Inside Our People-First Agency Culture
Inside Our People-First Agency Culture: How We Balance Performance & Wellbeing
At Growth HQ, we know that high performance doesn’t need to come at the expense of our wellbeing. We believe a healthy, people-first agency culture is what fuels long-term success, especially in fast-paced industries like affiliate marketing.
In this Q&A, we sit down with our Co-founder and COO, Firuj, to explore how we’ve intentionally built a supportive workplace culture and what it takes to sustain it as a growing affiliate marketing agency. We’ll cover our approach to mental health, flexible working, leadership lessons, and how we prevent burnout while scaling with purpose.
Meet Firuj, Our Co-Founder & COO
With a decade of experience in logistics and operations, Firuj oversees the behind-the-scenes engine of Growth HQ, from HR, recruitment and finance, to organising team socials and volunteering days for our giving back initiative.
As Co-founder and COO, he also plays a key role in the continuous development of the business. He’s always looking for ways to evolve how we work, grow sustainably, and stay aligned with our values. Outside of work, he’s a dad of two, a keen footballer, and passionate about politics, history, and space. Oh, and he once jumped out of a plane from 18,000 feet, which is apparently one of the highest skydives in the world!
Mental Health at Work: What Initiatives Do You Have in Place?
We believe that conversations about mental health at work need to be normalised, and that starts with leadership. Myself and the other senior team members speak openly about our own wellbeing in the office. It’s a small gesture that makes a big difference in breaking the stigma.
We also run walk-and-talks, which are informal catch-ups outside the office. These help encourage honest conversations, especially around wellbeing, and make it easier to connect as humans rather than just colleagues.
We’ve made sure our team has access to mental health support through our private healthcare with Vitality, which includes options for talking therapies. It’s a benefit we actively encourage people to use. Regular team socials and offsite events also help us stay connected and build a culture where people feel supported both personally and professionally.
Flexibility & Burnout: What’s Your Approach to Work-Life Balance?
People do their best work when they’re well-rested, respected, and given the space to thrive. That’s why we constantly remind our team to take their full annual leave and properly switch off, especially post high-pressure client periods.
Having worked in companies where long hours were a badge of honour, I wanted Growth HQ to be different. Here, work-life balance isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a leadership priority. We care about results, not how many hours you clock.
Our flexible working policy includes the option to work from anywhere in the world for two weeks a year without using annual leave. It gives the team freedom to visit family, travel, or simply change their environment without sacrificing personal time.
We believe these steps help prevent burnout in our agency and support a more sustainable pace of work
How Do You Maintain Culture as the Agency Grows?
As any founder will tell you, growth can stretch or dilute your company culture if you’re not careful. We’ve worked hard to avoid that by keeping our team’s needs front and centre in every decision.
When designing perks, we always ask: does this benefit improve life at work or at home? If the answer is no, we don’t implement it. We also stay true to our belief that agency culture is a key differentiator, both in how we work and who we work with.
We apply the same thinking when we choose clients. If their values don’t align with ours, it’s not the right fit, no matter the size of the opportunity. Value alignment helps protect team wellbeing and motivation in the long run.
That being said, getting this right hasn’t always been straightforward. We’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that spotting true alignment takes time, experience, and honest reflection. It’s a continuous learning process, and one we’re committed to getting better at with every partnership.
What’s One Unexpected Lesson You’ve Learned About People & Culture?
That there’s no finish line. You’re constantly trying to balance what’s right for the business, the client, and the team. And those needs don’t always perfectly line up. But five years in, I think we’ve learned that building a healthy agency culture is about being consistent, listening often, and staying adaptable.
Final Thoughts: Key Takeaways from Firuj
Whether you're growing your first team or leading a scale-up, here’s Firuj’s advice for building a people-first marketing agency:
- Hire for culture fit, not just skill set
- Work with clients who share your core values
- Celebrate your people, growth is never a solo effort
- Think small but steady, sustainable change beats rapid burnout
Want to Work With a People-First Affiliate Marketing Agency?
At Growth HQ, our culture isn’t just a perk. It’s the foundation of how we deliver great work. If you’re looking to join a supportive marketing agency or partner with one, let’s talk.
