What’s in a name? Values that Drive Us

In previous editions of this newsletter, we have written about the benefits of cultivating a positive and unique company culture. There are plenty of ways to create a positive company culture, some of which are listed here. Each company is different and will have different ways of developing their culture, but there are common practices everyone can implement to start the process. In today’s piece, we will share our personal story of how we have cultivated a strong company culture along with some of the things we do to ensure that our culture continues to be what sets us apart.

What’s in a name?

D&G, short for David & Goliath, was built on the principles of strength, compassion, and leadership. In the story of David & Goliath, a shepherd boy, volunteers to fight a heavily armed giant. David defeats the giant with a seemingly rudimentary weapon and no formal military training. What is often overlooked though, is that David actually had years of informal training protecting his sheep from predators in the field. Historians estimate that a trained slinger like David could hurl stones with the stopping power of a modern handgun. By going against conventional wisdom, David flipped the odds in his favor, using his knowledge, talents, and tools to take down Goliath. That is precisely what we’re equipping our team to do in modern day warfare.

When D&G was founded, we wanted to set ourselves apart. We knew that despite being the underdog and despite being small, we could reshape the way that government contracting is done, and we could prove that size and resources don’t matter as much as the heart, skills, and courage of the people. David’s unique skills, talents, and life experiences are what equipped him to tackle the formidable giant.

Who is D&G?

How does this translate to how we work? It translates to us being a people-focused company. We focus on the individual first. We value each individual’s unique capabilities, life experiences, and contributions. Because we know that even if you’re the underdog, you can tackle the “Goliath,” by relying on your unique skills. Giants are not what we think they are. The same qualities that appear to give them strength are often the sources of great weakness.

We believe that the strength of each team is the team members, and the strength of each team member is the team. With the right team, we know we can accomplish anything. This is why we are consistently showing our team that we value and appreciate them through regular gift giving, events, handwritten cards, volunteerism, and treating each other with respect, kindness, and empathy. This has created a sense of D&G pride among all of our team members which is a key pillar of our company culture.

Professional development is a second key pillar of our company culture. We provide ample opportunities for professional development, promotions, and allow each person on our team to grow, mature, and find the skillset that suits them best. Many of our team members have gone to school while working for D&G. Continuing education whether in an official or unofficial capacity is highly encouraged at D&G. This has allowed our team to upskill and further develop our technical capabilities without losing momentum. Offering informal and formal trainings to our workforce is a regular occurrence. Whether this takes the form of peer-to-peer learning or a more traditional learning path, we are always trying to better ourselves and learn.

A third key pillar of our company culture is transparency and feedback. We believe in being transparent with our team members and ensure that everyone feels included. Hosting regular all hands meetings across the company to discuss where we are and where we are headed is just one example of that transparency. When your workforce feels as though they are included or at the very least aware of why decisions are being made, it further instills the notion that we are a team. Our CEO retains an open-door policy to encourage a loop of continuous feedback as well. This feedback helps us get better, grow, and gives our team members agency in the decision-making process. Rather than implement decisions top-down, we consider everyone’s input and make decisions based on that feedback.

Future Outlook

With such a rich history, we look forward to what the future holds for D&G. As we continue to grow, we will continue to emphasize leadership, compassion, integrity, and family. These values are what will continue to define D&G. By putting our people first, we empower team members to maximize their skills, talents, and knowledge to deliver next generation solutions.

D&G’s company culture is what sets us apart as a desirable company to work for and with. We value each individual’s unique capabilities, life experiences, and contributions. Because we know that with right skills, talents, and tools, we can tackle “giants.”