Closing the gender gap in tech isn’t just about numbers—it’s about opening doors. At Vinted, we believe in driving systemic change by showing the next generation that a career in technology is within their reach. Our ‘Girls in Tech’ shadowing program is our first step in inspiring high school students to explore what’s possible. For these young women, the experience is about more than just code; it’s about demystifying the industry and building the confidence to lead.

<h2>A Glimpse into Life at Vinted</h2>Working in tech can feel like a mystery from the outside. That’s why we partnered with <a href="https://www.lja.lt/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lithuanian Junior Achievement</a> to host 57 high school girls at our Vilnius HQ. The two-day event was a mix of hands-on learning and one-on-one mentorship. From testing their knowledge in a quick-fire quiz to exploring every corner of our office, the goal was to make tech feel tangible.The heart of the program was the mentor-mentee matching. Our participants spent individual shadowing sessions with 31 of our female leaders—Engineering Directors, Engineers, Data Scientists, and more. They didn’t just watch; they saw how we collaborate, solve complex problems,&nbsp;sat in on real conversations, learning how decisions get made, and asking all the questions you don’t get to ask in a classroom.&nbsp;They experienced first-hand how to turn big ideas into a simple app used by millions.We closed with a panel discussion about confidence—not the glossy version, but the everyday kind. Our mentors spoke openly about learning as they went, getting things wrong, being underestimated, pushing through discomfort, and choosing to show up anyway. By discussing self-doubt and ambition, they showed that confidence is a choice, not something you either “have” or “don’t have.” It’s something you build—through practice, support, and time.<h2>Biggest takeaways</h2>The clearest theme in the feedback: seeing real roles up close changed how students think about tech.For some, it confirmed they’re on the right track. For others, it opened doors they didn’t know existed—like QA, Data Science, or Product and Engineering leadership. Many also said it helped them understand what an office environment is really like, and how much teamwork sits behind an app that feels simple on the surface.

By the end, almost everyone said they would consider a tech career. Highlights included the honesty of mentor conversations, the panel on confidence, and the sheer variety of paths within IT. One of the biggest surprises? How much complex thinking, collaboration, and iteration happens behind the scenes—long before anything reaches users.A single day can’t solve a systemic challenge of enabling more girls to enter the tech field. But it can shift someone’s sense of what’s possible—and that matters.<h2>Why our leaders show up as mentors</h2>Many of our senior women leaders joined as mentors for reasons that were both personal and professional: they wanted to share the real story behind their careers (rarely linear), widen students’ view of what “tech” can mean, and make leadership feel more reachable.For Vinted, the impact is also internal. Mentorship strengthens how we lead—through listening, clarity, and real care for people’s growth. It creates visibility for role models across levels, connects day-to-day work to a bigger purpose, and reminds us that investing in future talent starts long before someone applies for a job.

This is also why many Vinted people choose to mentor in other programs—through our internal learning initiatives and external partnerships. When you’ve learned something the hard way, sharing it can be one of the most meaningful ways to pay it forward.<h2>This is how we work at Vinted</h2>This project reflects what we try to practice every day: build things that are useful, invite different perspectives in early, and keep it real—especially about what growth actually looks like. We believe that being open about our challenges is the best way to build a community, and that we all have a responsibility to pull the next person up the ladder. We’re proud of the mentors who made time to lead by example, the students who showed up curious and brave, and the partners who helped us see the bigger picture.If you’re someone who wants your work to mean something beyond your own inbox, you’ll find a lot of people here who feel the same.

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Inside a Girls in Tech Shadowing Day at Vinted

At Vinted, building the best platform for buying and selling second-hand starts with creating a great place to work. For us, that means fostering a space where you – no matter who you are, where you're from, or what makes you unique – can feel you belong.Our&nbsp;Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) progress report for 2024&nbsp;highlights areas where we're making progress and where we can still go further. Here's a look at a few things shaping up daily life at Vinted, and what we're focusing on as we keep learning, growing, and celebrating our differences together through 2025.<h2>One team, hundreds of stories</h2>Vinted brings together a truly global team – over 78 nationalities are represented, with colleagues from both EU and non-EU backgrounds. While 68% of colleagues are from our home base of Lithuania, nearly a third have roots in countries across the world, making Vinted a place where diverse cultures and experiences meet every day.

