They say nice guys finish last and Mondays are the worst. But for Hello Monday, being nice has been the driving force behind their success, and they actually count down to the start of the work week.

On this episode of Bold Creators, Jay sat down with Jo Rasmussen to dive into the story behind Hello Monday, a creative studio that makes digital (and magical) ideas, products and experiences. From working out of a living room without much more than an Adobe CD-ROM and a strong gut instinct, Jo walks us through how Hello Monday became the agency they are today while staying true to their core values. She shares the importance of a flat hierarchy and their strategy for landing clients like Google, YouTube and Instagram.

Episode breakdown:

02:18 – Introducing Hello Monday, the work they do and what makes them different

03:23 – Why Hello Monday was founded on the principle of “be nice”

05:40 – How they operate on a Code of Honor, flat hierarchy and single rate of pay for all employees

09:50 – Explaining what a bumblebee business is

11:39 – The unusual story of how Hello Monday launched

16:26 – One of the defining moments in Hello Monday’s identity and working practice

20:44 – How Jo and her team started working with Google and how they’ve stayed working happily together since

22:44 – When staying true to the principle of “be nice” means firing clients

25:09 – What it’s like to manage a global workforce

29:32 – How Jo’s work has changed as the company has grown and what her role looks like now

32:30 – How a flexible approach to technology and software has helped Hello Monday succeed

34:02 – What makes a website successful?

35:22 – What is the difference between a creator and a bold creator?

Links and mentions:

Hello Monday’s website

Hello Monday’s Code of Honor

Roskilde Festival