Almost a decade ago, in a small six square-meter space, Nota's journey began. With nothing but a dream to bring innovative AI solutions to people's lives, we took our first steps. Over the years, through discipline, hard work, investments and partnerships, we have gradually built what we are today. From Daejeon to Seoul, and then from Seolleung Station to Samseong Station, we have been on an upward trajectory together. Looking back now on where we came from, we are beginning to see our dreams become reality.
Today, I'd like to share our new working environment with you all. Care to join me?
Communication Hub: Nota's refreshment lounge
If you were to ask me about my favorite space in the new location, it would have to be the lounge. Spacious and bright, it is the perfect place to relax and refresh. Looking out of the large bay windows, it is reminiscent of some of Seoul's most scenic cafés.
On one side of the lounge, there is a mini library kitted out with books and beanbags, it is the perfect place to kick back or even take a nap. Though the lounge is a nice place to relax, it was also designed to accommodate work spaces, so you can often find crew members hard at work in one corner or another. The seats offered could honestly rival a first-class air cabin, they are the perfect little spot for when you want to do a bit of reading or research.
The Snack Bar: irresistible
The snack bar is the perfect spot to forget about NetsPresso for a moment, and enjoy a Nespresso. The giant refrigerator is filled to the brim with all kinds of beverages, ready to resupply the dwindling blood sugar of our crew. If you're more of an iced Americano aficionado, the ice cube maker is ready and waiting. Whatever time of day, the sparrows flock!
Drinks are great, but do you know what makes them even better? Snacks! The word on the street is that no one in the Nota crew ever goes hungry. The snack bar offers various breakfast and snack options, our crew can even use toasters and microwaves. It has it all.
The snack bar is also adorned with a large notice board. Here you can read self-introductions from the crew, helping us to know one another a little better. You can also find promotional posters, helpful information for upcoming events and such, lastly, our Core Values and Leadership Principles are also displayed for all to see. With so much new and rotating information, it's a good idea to check the board regularly.
The Large Conference Room and Co-working Space
Our co-working spaces were designed with collaboration in mind. Painted in a welcoming light sky blue, and decorated with matching blue carpets, they offer an atmosphere of imagination and open minded thinking. The crew can gather together for whatever purpose they desire. We encourage everyone to use them freely, as and when they need.
For larger projects and presentations, our new conference room is indispensable. The room can accommodate many people, it is the perfect space for seminars or committee meetings. When you visit us, you'll often find this room in use, and if you listen closely, you might hear one of our Leadership Principles in action, as people 'Disagree & Commit'! 😜
Be unique, Be Nota
Our Ownership room is unique. Unlike all the other rooms, it is designed with a circular table in the middle. The idea is to have everyone gather around, facing one another, fostering an environment of openness and equality. This is the perfect place for ideas to be freely exchanged without hesitation, regardless of your job title or stature within the company. No ideas or questions are off-limits in the Ownership room. In this space, we want to instill a sense of ownership in the company for every crew member, aligning with our horizontal culture.
Ping-Pong: Bounce your ideas back and forth
We designed this conference room for Customer-Centric decision-making. Creative work isn't easy, sometimes we hit a brick wall, or fail to reach a resolution to a problem. In these moments, meetings can feel like being stuck in an endless ping-pong match, watching the ball go back and forth over and over.
When you feel stuck in a loop like this, take some time off, and use the centerpiece ping-pong table to relax and bounce new ideas between one another.
The Value of Trust
This is the Trust room, located between our Ownership and Customer-Centric rooms. It was designed for Myungsu our CEO, and Tae-Ho our CTO and co-founder, who frequently host external guests. In these meetings, privacy is paramount, so smart windows were installed to be used when required.
The name Trust, was chosen to reflect one of our company Core Values. It signifies the importance of mutual trust between Nota and its crew. By trusting in one another, we can feel a sense of Ownership in our work, as we carry out our Customer-Centric practices to the best of our abilities.
Office Space: for your immersion
This is the space where our crew spends most of its time. Given that fact, it is important to be able to dial in and become immersed in your work. It provides ample space for both our development and non-development teams, to create Nota's products and services, and to handle important business operations like marketing and management.
Each individual workspace is equipped with a modern motion desk and office chair. Allowing every crew member to work comfortably, customizing their environment to suit their needs.
To the side, the entirety of one wall houses large floor-to-ceiling windows, maximizing natural light and offering great views of the city. A welcome respite when you need a break from your monitor.
When you need time alone, or have something important you would like to concentrate on, head to the Focus room. The Focus room is a small, intimate space with soft lighting, equipped with wireless chargers and sockets. It has everything you need when you want to get away from it all. The tranquil atmosphere is also the perfect place to make, or take, an important call. 😉
When our crew has something important to discuss, we often head to the meeting rooms. There are five smaller meeting rooms, with each one equipped to hold up to six people, perfect for group projects or impromptu meetings that often come up throughout the day.
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Some final thoughts
I hope you enjoyed the tour! When our environment changes, it gives us the opportunity to adapt and grow, positively affecting our state of mind. For working professionals who spend a lot of their time in offices, the configuration and atmosphere of the space is important to get right. The environments where we work influence our thoughts and feelings, and that's why we are so proud of our new space. With renewed vigor, we look forward to a bright future.
Finally, I would like to express my infinite gratitude to our General Affairs team, who dedicated months of hard work to provide the perfect new environment for the Nota crew. Thanks to their efforts, our plans became a reality. 😊