<h3>Making progress together</h3>Our people see diversity, equity, and inclusion as ongoing goals – not just a box to tick. We're making changes that show up in our policies, hiring, and day-to-day work. In 2024, nearly half of our organisation self-identified as women, and championing gender diversity remains a key focus for us. We're proud of the progress we've made across the organisation and within our leadership, and we're committed to building on that foundation to create even more opportunities for everyone at Vinted. Find out more on our&nbsp;<a href="https://careers.vinted.com/culture" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Culture page</a><h3>Communities that connect and support</h3>Life at Vinted isn't just about work – it's also about connection. In 2024, over a fifth of our organisation was part of an employee-led community, spaces where you can find support, be yourself, and meet new friends. You'll find employee-led groups across Vinted for LGBTQ+ colleagues, people of colour, neurodivergent, international team members living in Lithuania, and more.Feedback from our communities has led to positive changes in the company, like introducing quiet spaces at events, adding gender-neutral bathrooms, and making policies more flexible to help everyone fit work around life’s needs.<h3>Room to grow</h3>We want everyone to feel comfortable, heard, and valued. Over 80% of our teammates said their leaders support them well, and 85% feel they can be themselves at work (according to our Annual Belonging Survey, 2024).Our leadership toolkit, new learning opportunities, and regular DEI training programmes are designed to help everyone develop their skills and reach their goals. With that said, we know not everyone experiences inclusion or opportunity in the same way, and we’re always looking for new ways to improve.

<h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:6pt;margin-top:18pt;" dir="ltr">A commitment that's here to stay</h3>In today's context, while some companies might be stepping back from their DEI goals, we're stepping forward. Our focus isn't on trends – it's about our values and the kind of workplace we’d like Vinted to be. We want everyone to thrive here: to find community, to feel understood, and to have the opportunity to achieve their ambitions. &nbsp;If you'd like to work in a place where you're welcome from day one and your ideas can&nbsp;shape our way of working, come and join us. Help us build a more inclusive future, one where you can do your best work and feel part of something bigger. We'd love to meet you.&nbsp;Explore our <a href="https://careers.vinted.com/jobs?gh_src=4dae07a2teu&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">open roles</a> and find your place at Vinted.

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Belonging at Vinted: Insights from our 2024 DEI Report

At Vinted, sustainability isn't just a goal; it inspires all that we do. Our mission to make second-hand the first choice is the drive behind our daily work – thanks to dedicated people like Isabel Oliveira e Silva de Queiroz Nazare, our Senior Sustainability Manager. With a passion for the environment and second-hand fashion, Isabel helps us define our climate goals and their results, partnering with major players and working on projects that have real impact. Read on to discover how Isabel’s role reflects Vinted’s commitment to meaningful climate action and why she believes second-hand fashion can drive change in the industry.

<h2>Turning passion into purpose</h2>One of the aspects of sustainability I'm most passionate about is second-hand fashion and the environmental impact of the fashion industry. Since watching a video on this subject over 10 years ago, I've been very passionate about second-hand fashion and how it can be a tool for reducing the industry's environmental footprint. This fits perfectly with Vinted's mission to make second-hand the first choice, so in this case, my work and personal interests are perfectly aligned.<h3>The challenge to keep things simple</h3>One of the biggest challenges when working on sustainability initiatives is that some of the language and science behind what we do can seem complex and inaccessible. When we talk about the impact of buying second-hand over new, we often face words that sound more suited to scientific journals than everyday communication for our customers. However, when you take the time to explore and explain these concepts, they are much simpler than they might seem at first glance.<h3>Learning for lasting change</h3>I think one of the keys to innovating and advancing our sustainability mission is ensuring everyone at Vinted is on board and understands our environmental impact and what it means. To do this, we've started offering Climate Fresk workshops across our offices, where everyone can learn the basics of climate change science and how it relates to Vinted.<h3>How we measure our success</h3>We measure the success of Vinted’s sustainability efforts in a few ways:

