--- title: "Octily Beneath the Surface: Meet Our Octis" source: https://octily.com/insights/octily-beneath-the-surface-meet-our-octis/ description: "Meet the people behind Octily, one Octi at a time. A look at how our differences make our team stronger, smarter, and more fun to work with." --- # Octily Beneath the Surface: Meet Our Octis ![Susan Smit](https://ebnnmeydktscnefergjm.supabase.co/storage/v1/render/image/public/client-logos/team/susan-smit-new.png?width=168&quality=70&resize=contain) Written by Susan Smit Publication date July 18, 2025 Categories Insights Octopinions Reading time 3 min read ## Why being different makes us match We don’t really fit one mold. We work across time zones, juggle more than five languages, and somehow manage to communicate just fine using nothing but Slack emojis when needed. **Outside of projects and calls, things get even more varied.** Some of us build illuminated Lego cities. Some are secretly training for Muay Thai. Music? Covered. Blues, Jazz, Drum’n’Bass, old school Hip Hop. Bonus points if it’s on vinyl. We’ve got trail runners, art lovers, and more sneakers than any of us are willing to admit. Instrument players, collectors of odd things and ideas. Everyone brings something different. We’re not a typical team. And we like it that way. So we gave our beloved octopus mascot a twist and made one for each of us. A personal Octi, shaped by the little things that make us… us. Not just what we do, but how we move through the day. Favorite color. Go-to coffee. Strange talents. Quiet obsessions. _You’ll meet them all in a second. But first, a few thoughts on what this is really about._ ### Being different makes the work better **We don’t really do fixed roles here.** Sure, we each have our areas of focus – design, development, content, strategy – but in a small and nimble team, you end up wearing more than one hat. **Ideas can come from anywhere. And they do.** A dev might suggest a UX tweak. A designer might spot a technical shortcut. The person managing the deadlines might also be the one who rethinks how a feature works. **We’re not big on silos. We’re big on building things together.** This mindset shapes everything we do. From client projects to the products we’re developing ourselves. From how we review work to how we stay ahead of what others are doing in our space. **We don’t box people in.** We create space for good ideas to grow, no matter where they come from. ### What we’ve learned by working across roles, cultures, and time zones Working in a remote, cross-functional team means constantly learning how to collaborate better. Different backgrounds, schedules, and skill sets don’t make things harder. They make the work stronger. **Here are a few things we’ve picked up along the way:** ### You don’t need to be the same to work well together. What matters more is mutual respect, curiosity, trust, and the occasional emoji that says more than a full paragraph ever could. ### Great collaboration doesn’t always happen in real time. Working across time zones means we often wake up to ideas that move things forward in unexpected ways. ### Clear communication is key. When you don’t share a desk or a time zone, writing things down, asking questions early, and giving regular updates makes all the difference. ### Shared values matter more than shared routines. We don’t all work the same hours, but we all show up when it counts. ### Your side passion might be the spark for something bigger. Whether it’s a design idea inspired by a sketchbook or a technical shortcut that started as a weekend project, we’ve seen personal interests turn into team wins. ### Meet our Octis 🐙 Every Octi represents a team member. No identical tentacles here. [(opens in a new tab)](https://ebnnmeydktscnefergjm.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/insights-images/octily-beneath-the-surface-meet-our-octis-octily-bertrand-1.jpg) Bertrand [(opens in a new tab)](https://ebnnmeydktscnefergjm.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/insights-images/octily-beneath-the-surface-meet-our-octis-octily-rob-2.jpg) Rob [(opens in a new tab)](https://ebnnmeydktscnefergjm.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/insights-images/octily-beneath-the-surface-meet-our-octis-octily-daniel-3.jpg) Daniel [(opens in a new tab)](https://ebnnmeydktscnefergjm.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/insights-images/octily-beneath-the-surface-meet-our-octis-octily-peter-1-4.jpg) Peter [(opens in a new tab)](https://ebnnmeydktscnefergjm.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/insights-images/octily-beneath-the-surface-meet-our-octis-octily-frances-02-5.jpg) Frances [(opens in a new tab)](https://ebnnmeydktscnefergjm.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/insights-images/octily-beneath-the-surface-meet-our-octis-octily-simen-6.jpg) Simen [(opens in a new tab)](https://ebnnmeydktscnefergjm.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/insights-images/octily-beneath-the-surface-meet-our-octis-octily-michelle-7.jpg) Michelle [(opens in a new tab)](https://ebnnmeydktscnefergjm.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/insights-images/octily-beneath-the-surface-meet-our-octis-octily-sue-8.jpg) Susan [(opens in a new tab)](https://ebnnmeydktscnefergjm.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/insights-images/octily-beneath-the-surface-meet-our-octis-octily-fernanda-9.jpg) Fernanda [(opens in a new tab)](https://ebnnmeydktscnefergjm.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/insights-images/octily-beneath-the-surface-meet-our-octis-octily-sanjeev-10.jpg) Sanjeev [(opens in a new tab)](https://ebnnmeydktscnefergjm.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/insights-images/octily-beneath-the-surface-meet-our-octis-octily-anna-11.jpg) Anna ### Together, not identical We don’t try to be the same. We don’t expect each other to work the same, think the same, or like the same snacks. What we do share is a love of making things better. For our clients and for each other. We back each other up. We share ideas, jump in when someone’s stuck, and celebrate the small wins. Whether it’s testing a new layout or coming up with a new feature, no one’s ever really working alone. Our Octis are different shapes, colors, and characters. But put them side by side and you’ll see it. They belong together. And so do we. And that’s just about us. Now imagine your own team – your colleagues, the remarkable individuals in your unique company – and what that really means for HR platforms, personalization, and internal communication. #### Let’s stay curious We believe good ideas come from different minds, different perspectives, and different ways of working. This was just a small peek beneath the surface. Got a challenge? We’d love to hear it. [Get in touch](https://octily.com/get-in-touch/), [send an email](mailto:octily@octily.com?subject=Let%27s%20build%20something%20amazing%20together), or [book a meeting](https://octily.com/meet). We would love to explore what we can create together. ![Susan Smit](https://ebnnmeydktscnefergjm.supabase.co/storage/v1/render/image/public/client-logos/team/susan-smit-new.png?width=168&quality=70&resize=contain) Written by Susan Smit July 18, 2025 Get notified about new articles Your browser asks for permission first. Delivery via OneSignal, details in our [Privacy Policy](https://octily.com/privacy-policy/#push-notifications). [Customization ### Learning & Skills Improve skill development with beautifully designed learning paths and competency frameworks. Explore More](https://octily.com/customization/learning-skills/) [Creative ### Creative Services Video production, photography, branding, design, content, and development services for HR tech. 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