NO. 1 SMALL COMPANY
2-TIME WINNER
IT services and IT consulting firm based in Dallas with one office and 60 workers
Rupak Lohit has an unusual take on leadership.
The co-founder and CEO of Copper Mobile doesn’t even like the word.
“The term leadership introduces an unseen barrier that leads to reduced collaboration and hesitation,” Lohit said. “Teamworking is more collaborative and, in my personal experience, more successful.”
His formula in a single sentence?
“Learn to break the ice; rest will eventually flow!”
“When I am talking to any of my champions for the first time, I make sure to leave behind something they could look forward to with an open channel to communicate,” he said.
His “champions” get it.
Their enthusiastic responses propelled the Dallas-based mobile apps development company into the top spot of the small category.
“There is complete harmony in the team,” one happy camper said. “Management is focused on our individual growth as well as organizational growth. Often we sync together to work on various business problems.”
“I have clear, predefined job responsibilities and have all the tools and resources needed to meet these expectations,” another said. “My success in my role is measurable and gives me great satisfaction.”
Lohit says there is no going back to pre-pandemic norms. He doesn’t want to.
As challenging as it once was, he says, Copper Mobile has taken flexibility to heart by equipping its employees with what they need to be productive, stay connected and be cyber-secure — wherever in the geospace they might be.
And employees aren’t expected to be “always on” and are encouraged to balance their work-on and work-off lives, he said.
“We believe in learning from each other, caring for each other and doing things for each other. There isn’t any white/blue-collar culture.”
Why do employees love their jobs?
“I switched my field very late in my career, and Copper Mobile provided me that opportunity despite my past experience not being relevant. I love the energy of the team and the environment.”
“There is so much diversity. Everyone is made to feel welcome and treated with equality and respect. Hence I am able to focus more and achieve desired goals.”