<h2>Making sustainability a priority</h2>We ensure that sustainability is a priority for the company by having a solid <a href="https://company.vinted.com/newsroom/impact-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Climate Action plan</a> which defines our goals for reducing our carbon footprint. For our members, we continue to make second-hand easy and affordable, so they are encouraged to choose second-hand over new.<h3>Fostering a sustainable culture</h3>Vinted fosters a culture of sustainability across different teams by enabling them to take action to reduce our carbon footprint or amplify our positive impact. In sustainability, we don't work as enforcers but as business partners for the rest of the company – we advise and support other departments to help them achieve Vinted's sustainability goals.<h2>Looking ahead</h2>My hope for Vinted's future sustainability initiatives is that they originate from everywhere in the business – that everyone has the knowledge, confidence, and support to come up with innovative solutions that will amplify our goals.<h3>Advice for aspiring Sustainability professionals</h3>Don't be afraid to get involved in sustainability, even if that's not what you've studied or worked on before. Sustainability can be tackled from different angles: data, research, operations, or even marketing. To get involved, you don't necessarily need to have studied climate science – think about how you can use your existing skills to support environmental goals.<h3>Making an impact</h3>Working on sustainability has made me even more aware of the importance of buying second-hand instead of new and the impact our personal choices can have on the planet.The most exciting part of working at Vinted for someone passionate about sustainability is that you don't have to work in sustainability to have an impact. Everyone who works at Vinted has the opportunity to contribute to our mission of making second-hand first choice. This means that you can have a real impact on the fashion industry, no matter your team or role.<h2>Ready to make your mark?</h2>If you're passionate about sustainability and want to contribute to a growing company that's serious about making a difference, Vinted is the place for you. We're always looking for people who want to help drive our mission forward and contribute to a more sustainable future.Learn more about our <a href="/jobs?gh_src=4dae07a2teu&amp;utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">open positions</a> and apply today.

The Drive for Change – Inside Vinted's Sustainability Strategy With Isabel

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Vinted, Europe's largest peer-to-peer online marketplace for second-hand fashion, is expanding, and has recently opened an office in Kaunas, Lithuania, with over 100 employees now working there.&nbsp;Vinted is currently <a href="https://careers.vinted.com/jobs?page=1&amp;city%5B0%5D=Kaunas&amp;q=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">looking for developers (backend, web, software, mobile, data), engineers, data scientists and team leaders to join</a> their teams in the new Kaunas office.&nbsp;&nbsp;The new office in Kaunas follows the same hybrid working model as the rest of Vinted’s locations, which recommends that employees come into the office a couple of times a week. They’re also allowed to work up to 90 days a year in other countries, 21 of which can be spent outside the EU.&nbsp;"Because we’re a hybrid company, we’ve been able to employ people based in Kaunas prior to having an office space there, but the newly-opened location will better meet our current and future colleagues’ needs: providing them with modern and comfortable workspaces, plenty of areas to meet up and spend time together, and a sense of community."

"We’re currently looking for at least a couple of dozen more colleagues in Kaunas, so we’re delighted that more and more talented people in tech who are living in this city are able to get involved with Vinted's products and their development," says Ieva Kuniejūtė, Director of Tech Talent Acquisition at Vinted.Vinted's new office is located in the Drobės Fabrikas business centre – a 20,000 m²&nbsp; modern renovated interwar architectural complex in the Šančiai district – which is also home to several other growing technology companies and start-ups. Vinted is currently leasing a 657 m² space in the newly-opened business complex, which can accommodate up to 100 employees at a time.

"We were impressed by the atmosphere here; the perfect blend of history and dynamic workspaces that will most definitely contribute to an exceptional employee experience. When we choose a new location, we try to think about how it will complement our employees' routine, and the experience it will provide. We believe that the new office in Kaunas will provide inspiration and additional capacity for our growing team in the city," says Ieva Užkurnienė, Workplace Experience Lead at Vinted.

