Software consultancy Boost again recognised as top freedom-centred workplace
For immediate release
Boost, a Wellington-based software and development consultancy, is the only New Zealand business to be recognised as a
freedom-centred workplace by WorldBlu.
This is the sixth consecutive year the company has been recognised on the list of 24 businesses, formerly known as the
‘most democratic’ workplaces.
WorldBlu, a global network of organisations committed to democracy and freedom in the workplace, has a certification
achieved following a rigorous Freedom at Work scorecard process completed by employees.
Boost designs and builds web and mobile apps from its central Wellington office, and also provides consultancy and
training on Agile.
It has been recognised at a time when customers increasingly expect transparency and fairness from businesses. Boost
practices the democratic principle of transparency by ensuring that all important information is displayed openly and
updated daily. Anyone on the Boost team can view the performance of each of the leadership team members.
Gavin Coughlan, Head of Culture at Boost, said he was delighted to have Boost’s democratic workplace values recognised.
“At Boost, we are a community first, and a company second. Real collaboration - much more than cooperation - is at the
heart of how we manage our projects and deliver quality.”
Working in an Agile way helps organisations and their staff to reach their full potential as high performing,
self-managing teams.
Agile software development describes a set of principles where solutions evolve through collaboration in a pragmatic
way. Boost provides continuous delivery of well-designed valuable software, taking into account changing requirements
even later in the development process.
“It’s the way that we conduct our work. Interactive collaborative processes regularly deliver more value for less cost,
and at a faster pace, in an environment where we can respond to change.” Mr Coughlan says.
“WorldBlu continues to recognise we do this effectively at Boost.”
WorldBlu founder and Chief Executive Officer Traci Fenton says Boost is a world-class model of a freedom-centred
culture for other organisations throughout New Zealand, citing an increase in overall growth and revenue by 55.5 per
cent since joining in 2012.
“Boost is at what we consider to be at the ‘mastery’ level of freedom and democracy in the workplace. Over the years
I’ve watched Boost improve its culture dramatically.”
Agile training helps teams working on complex projects to adapt to change, but still reach their full potential and
achieve the wider business goals.
“We work with a range of businesses, to increase their teams’ productivity through working in a collaborative,
customer-focused way,” Mr Coughlan says.
Boost Chief Executive Nathan Donaldson says organisations struggle to achieve their business goals when their teams do
not function well in a fast-changing environment.
“The biggest challenge is getting them to see that the Agile way of working on projects will free their staff to reach
their full potential as organisations adapt to change, and meet their business goals.”
Organisations from the for-profit and non-profit sectors that have been in operation for at least one full year and have
five or more employees can apply for WorldBlu’s Freedom at Work certification.
Those accepted are proven to deliver approximately seven times the revenue growth on average, compared to similar
organisations.
ENDS