The COVID-19 crisis placed undue stress on businesses, economies, and individuals. Some companies were pushed to the brink of bankruptcy, while others went through with it. Amid the chaos, some organisations took drastic measures and gambled on the idea of remote working – something that employers found hard to manage. However, it turned out to be a happy accident, as organisations began to adjust to the new normal.
These trying times also unleashed enterprises that maximised their business operations. A great example is the Stockholm-based tech company Klingit. Its founder, Teddy Wold, was one of the main driving forces behind its success during the pandemic. The company uses the remote working model to maintain a diverse virtual workforce of designers, breaking the shackles of demographic boundaries.
Wold’s Entrepreneurial Journey
After dropping out of the European Business School London, Teddy Wold embarked on his self-carved professional journey. He successfully developed an e-platform to teach HTML coding to school kids, which local schools used for many years. Furthermore, his work as a freelance web designer earned him a good reputation.
Soon, Wold decided to further explore his potential by starting a design agency called TCT. Although the company was acquired after some time, this experience gave a boost to his entrepreneurial journey. He partnered with Rikard Hegelund to create Klingit, a virtual creative design agency that connects designers and clients from all over the world. While organisations were struggling to keep their employees on board during the pandemic, Teddy Wold’s visionary mindset helped Klingit grow significantly. The company leveraged remote working opportunities to sustain and develop its operations and expand its services, team and clientele.
Mastering the Art of Remote Working
Remote working is not a new concept. In more ways than we realise, the world was already using remote work methods before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, its true potential was revealed only when remote work became the only possibility for sustaining business operations amid lockdown restrictions. Companies were forced to find ways to operate virtually look into these options, proving to be a saving grace for them. However, the model also brought about significant strains on businesses, such as increased workloads and labour shortage, among others – not for Klingit, though.
Wold used the remote working model to full effect to survive and thrive in these uncertain times. The founder believes that the remote working model can revolutionise businesses and help professionals around the world, and if professionals are provided with opportunities with flexible hours, they will perform seemingly well. Therefore, Klingit focuses on acquiring clients from different parts of the world. Along with providing numerous opportunities, Klingit also reduces turnaround time since designers with different time zones collectively work 24/7.
Giving Back to the Community
It is every man’s obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it. – Albert Einstein
People talk about Bill Gates Foundation or Paul Simon’s Children’s Health Funds, but rarely one gives back to the community differently. Teddy Wold’s borderless organisation, providing job opportunities, can make him the unsung hero during the present economic turmoil. For instance, the company’s approach for hiring professionals on a global scale not only minimises discrimination but also help professionals from remote areas work with large-scale organisations.
A Man with a Plan
Klingit is currently excelling in Stockholm, but this seems like the tip of the iceberg. His company is now working on adding digital marketing to its arsenal. With a global talent pool, it seems like there’s no limit to what Teddy Wold can do. The cliché saying “the world is his oyster” seems true for him.