The Drobės Fabrikas team has furnished the historic premises in an industrial style, with the companies and communities that will be housed there in mind.“We wanted the premises to fit the mindset and needs of those who work there. So when renovating, our focus was on the efficient use of space.The&nbsp; Drobės Fabrikas premises are not only for business use, but can also be hired out for a wide range of gatherings and events. Our aim was to create a comfortable workspace where communities with shared principles of community, sustainability, and common good can come together. We know that these aspects are important to Vinted, so we’re happy that they've chosen our premises in Kaunas for their expansion and joined the other technology companies based here," - says Rima Čivaitė, Project Manager at Drobės Fabrikas.Vinted currently employs more than 1,800 professionals across the Vinted Group a figure which has increased by more than 500 since 2022. In addition to Lithuania, the company also has offices in Berlin, Hamburg and Amsterdam. Vinted currently has more than 100 open positions for professionals in programming, data science, marketing and other fields in Lithuania alone.Vinted brings together a community of more than 80 million registered members in 20 markets across Europe and North America.

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Vinted expands to a new office in Kaunas

Here at Vinted, we support a number of voluntary, employee-led communities that bring together individuals with shared identities, characteristics, or experiences. All of these groups have&nbsp; the common goal of promoting awareness, and fostering representation and inclusion. As an organisation aiming to become a leader in diversity, equity and inclusion, this is something which is very close to our hearts.Today, we’re introducing Queerted: a community made up of members from our different locations, who have created an exclusive space for Vinted employees who identify as LGBTQ+. This is a private space for members to openly share news and updates with each other. Vinted employees are always welcome to join and to contribute to this growing community, who held their first Queerted in-person social event in July 2023. The group meets every 2 weeks to catch up and work together on their collective mission, which is two-fold:1. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;To build a vibrant and inclusive&nbsp;community for LGBTQ+ members within Vinted, where everyone feels safe, supported, and celebrated2. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;To&nbsp;raise awareness of LGBTQ+ topics and create a culture of acceptance and empathy within Vinted and beyond.

Behind every mission, is a vision. The Queerted community, supported by Vinted, aims to create an environment where every employee at Vinted who identifies as LGBTQ+ can bring their full and authentic self to work. Where all employees (including those who do not identify with the LGBTQ+ community) know about the community and its mission, and act as Allies.&nbsp;Halfway through 2023, the community has already achieved a great deal of progress towards their vision. Within ‘Inside’, Vinted's intranet, is a space where employees identifying as LGBTQ+ and Allies can connect, collaborate and learn from each other. It includes resources on LGBTQ+ history, and an LGBTQ+ glossary to help people understand key LGBTQ+ words, phrases and acronyms. There are also resources to help Allies understand how they can help make Vinted a more welcoming place for LGBTQ+ people, as well as several practical FAQs which include questions like “I’m straight and/or cisgender. Is it really ok to speak up for a group that I am not a part of?”Also within ‘Inside’, to raise awareness, the community has been working on a 2023 calendar of LGBTQ+ notable dates – whether they be small local initiatives, a shoutout post on our internal news portal, or work with the Communities team on wider projects. By having an up-to-date calendar with regular events, employees have a consistent feed of LGBTQ+ content for employees to keep track of all year round – and not just during Pride Month.

Last but by no means least, Queerted posts a monthly newsletter containing updates, upcoming events, achievements, resources and information. The aim is that this newsletter will offer other members the opportunity to share their voice, and represent other branches within the Queerted community.We want all new joiners at Vinted to be aware of the different employee communities we have to offer. The group has been liaising with the DEI and Onboarding Teams to make sure that new joiners know about and feel welcome to join the community when starting.&nbsp;Hopefully this gives you an insight into Queerted, what it stands for, and their work and missions within Vinted.&nbsp;We're proud to showcase how Queerted is making a difference, amplifying LGBTQ+ voices, and setting the standard for Employee Resource Groups (Groups of employees who join in their workplace based on shared characteristics or life experiences).&nbsp;Stay tuned for more exciting updates from the Queerted community at Vinted!

Latests posts

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Come and Meet our Queerted Community!

