why culture became our biggest hiring priority
CULTURE IN TEAM
One of the biggest lessons I've learned about building a team is that culture is everything.
At VCM, we've learned that great work is never built by talent alone. As a small but mighty team, we're deeply intentional about cultivating a culture rooted in creativity, reliability, initiative, communication, and intentionality.
We believe the strongest teams are made up of people who not only excel at what they do but who share a commitment to collaboration, accountability, and mutual respect.
OUR TEAM OVER THE YEARS
But of course, it took time to get here; it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.
A few years ago, we went through the ringer building a team that worked with our team culture. There was a constant cycle of people coming in and out, and it was frustrating because, on paper, many of them looked like the perfect hire. They had the experience, the portfolio, and the technical skills… but what they didn’t have was the same long term vision.
The mistake we were making was hiring based on skill set.
Over time, we realized that while many of these individuals were capable of doing the work, they weren't always the right fit for the long term. The result was a constant cycle of team members coming and going. When our client retention rate was higher than our team retention rate, it became clear that something wasn't working.
THE LESSON
That experience taught us that hiring isn't just about finding someone who can just “do the job”. It's about finding someone who can do the job in a way that strengthens the culture you're trying to build.
Since then, our hiring process has completely changed. We still evaluate skills and experience, but we spend much more time understanding goals, personality types, and whether we genuinely see them thriving alongside our existing team long-term.
The result has been a stronger team, less friction, greater opportunities for leadership development, and more sustainable systems and processes. Collaboration feels more natural, communication is stronger, and we've cultivated an environment where people genuinely enjoy working together.
THE QUOTE
I once read a quote that said something along the lines of, "When a culture is strong, the culture itself rejects what doesn't align with it." While I don't remember the exact wording, the concept has always stayed with me.
To me, one of the biggest signs of a healthy team culture is when the team begins to uphold the culture themselves. The values, expectations, and standards are no longer driven by one person—they become embedded in how the team operates. That's when you know you're building something that can sustain itself and continue growing beyond any one individual.
QUARTERLY TEAM 1:1s
One of the practices we've implemented at VCM is quarterly 1:1 check-ins with every team member. These conversations give us the opportunity to exchange feedback, align on goals, discuss growth, and simply check in with one another.
We recently wrapped up our latest round of 1:1s, and the most common piece of feedback we received was:
"I feel so good being part of this team.”
As a founder, hearing that meant a lot. Culture isn't something you can force. It's something you build through hundreds of small decisions over time: who you hire, what you tolerate, what you celebrate, and how you show up for one another every day.
When people genuinely enjoy being part of the team they've joined, it's often a reflection of the culture that's been intentionally built behind the scenes. And for me, that's one of the most rewarding parts of building a company.
hope this helps! xo,
vania portilla
