We won the Breakthrough Culture Award (!!!) and we’re still blushing. You know that feeling when someone says "you've got a great culture” and you do an awkward little shuffle because you're not used to compliments, but you secretly agree with them? That’s us right now. Except the compliment came in the form of a Breakthrough Culture Award (BCA), and instead of shuffling, we’re dancing (badly) in our home offices.
Yep, we’re stoked to announce that Yarno is officially a 2025 Breakthrough Culture Award winner, thanks to the legends at Hyer.
What’s a Breakthrough Culture Award?
The BCA celebrates organisations that are actually doing culture well, not just sticking “trust” and “collaboration” on a poster next to the kitchenette. These awards spotlight the teams that put people first and aren’t afraid to reimagine what work could be. Turns out, that’s very us.
Why we threw our hat in the ring (and then held our breath)
We didn’t apply just to pat ourselves on the back (though we’re limbering up now). We entered because we believe culture isn’t a “nice to have” or a Friday arvo trivia session. It’s the engine room. It’s the soil everything else grows in. It’s the reason Yarno exists: to help people learn, grow and actually enjoy the work part of work.
Also, the application asked us to reflect on our culture, and we love a good introspective moment. Especially if it involves a Miro board, colour coding, and the occasional existential crisis. Seriously, though, the application process gave us a chance to reflect on our journey –what we’ve built, what we’ve learned, and where we’re heading. It was an opportunity to tell the story of how culture drives everything we do.
What makes Yarno... Yarno?
We’re passionate about creating a culture that’s inclusive, empowering, and grounded in continuous learning. From how we onboard Yarnoers to how we support one another's growth and wellbeing, we try to live our values every day, not just stick them up on a wall. We don’t do performative perks. We do real flexibility, and regular “how’s your brain doing?” check-ins. Here’s what we think makes up a great culture – the kind that attracts brilliant people, keeps them around, and inspires them to do their best work (with a few spontaneous dance breaks along the way):
🧲 A Culture that attracts and retains
- 0% staff turnover in 2024. Yes, zero. Nada. Not because we locked the doors, but because they wanted to stay.
- 100% of our team said they’d refer a good friend or family member to work here (and we’re very protective of our friends and family).
- Bec, our Senior Customer Success Manager, joined Yarno after being a customer –because she loved our culture so much from the outside, she wanted in.
🌱 Meaningful initiatives and recognition
We’re not into token gestures. We’re into:
- Steptember challenges that mix wellbeing with a healthy dose of competition.
- Culture (Values) Awards voted by the team and celebrated at our birthday bash, the Yarnoversary, reinforcing the importance of our shared values.
- Monthly Zoom Morale Symposiums – Keeping remote and in-person teams connected through fun and engaging virtual sessions.
- Pledge 1% commitment investing time and resources into social impact and donating 1% of our profits to our charity partner Oxfam.
- Our very own Yarno beehive. Yep. 30,000 bees. A literal buzz around the office (okay, apiary).
📚 Commitment to continuous learning
We like our brains big and our growth constant:
- $500 annual training budget per Yarnoer to invest in personal and professional growth.
- Whole Brain Thinking training for better comms and collaboration.
- Monthly Pechakuchas to flex our storytelling and public speaking muscles.
- 360-degree peer feedback – ensuring everyone receives timely and holistic feedback twice yearly.
- Performance check-ins over rigid reviews to foster a culture of ongoing feedback and growth.
- Yarno learning campaigns using our platform to upskill the team.
- Courageous Feedback Framework (feedback that’s kind and honest? Yes, please).
- Small Improvements software, where our feedback, goals and praise live happily ever after (via software platform Small Improvements).
🧘 Flexible and supportive work environment
Because grown-ups shouldn’t need permission to take a nap:
- Remote-first and proudly so. Work from wherever you’re most productive (beanbag, beach, broom closet—we don’t judge).
- Flexible working hours, accommodating individual working needs and getting the team involved to evolve processes and communication accordingly.
- Six wellbeing days + two doona days a year, for when your brain needs a breather or you’d rather stay under the doona.