The technology company Vinted has updated and synced its parental allowance policy in all countries where it has offices. The move also addresses the issue of support for same-sex families. Vinted will provide them financial support that exceeds statutory limits. The company will pay the primary carers their full salary, or make up the difference between their salary and any income support received for the first 20 weeks, and secondary carers will receive the same level of compensation for 10 weeks.&nbsp;

“Until the rights of same-sex families are equal and legally recognised in Lithuania and elsewhere, private companies are taking the matter into their own hands. Vinted already gives the same benefits (days off, allowances, etc) &nbsp;to all families, whether they are a married man and a woman, two women who have exchanged vows abroad, or two men living together without official family status. As we’re expanding rapidly, we’ve taken this step to improve and standardise the parental benefits across all Vinted offices," says Monika Kalinauskaitė, Vinted Strategic Initiatives manager. From now on, Vinted will compensate primary caregivers, such as birth mothers &nbsp;or adoptive fathers, for the first 20 weeks with the difference between their salary and Sodra payment. Secondary caregivers will be reimbursed the difference for 10 weeks, regardless of their family’s legal status: “Depending on the family model, we will encounter situations where the state does not provide financial support to one parent. In this case, we will pay the employee’s full salary for the period of time provided”.&nbsp; According to Ms. Kalinauskaite, this model is particularly important for same-sex families in Lithuania: "If, for example, a two-woman family conceives or adopts a child, only the birth or adoptive mother receives official parental benefits from the state, with the second mother not being legally recognised by the state. This not only limits the amount of financial support for this family, as by law it only applies to the "legal" mother, but it also takes away the right to choose who will look after the child. After all, the birth or adoptive mother may want to continue working, while the mother who is not legally recognised by the state takes care of the child. However, the latter would not receive any state maternity benefits. With our benefits policy, we aim to create this opportunity of choice.”&nbsp;Assess the needs of allAs Ms. Kalinauskaitė points out, when organisations think about working parents, they need to adopt a holistic approach and think about all the different family models and &nbsp;stages of child rearing. For example, a <a href="https://diversity.lt/kas-trecias-darbuotojas-renkasi-tarp-seimos-ir-karjeros/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">recent study</a> published by the Lithuanian Diversity Charter found that one third of Lithuanians changed jobs after parental leave, mainly due to employer inflexibility. One in two employers did not ask returning employees about their changed needs, and a similar number did not offer flexible working hours. "This shows that there are problems in Lithuanian society, not only in terms of financial support for same-sex families, but also in employer-parent relations. It’s important to maintain a relationship with employees on parental leave. For example - at Vinted, we invite, but do not require participation in our various internal events. It’s also important to understand that the needs of working parents change, which is why we offer flexible working options and children's playrooms in our offices,"says Monika Kalinauskaitė.Evaluates the employer's position on human rights issuesAs Rugilė Trumpytė - head of the Lithuanian Diversity Charter - notes, employees themselves have recently come to expect a clear stance on various human rights issues from their current or future employers.&nbsp; "More and more people are choosing where to work carefully. In recent years, I have noticed a growing interest in social responsibility among employees. People are enquiring about their employer's stance on human rights issues and expecting them to be proactive. Businesses can create change without waiting for the law, and they have a lot of leverage. So I am glad that Vinted is showing leadership and making decisions not only for the well-being of heterosexuals, but also for the LGBT+ community," says Trumpytė.

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Vinted Extends Same-Sex Parental Benefits Beyond Statutory Limits

Kinda’s career path has taken her from banks and telecommunications to becoming an M&amp;A Operations Manager here at Vinted. She shares her thoughts on sustainably-minded businesses, and maintaining an open and curious mind.

