Resources

Interviews

"Without a strong team, there's no business" - The Echo Analytics case!

Published on

16

October

2023

Published on

16

October

2023

Maudelia Scholler, Talent Acquisition & Employer Branding @Echo Analytics

Hello Maudelia! Can you tell us about Echo Analytics?

Hello Nicolas, of course! Echo Analytics is a young startup launched in 2021, two years ago now. We operate in the fascinating but challenging world of data. More specifically, we specialize in geospatial data. To be clear, we're talking about real-world data here, not data from e-commerce or digital sites. We work in collaboration with aggregators and data partners. Our job is to gather, collect and standardize all this information before selling it to our customers. Without going into the technical details, we offer several products.

The main objective? To help companies innovate faster, by helping them better understand the world around them.

How would you define your company culture?

The Echo Analytics culture is resolutely positive and strong. We have defined three core values: 

1. Diversity & Inclusion: Diversity has been at the heart of our DNA from the outset, with one of our co-founders being Polish. Today, Echo Analytics employs 55 people of around 30 different nationalities. For us, diversity evokes respect, curiosity, mutual aid and empathy. It's thanks to diversity that we can innovate and find new ways of doing things. 

2. Excellence: As we work mainly with data, quality is essential. We expect our employees to be proactive and to have full control over their projects. Ownership is crucial for us. We don't want to wait for directives from the top. Good ideas can come from anywhere in the company, not just from managers or directors.

3. Collective ambition : Our ambition is to be the leaders, the first, the best. But this ambition is shared. We take risks together, and do everything we can to ensure that Echo Analytics becomes the data leader in Europe and the US.

The "people first" philosophy guides everything we do. The idea that without a strong team, there is no company is a leitmotif for our founders. We want to build teams with the vision that they will grow with us, creating opportunities for everyone.

If I wanted to join Echo Analytics, what would convince me?

Joining Echo Analytics means becoming part of a fast-growing organization. It's an opportunity to take on subjects, develop them, and have a real impact both on your work and on the company itself. We're still in the start-up spirit, financially independent with no fund-raising, so there's plenty of opportunity for everyone.

On the tech front, we're at the heart of innovation. Data is highly technical, and we're at the crossroads of artificial intelligence and machine learning. We work on cutting-edge projects, using the latest technologies to meet our challenges.

And coming back to the culture, it's an open environment, focused on mutual support and shared growth. Our ambition is collective and positive. The conviction that we go the furthest together is ingrained in us, which I think is an undeniable advantage.

In just two years since its founding in 2021, Echo Analytics has grown impressively to over 50 employees. So, how did we manage to attract so much talent in such a short space of time?

The first factor is undoubtedly the type of work we do. At Echo Analytics, we tackle cutting-edge topics that are both challenging and rewarding. To be honest, when I joined the team, I had no idea what geospatial data was. It was totally new to me. This constant opportunity to learn is a great attraction.

Then there's the culture. A company's culture is often a determining factor when choosing a new position. Today's candidates don't just want a job; they want to make an impact. And at Echo, we offer exactly that. Here, you're not just a number or a pawn. You'll be leading projects that not only excite you, but also have a strategic impact on the company's development.

But what really sets us apart, I think, is our transparency. We're honest about what it's like to work here. All companies have their challenges, including startups, and it's essential for us to present a realistic picture rather than "oversell" an idealized version of our reality. This transparency ensures that there is a real alignment between us and the candidates.

And to top it all off, there's the atmosphere here. It's a healthy, caring environment, with a real "people first" culture. It's something that I think you can not only see, but also feel. Trust, transparency, continuous learning and caring: that's what I think makes Echo Analytics a really special place to work.

What does a recruitment process "made in Echo Analytics" look like?

When a candidate applies, the first contact is with me. I take the time to talk with them to understand their aspirations and also to give them a perspective on what it's like to work at Echo Analytics. If this first interaction is conclusive, the candidate is invited to a second interview with the relevant team manager. It's essential for us that every candidate has a clear understanding of the working environment, the responsibilities of the job and, most importantly, the dynamic with their future manager.

If all goes well during this phase, depending on the position, we may propose a practical exercise or, for technical profiles, specific tests. The assessment phase then continues with other members of our team, culminating in what we call a "culture fit", where the candidate meets colleagues from other teams to gain a better understanding of our corporate culture.

As for onboarding, once the candidate has accepted our offer, this is a crucial stage. It's their first real immersion in our company. We are continually refining this process, soliciting feedback from new arrivals to understand their experiences, strengths and areas for improvement. Our aim is to ensure that every new employee feels a real connection with Echo Analytics, understanding our history, vision and culture, from day one.

Positions currently in demand? 

At present, our recruitment needs are quite diversified, mainly oriented towards technical profiles. It's a fact that we are actively looking for a Lead Product Manager, Product Marketing Manager, 2 Engineering Managers and a Machine Learning Engineer. These profiles are in high demand on the market and represent a real challenge in terms of recruitment, as many companies are looking for the same skills.

We currently have around ten positions open, with more to come. For those wondering, our culture is resolutely international. We have associates in Toronto, Sydney and Germany, but we mainly recruit for our Paris office.

In Paris, we've just moved into a WeWork space near Saint-Lazare. And of course, we're not just recruiting technical profiles. Our needs also extend to support and sales functions. For example, we are having difficulty finding a German-speaking Sales Development Representative, a profile that is particularly rare in Paris. Finally, our Data Partnerships team is also currently recruiting. This team plays a crucial role in consolidating and maintaining strategic partnerships for our company.

👉 To discover all Echo Analytics job offers, click here

Last question. Why should we NOT join you?

Well, for those who particularly enjoy routine, Echo Analytics is probably not the place to be! Our dynamic is constantly in motion, and adapting quickly is essential. Our current stage of development requires constant innovation. The environment is decidedly agile, and things move fast.

Thank you Maudelia for your time!