Why do you think collaboration is the work culture of the future?

As businesses are becoming global and we have to work in cross cultures, collaboration becomes extremely important. The amount and quality of collaboration is the deciding factor in maintaining oneness throughout a global company. It is not just a question of communication, but of knowledge sharing across geographical and cultural boundaries. To enable a culture of collaboration in a global company we need environments that are simple and not just a collection of sophisticated tools, which overwhelm rather than help.

How do you feel working in an absolutely transparent environment?

I must admit that though initially I was apprehensive about working in a transparent environment here in metalayer. But, the fact is that as I look back, I find that I have really improved on my knowledge and my work efficiency has gone up. I realized that it is just no good to keep your knowledge to yourself. Imagine if everybody would keep their knowledge to themselves; there would be absolutely no development. Transparency encourages the sharing of knowledge, which is vital for development.

How has metalayer contributed to your individual development?

Transparency has a part to play in my individual development too. Sharing and communicating helped me to become a team person. I have adapted to see my mistakes (that are openly discussed and which was daunting in the beginning) as learning opportunities. This not only is true for my professional life but these values have had a positive effect on my personality as a whole. Initiatives have inspired leadership qualities in me.

What is the future potential and vision of collaborative community environments?

This is an age of virtual business, paperless offices (or maybe no offices), so collaboration communities is the future. The potential is tremendous and the impact it will have cannot even be measured at this point of time. The way people connect and work together from around the world will invalidate boundaries of any kind. The future is moulded by innovation, shaped by technology and powered by knowledge.