What’s your name and job at Vinted?I’m Kinda Dalla, and I work as an M&amp;A Operations Manager.&nbsp;When and how did you join? Why? (Be honest!)I joined Vinted in January 2021. As a sustainability and circular economy enthusiast, I had been following Vinted for a few years, and I grew more interested in joining the team as the company continued to steadily grow and expand.&nbsp;I first heard about Vinted when I came to Lithuania as a student back in 2013, when it was still called&nbsp;Mano Drabužiai. I found it truly impressive how the team created and grew such an awesome product and scaled it globally – I thought that it must be a smart and cool team, and&nbsp;that it would be great to join it!&nbsp;&nbsp;Why is Vinted’s mission important to you?&nbsp;Throughout my years studying and working in the entertainment industry, I got to learn more about sustainability in design fields. It struck me how&nbsp;the design of everyday objects – including fashion items – can lack&nbsp;thought and consideration for the environment. Things don’t last, and a lot of waste is generated in the process.For example, I got to see the environmental footprint of&nbsp;the children’s toys industry. But I also heard about the new, interesting sustainable approaches that are used for smarter designs, and to improve awareness around consumption. Take-back systems, exchange and sharing platforms, for example.&nbsp;How I think about what I need in everyday life, be it fashion items or other objects, has changed and evolved to a much more mindful level. I’m happy to be at a company which encourages people to rethink their consumption habits.&nbsp;Tell us about your typical workday. Do you have a morning ritual?I don’t have a typical daily ritual. But I like to plan my next week on Fridays, so I can block hours for focused work, which I prefer doing before lunchtime. My mornings often start with some jazz, a quiet cup of coffee, then I get on to my work. Sometimes I start my morning with a short meditation as well, but not every day.&nbsp;What makes you excited to wake up and go to work each morning?Work is an important part of my life. I always feel energised and motivated by the dynamic, complex and interesting challenges that I get to work on all the time. Besides, I enjoy cross-functional work with Vinted’s teams. I’m naturally interested in many things in life and business, and I enjoy seeing things from different perspectives.&nbsp;&nbsp;What do you find meaningful about your job?&nbsp;I’ve always believed that the most amazing ability humans have is our ability to think and create. My job offers a space for both structure and creativity to find the best solutions and ways to go about things, along with many opportunities for collaboration and relationship-building, which, being a people person, I greatly value. It keeps me going, it’s never dull and it’s very rewarding to be a part of the M&amp;A team that’s helping Vinted grow and scale further.&nbsp;&nbsp;How is Vinted different from the last places you’ve worked at?It’s different in a refreshing way. I started my career in banks and telco – they were innovative and highly structured companies, but they lacked agility and felt too formal for me. When I moved to Lithuania, I worked in small and mid-sized companies that had a friendly vibe but were challenging. There, everyone would be doing everything, and you couldn’t always focus on doing what you’re best at.What I love about working at Vinted is that our culture allows for freedom and autonomy, but at the same time, we have clarity and structure about how the business is run. The teams are collaborative and supportive, and I appreciate that a lot.&nbsp;What are the key things you’ve learned so far during your time at Vinted?I've learned the importance of always having a concrete rationale for any decision. Also the power of maintaining your focus, and not spreading yourself too thin.&nbsp;What was the biggest challenge you overcame during this time? Was it a tough lesson to learn?I'm a newcomer to tech, and I've had to learn a lot about platform business models, our industry and competition. Naturally, it was challenging to be onboarded remotely in January and not have an opportunity to meet my colleagues at the start. But at the same time, I learned to manage my time and energy under tough conditions, and to find ways to create and develop a connection with my team.&nbsp;&nbsp;How do you seek improvement for yourself?I think the key things are self-reflection, asking for feedback, and simply admitting to myself that there is something that I don’t know. This helps me maintain a humble attitude to learning, and a curious mindset that accepts change. I find it very important just to take time to be honest with yourself about what can be improved in your approach to work, communication, project results or skill set, instead of constantly running off to do the next thing.&nbsp;&nbsp;By the way, do you use the Vinted app? If so, how do you use it?Yes, I do, mainly as a buyer. I love buying vintage bags and accessories, but I try to be mindful around not buying things I don’t need, and selling or giving away what no longer brings me joy. I’ve moved between so many flats and traveled a lot, and I’ve learned that the amount of clothes and fashion items you actually need is so small – and it’s a principle I continue to live by.&nbsp;&nbsp;Aiming high daily is not easy – how do you relax?I love long walks and hikes in nature. Like many people, I got to spend much more time in&nbsp;nature because of lockdowns. I also like running and reading – mainly poetry, philosophy and classic literature. It takes my mind off the business topics of the day, and brings me into a beautiful world of thought and emotion.&nbsp;&nbsp;Pick a piece of media to recommend. Why do you think it deserves someone’s attention?Two truly influential books that everyone should read: Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, and Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations.<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2106476/">The Hunt</a> is an extremely powerful movie, reminding us of the paradoxes and complexities of the human condition. Also, Mads Mikkelsen is a brilliant actor.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/series/the-long-read">"The Audio Long Read"</a> podcast from The Guardian&nbsp;touches on many global and interesting topics, from fair trade to social mobility, culture, politics and business.

