How do you build a robust company culture? Off the heels of our recent firm-wide offsite, Robyn Ross, Head of People & Talent, identifies some of our key findings and shares how Burgundy’s culture benefits you, our clients. 


There is a common misconception that a robust company culture will effortlessly materialize on its own, but the truth is that fostering a thriving culture demands unwavering commitment and perpetual nurturing. A few months back, Burgundy deliberately set aside a couple of days to direct our attention towards our people and culture. Grounded by our mission to always put our clients first, our entire team congregated around a purposeful agenda to fuel our curiosity and strengthen our interconnectedness.

Staff at the Burgundy Corporate Retreat

Staff at the Burgundy Corporate Retreat

You might wonder, “Why does this matter to me?”  

At Burgundy, our culture is intricately intertwined with the relationships we cultivate with you, our clients. We don’t have patents, specialized equipment, or natural resources. We are a collective of diligent individuals bound by a shared commitment and fiduciary responsibility: To invest in quality businesses at the right price to grow your capital so you can fulfill your life’s aspirations. While they are highly individualized, these aspirations may include providing for your family and contributing to your community. Our effectiveness hinges on our ability to collaborate seamlessly, and firm-wide offsites play a significant role in achieving that goal.

Here are some key takeaways from our recent gathering:

  1. Insightful Presentations: Our team leads discussed business priorities, our founders emphasized the significance of our history and culture, and our CEO underscored the responsibility and privilege of working at Burgundy.
  2. Guest Speakers: Renowned experts enriched our sessions. James Kerr, author of Legacy, shared insights on effective leadership and creating a positive team culture. Zack Wieder, CEO of Principles Us, provided a holistic view of our corporate personality, guiding us to examine how we present ourselves and how we can overcome obstacles.
  3. Client Perspective: An interview with one of our institutional clients reinforced the importance of intentional culture-building, the power of clear values, and the importance of prioritizing clients.
  4. Balanced Work and Play: Our offsite wasn’t all business. We engaged in organized and spontaneous fun, participated in brainstorming sessions, shared innovative ideas, solved problems collaboratively, and fostered connections across departments.

At Burgundy, our company culture is rooted in clarity and connection, and offsites are part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen these areas. Enthusiasm surges during these offsite gatherings and afterwards, when our team returns to their desks with renewed energy and a shared commitment, not only to one another but also to you, our valued clients.

 


This post is presented for illustrative and discussion purposes only. It is not intended to provide investment advice and does not consider unique objectives, constraints or financial needs. Under no circumstances does this post suggest that you should time the market in any way or make investment decisions based on the content. Select securities may be used as examples to illustrate Burgundy’s investment philosophy. Burgundy funds or portfolios may or may not hold such securities for the whole demonstrated period. Investors are advised that their investments are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. This post is not intended as an offer to invest in any investment strategy presented by Burgundy. The information contained in this post is the opinion of Burgundy Asset Management and/or its employees as of the date of the post and is subject to change without notice. Please refer to the Legal section of this website for additional information.

Robyn Ross
About the Author
Robyn Ross
A passionate student of people, Robyn is genuinely interested in learning about and from others and cultivating a working environment that sets Burgundy’s people up for success, generating an outstanding employee experience. Robyn grew up in Zimbabwe, Africa. She has travelled and worked across the world from Florida to Europe to Bermuda, finally settling in Canada. With 20 years of work experience in the Financial Services industry, 15 of those at Burgundy, Robyn is a champion for a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. She leads the full-time recruitment, as well as the intern program, designing and deploying recruitment strategies to attract and retain exceptional people. <br /> <br /> Robyn completed the Canadian Securities Course in 2005. She is a scholarship committee member for GEM (Girls E- Mentorship) and leads the Burgundy Women in Investing Club.
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