Culture is the backbone of any thriving organization. It shapes how we work, how we connect, and the products we create. Yet, culture often feels like an intangible, immovable force beyond our control. What if that perception is wrong? What if every individual, regardless of their role or seniority, could meaningfully influence their company's culture and create an environment where teams thrive?
In this talk, I will draw on my experiences across diverse organizations — ranging from a global tech corporation to fast-paced startups, from in-office teams to fully remote environments. I will share experiences and insights into how diversity in lived experiences, thinking, and knowledge directly impacts not only team dynamics but also the quality of the products we deliver.
Key takeaways include:
- Defining and nurturing culture: How to identify what works for your team and why a one-size-fits-all approach fails.
- Diversity and inclusion: How to recognize and leverage diversity beyond traditional metrics to enhance team effectiveness.
- Actions independent of seniority: Practical strategies for fostering cultural growth through both macro-level initiatives (e.g. hiring practices) and micro-level actions (e.g. everyday team interactions).
- Remote and hybrid dynamics: You will gather techniques to identify the unique challenges and opportunities of cultivating a positive culture in remote and hybrid work environments.
Attendees will leave with actionable ideas they can implement within a week to start shaping a culture that works — not just because it feels right, but because it drives better outcomes for teams and businesses alike.
Speaker

Natan Žabkar Nordberg
Engineering Manager @topi, Focused on People and Team Leadership in Startups, Larger Companies, Remote, and In-Office Work
Natan has always embraced his inner geek and nerd, first diving into programming by getting a floppy disk with the official C documentation and compiler - an adventure that taught him a lot about how to write broken code. With a career as varied as it is passionate, Natan has taught at a university, founded an extracurricular programming club, explored the world of improv theatre both on and off stage (actor, mentor, light and music technician), and studied theoretical mathematics before finding his true calling in the tech industry as a software engineer focused equally on technical and soft skills.
Natan’s professional journey spans freelancing, working at bigger companies and thriving in startups, giving him a well-rounded perspective on different work environments and team dynamics. For the past seven years, he has deepened his focus on people through team leadership and management, while staying closely connected to technical work - making him especially appreciate the dynamic, collaborative nature of startups.
Outside of work, Natan is a fan of board games, video games, and fantasy books. A fun fact: everyone in his immediate family holds a different passport.