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Kinda Dalla: Thinking and Creating Are a Human’s Most Amazing Abilities

We’re happy to introduce Alice Hu: Vinted’s Compensation &amp; Benefits Lead, who’s changed not just countries but industry, and who now helps make Vinted a better place to work at. In this interview, Alice tells us why Vinted’s mission is so relatable to her, and what the benefits of transparency and diversity within the company are.

Hi Alice! What is your role at Vinted?&nbsp;Hello! I’m responsible for the compensation and benefits program at Vinted, where I look into the complete rewards experience for people working here.&nbsp;How did you become part of Vinted, and what helped you decide to join?&nbsp;I joined Vinted back in November 2020. I’ve always been interested in sustainability. My background was in financial services, but the banking industry was hard to relate to because it’s not something I’m passionate about. Vinted is something that you can easily connect to. Seeing Vinted being very active on the sustainability front and having a very relatable product were the main drivers for me making the switch from financial services to a consumer-facing e-commerce business.&nbsp;So you’ve combined your expertise with something you care about.&nbsp;Yeah, and now my role is very easy to relate to. For example, when I’d tell people that I was working as a manager in the banking sector, they’d say, “You make rich people richer”. Whereas now I tell people “Look, our company is trying to make second-hand items more easily available to everyone”. It’s obvious, and it instantly has such a positive impact. Everyone knows that we should have a more sustainable approach and use more second-hand items, so it’s a very nice change for me.&nbsp;&nbsp;You mentioned Vinted’s mission as very familiar to everyone. How is it important to you personally?It has become more important since I moved to Berlin. I’m from the US originally, where people buy big new items, and in Berlin – I don’t know if it’s Germany or Berlin – there is this culture of reusing things. It got me into seeing things in a very different light and appreciating what Vinted does, like how it can give things a second life while benefiting both sides – the seller and the buyer.&nbsp;What about your job? What makes you excited to go to work?&nbsp;&nbsp;I’m passionate about the employee experience and figuring out the balance between employer and employee responsibilities on topics of wellbeing, diversity, equity and inclusion. You often see a company claiming to have values, but in reality they are not delivered to its employees, nor do they really translate. I’m excited about helping Vinted communicate its values well, and helping its employees to feel that we care about them. In general, Vinted is such a great company doing many good things, but we don’t always communicate it well internally. I’m motivated by figuring out how we can make Vinted an even better place for people to work at.&nbsp;Do these things give meaning to your job, too?I like my work because I enjoy solving challenging problems. It’s even better when you have a group of smart, talented people to co-create with. We work hard, but we have fun along the way.&nbsp;&nbsp;Do you have any rituals that help you get in the zone for work? &nbsp; &nbsp;I have two young boys, so my morning includes making breakfast. It’s always quite chaotic, depending on how happy they are about going to school that day. Work is where I can calm down, but it is nice to have a lovely, bubbly family environment, before saying ‘bye’ to them and then just focusing.&nbsp;Vinted is becoming more international and diverse. It initially started in Lithuania, grew bigger, and continues to grow. How do you benefit from Vinted’s growth?&nbsp;Because Vinted is becoming more international, we’ve decided to open a tech hub in Berlin. I’m based in Berlin, so I think I directly benefit from it. It’s my first time working with so many Lithuanians, and it’s quite nice. Everybody is transparent, direct and very egalitarian. There is a big community spirit around everything that we do. I haven’t figured out yet if it’s specific to Lithuania or Vinted, but I haven’t been in a workplace where I’ve felt that people genuinely care before.&nbsp;&nbsp;It’s in Vinted’s DNA as an employer to be open and accessible to all. Do you feel that this statement is true?At Vinted, everything is very transparent. We walk people through what they’re doing, and share every piece of information on our Intranet with all our employees. It’s where we show everything that we’re doing: our OKRs are transparent, and everybody can read through them. We celebrate our successes, document our failures and share what we’ve learned.