- Floating Australia Day leave, enabling Yarnoers to take leave on a day that is meaningful to them.
- EAP, RU OK? Day training and real investment in psychological safety, ensuring our team feels supported.
🗣️ Open communication and radical transparency
You won’t find secrets hidden in filing cabinets here:
- Weekly MD video updates that keep the team informed and aligned.
- Decision docs + #ideas channel: anyone can propose a change. No ivory towers here.
- #thanks Slack channel and shoutouts galore, because we believe in celebrating all the wins, big and small.
- Leader check-ins in 1:1s, where growth, goals and “how are you really doing?” take centre stage.
🥳 Bringing people together
We’re remote, but not distant:
- Twice a year, in-person team days and offsites foster meaningful connections beyond the virtual workspace.
- Legendary team activities – think Survivor games, improv, go-karting, archery, murder mystery nights, and yes, paper plane tournaments.
- Custom Yarno merch and welcome packs so every new hire (and customer!) feels like a VIP.
And if you won’t take our word for it, take this:
“Yarno’s culture is one of the strongest I’ve seen. Yarno doesn’t just talk about culture—they live it daily, ensuring team members feel supported, engaged, and inspired to do their best work.”
— Simon Harrop, Founder, Straight Ahead Sales
How we work together at Yarno
We want Yarno to be a place where people can do their best work and feel respected and supported by their fellow Yarnoers. Founders Mark Eggers and Lachy Gray, invested in creating a great culture from day one after experiencing poor cultures in previous workplaces. It’s challenging to do well! Three fundamental principles shape the way we collaborate, connect and get things done at Yarno. These aren’t just nice ideas – they’re the foundation of how we build trust, take ownership, and communicate effectively in a remote-first world.
1. Trust
We start with trust – always. We assume positive intent and believe that everyone is here to do their best work. Trust isn’t something you have to “earn” first – it’s given freely, and sustained through consistent, respectful behaviours. Because when people feel trusted, they step up. And when fear leads, everything tightens. We choose openness.
2. Responsibility and Accountability
Everyone at Yarno is responsible—to the team, to our customers, and to the mission we’re all working toward. If we notice something that needs doing, we step in. And we hold ourselves –and each other – accountable through honest, respectful communication. Accountability isn’t about blame. It’s about showing up, being reliable, and helping each other grow.
3. Clear, Thoughtful Communication
In a remote-first team, communication is everything. We don’t have hallway chats or spontaneous catch-ups, so we need to be intentional about how we share, listen and understand.
Here’s how we keep the signal strong:
- Clarity is kindness. We’re specific about what we expect from each other – in roles, behaviours, and outcomes.
- Context is critical. We don’t assume people know what we mean, so we explain. Even when it feels obvious.
- Curiosity over assumptions. If something isn’t clear, we ask. If something sounds off, we dig deeper. We seek to understand before reacting.
- Over-communicate with care. We know messages don’t always land as intended, especially in writing. So we give each other the benefit of the doubt and assume good intent.
So, that’s a wrap! We can officially add Breakthrough Culture Award Winners to the ol’ CV –and yep, it feels pretty great.
But before we sign off, we’ll leave the final word to someone who’s been championing Yarno’s culture from the very beginning: our Managing Director and co-founder, Lachy Gray.
“From day one, my co-founder Mark and I set out to build the kind of culture we wished we’d experienced in previous roles – one where people feel valued, supported, and excited to do their best work. We’re proud that Yarno has become a place where our team genuinely enjoys coming to work. We’re also proud to share that we receive positive feedback from people we didn’t hire, because how we treat unsuccessful candidates says just as much about our culture as how we support those on the team.
Recognition through this award affirms that we’re on the right track. In a competitive market, culture is one of the most powerful differentiators, and being acknowledged for ours shows that Yarno invests in people, not just the product. This kind of recognition will play a vital role in helping us retain and attract exceptional talent and continue to grow sustainably into 2025 and beyond.”
Press release: https://www.hyer.co/bcawards-press
