Character First: The Font Awesome Key to Hiring Success

Podcast Awesome

In this edition of Podcast Awesome, Matt sits down with Font Awesome founder, Dave Gandy, at the 2024 Snuggle in Bentonville, Arkansas. Between karaoke sessions and Hoobastank choruses (blame Ed), Matt and Dave discuss a topic on a lot of minds lately: How do you build a company where people actually want to stick around?

With a tech industry average of just 18 months at a job, Font Awesome breaks the mold — no one has left in over 10 years. Dave and Matt dive into Font Awesome’s hiring philosophy, the importance of building a people-first culture, and how giving employees autonomy and treating them like adults might just be the magic recipe for success.

Key Takeaways:

• Loyalty Beyond the Paycheck: At Font Awesome, it’s about treating people as humans first — loyalty comes from loyalty. Simple, right?
• Hire for Character: Skills are important, but character and culture fit are what truly makes a team thrive.
• Autonomy Matters: Give people the freedom to make decisions, and watch creativity and innovation skyrocket.
• It’s Not Just Business: A company’s culture is built on everything someone brings from outside of work, not just the hours they log in the office.

Timestamp Breakdown:

• 0:05 | 🎤 Welcome to the Snuggle: Karaoke, Game Nights, & Company Culture
• 2:30 | 🏢 The Importance of Building a People-First Culture in Tech
• 6:45 | 🧠 How Loyalty and Trust are Built When You Hire for Character
• 11:10 | 👨‍💻 Autonomy is Key: Why Giving Employees Freedom is Essential
• 15:55 | 💡 Solving Problems vs. Solving Interesting Problems: Finding the Balance
• 21:30 | 🚀 How Font Awesome Created a Company People Want to Stick With

Links and Resources:

• Podcast Awesome: https://www.podcastawesome.com/
• Font Awesome Hiring Philosophy: https://blog.fontawesome.com/company-culture/
• Twitter: @fontawesome

Credits:

• Theme music by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/
• Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/

Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

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1. Introduction and Event Highlights (00:00:00)

2. Discussing Company Culture and Retention (00:02:53)

3. Personal Experiences and Management Challenges (00:04:33)

4. The Importance of Caring for Employees (00:06:04)

5. The Importance of Loyalty and Trust (00:06:49)

6. Hiring for Character and Capability (00:09:21)

7. The Importance of Autonomy in the Workplace (00:11:54)

8. Trust and Management in the Workplace (00:12:28)

9. Evaluating Employee Performance (00:12:53)

10. Work Culture and Employee Well-being (00:14:07)

11. Balancing Work and Personal Life (00:14:59)

12. Building a Unique Company Culture (00:16:15)

13. Hiring for Character and Skill (00:16:51)

14. Balancing Creativity and Productivity (00:17:52)

15. Problem-Solving Approaches (00:18:55)

16. Creative Work Environments (00:20:50)

17. Conclusion: Understanding Creative Work (00:22:25)