RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
“We’re 100% in person.”
Here’s how Ari Cignarale, the CEO and co-founder of Nomad, made that happen.
Meet Ari Cignarale, the CEO and co-founder of Nomad, a tech-forward marketing and sales operations consulting firm. She's passionate about building a people-first company culture at her office, based in NYC.
How do you define employee wellbeing at Nomad? Why is it important to you? It all started when I made some of my first hires. They were leaving work after long days, still having to meal prep for lunch the following day, which didn't sit well with me. And grabbing lunch at work in New York City is really expensive.
I’m always thinking: How can I help? How can I support my team? This job isn’t easy. So how can I make their experience better? That’s how we began experimenting with paying for lunch, which has since become a valued perk.
How do you motivate people to come into the office? We are 100% in person, so I want our office to feel like a home. I’ve put a lot of work into prioritizing that. We've designed our office to feel comfortable and inviting. Our fluffy couches, our pool table, our gym, and all the natural light we get creates an experience that doesn’t just bring people back to the office — it gets them excited about it.
Why do you believe so strongly in giving your team lunch everyday? Lunch is so important for strong company culture. It’s more than just a meal; it's a chance for our team to connect and recharge. When I worked at one of my favorite companies, I met some of my best friends and my husband and we got to bond over lunch hour. Creating a positive work environment where employees feel valued and supported is key to our success at Nomad — and lunch is a huge part of that!
What sets Nomad apart, especially when it comes to company culture? When we build the team, we’re all about ensuring that new team members are kind, inclusive, and fit into our overall ecosystem. I call it the “Long-Running Group Project” because we’re so collaborative. I don’t believe in hyper-growth; instead we're really specific about who joins the team. Are they kind? Are they respectful? Are they someone you could sit next to on a four-hour plane ride and enjoy it?
We’re very intentional about creating an environment where you genuinely enjoy working with your team and you’re excited to see your coworkers.
“Being mindful and specific about how people engage with your office really does change the experience of getting people back to the office — and getting excited about it.”
And that's a wrap! Ari's dedication to fostering a positive workplace culture at Nomad shines through in her innovative leadership style. With her focus on keeping the team happy and motivated, she's not just leading the charge; she's setting the bar sky-high for what a workplace should be like.