a good work environment.

In your opinion, what does it mean to work in a "good company" today?

A good company positively encourages its employees and stimulates their personal development. It attracts, retains, and develops the talent of each individual. It is led by professionals who set an example and who give autonomy, responsibility, and confidence to all members of their team.

It's not just a set of values ​​and missions, but a place where there is transparency, communication, individual career management, and recognition. The role of leadership is becoming increasingly important today. "People leave managers, not companies," so it is increasingly important for managers to lead by example and have the ability to motivate teams.

Were the companies that topped the list mainly service and technology companies? Is that a coincidence?

It is no coincidence that service and technology companies are among the 25 best companies to work for. These are companies where human capital is the most valuable asset. In these companies, the relationship between employee satisfaction, both within the company and in their role, is inseparable from the quality of service provided to customers. Therefore, companies in these sectors have talent attraction and retention very much in mind as part of their business strategy.

Although this reality is more evident in these sectors, increased productivity and results are transversal to all companies through the implementation of best practices aimed at improving the work environment and the satisfaction of their employees. It would be interesting to see companies from other sectors follow suit and join the Great Place to Work ranking.

Has talent retention been a challenge for you?

It's a challenge for all companies, especially in this sector, however, we have managed to reduce turnover in recent years through a unique positioning that differentiates us from other players in the market. In a sector where the demand for IT professionals is growing faster than the supply, the path to attracting and retaining talent involves differentiating practices and offering a 'Great Place to Work' to everyone who is part of the company.

What strategies do you adopt to ensure that "talents" choose to stay?

The best strategies for retaining an employee involve a career plan and continuous training. Aspects such as remuneration and flexible hours are equally important, which allows us to reinforce the idea that, both to attract and retain talent, we must ensure a tangible future for the talent in the organization.

'Lifetime employment' is not a reality today. There are also personal reasons, unrelated to the company, that compel Talent to leave and explore new realities. When this happens, we always leave a door open so they can return. Ultimately, it's a choice, and we want our Talents to choose Mind Source every day, so we make that our mission. It's a continuous challenge to work to meet the ambitions of our talents.

The role of leaders is equally important. Engagement and the ability to inspire are mandatory characteristics in these figures, as is ambition in the face of success and failure, and finally, the trust they place in their team's work, giving them space to grow freely.

Is implementing strategies to make the company more attractive to its employees a simple task? Why?

It's challenging. We always try to understand the motivations and goals of our Talents and fulfill them, or at least help them take the first step. There are several tangible aspects that are attractive to employees, but it is the purpose and prospect of interesting work that determine their retention.

When the company turned ten, they rebranded and unveiled a new image. How was the change received by the market?

In 2017, Mind Source celebrated its 10th anniversary, which was marked by a rebranding. In the market, this change was perceived as a natural evolution that mirrored the innovation that our clients and partners have witnessed throughout the brand's 10 years of existence. The essence of the brand prevailed, highlighting the importance of the parts in the whole – our people, clients, and partners will always remain our focus.

Innovation has been a constant at Mind Source, which earned you the Innovation Award in 2016. What does being in constant innovation imply?

The 2016 SAS Innovation Award was given for the development of the innovative legal reporting service, "Legal Reports on demand," designed for banking and credit institutions and stemming from the CRC 5G (Credit Responsibility Center) directive of the Bank of Portugal, a directive that succeeds AnaCredit of the European Central Bank.

To innovate is to lead. To stay on the crest of the innovation wave, we need to know the market well to anticipate its needs and, subsequently, have the agility to develop innovative services.

But it's not just in the service portfolio that companies innovate. Innovation happens every day, both in processes and in solutions to daily challenges. It is necessary to have a mindset geared towards agile changes and innovation. It is a mindset that is cultivated top-down, so that an environment conducive to the development of differentiating solutions is created.

In such a competitive market, where everything seems to have already been invented, how can companies distinguish themselves? What is Mind Source's strategy in this regard?

Our strategic priority is to offer our employees the best environment so that they can perform their functions. We foster a culture of engagement to boost satisfaction and increase productivity. We listen, we are close, and we promote two-way communication.

In addition to solidifying Mind Source's DNA internally, we always try to ensure that our employees have time for themselves and their families, working on an increasingly discussed topic: work-life balance.

The main mistake companies make is implementing trendy practices that don't align with the company culture. "One size doesn't fit all" – this phrase perfectly characterizes the Mind Source culture. We understand that each talent is unique. Each talent has different motivations and ambitions, and it's up to the company to create the space for the employee to grow with the company.

Rui Reis

Executive Director of Mind Source

Published in Pontos de Vista