&nbsp;As someone who has newly joined, it’s interesting to see all of this history readily available online. For example, what happened seven years ago is properly documented. It’s great to see that some of these people from seven years ago are still here – this isn’t always the case with startups and scaleups.&nbsp;&nbsp;Do you feel transparency is important in your work life? &nbsp;I think it’s a crucial aspect of Vinted’s culture, of co-creating and having ownership. We allow people to participate in all aspects of the journey if they want to. It’s the reason why Vinted can be open and accessible. I haven’t seen that level of transparency or involvement in other businesses I’ve worked for.&nbsp;How does working with many people from diverse backgrounds help you learn and grow and solve daily challenges?It’s all about listening to the opinions of others – which can be a blessing and a curse at the same time. When I’m putting together proposals, different views help me have a more balanced and inclusive proposal. I’m collecting feedback from everyone, and when we have a final product, we have more buy-in from everyone. But I cannot ignore the challenges of having so many different voices – which one do you go with, and which one should lead? It takes time. And sometimes we don’t have that much time because we’re growing so fast. It’s like striking the right balance between gathering input and knowing when to stop.&nbsp;&nbsp;And when it comes to different nationalities, do they help you? It’s said that Lithuanians are pretty direct and transparent.&nbsp;Lithuanians, Germans and the Dutch are direct, and that helps. They are very low context people – they tell you exactly what they’re thinking, versus like British people who’re hedging what they’re saying. Because we’re so open and transparent, we welcome all sorts of views. It’s part of the company’s process of figuring things out, but we could still do more to have stronger employee voices around. For example, I’m passionate about the topic of gender equality, empowering women, etc. These topics are welcomed and supported by our people, but we could do more to support a stronger stand publicly.&nbsp;&nbsp;Do you use the Vinted app?&nbsp;Yes. As employees, we’re offered Vinted credit every month. It’s funny, because at the beginning of the month my older son and I sit and check Vinted for what we want to buy. He loves looking through the toys section.&nbsp;What’s your favorite place in the world?&nbsp;My favorite place online is Netflix. I watch all sorts of things. I recently got hooked on Korean dramas – they’re super unrealistic and overly dramatic, but they help me destress and take my mind off of reality. My favourite ‘real’ place is Taiwan. I’m Taiwanese American, and my family still lives in Taichung, a city in the middle of the island. It’s such a different place from Germany, where it’s primarily cold. In Taiwan, it’s scorching hot all the time.&nbsp;Could you recommend something – a movie, a TV show, a podcast, or a Youtube channel – for those who’ve read this interview?&nbsp;For HR folks, I’d recommend Digital HR Leaders, a podcast by David Green. He focuses on the latest HR trends, and invites data-driven People leaders to discuss their learnings. And for the foodies out there, a must-listen is the David Chang podcast. He’s very popular in NY and talks about everything, but mainly about what he eats, and he has multiple restaurants and discusses the latest food trends. By the way, everyone at Vinted seems to be a massive foodie.

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Alice Hu: Transparency Allows Us to Act on Our Values

Inclusion

Vinted Group

57 Students 31 Mentors 4 Speakers

Girls in Tech who joined the event

Student Satisfaction Score - 9.5/10 Mentors' NPS - 100 Event NPS - 100

Feedback we are proud of

90% of students now consider a tech career!

New Career Paths unlocked

Over 80% of our colleagues feel that their leaders support them well. This support includes feeling safe to share concerns, trusting leaders to handle team issues, and believing that leaders look out for their best interests.

Leaders are supportive

Around 85% of colleagues feel supported by others, are comfortable being themselves, and feel confident in their abilities. Nearly 80% also feel comfortable sharing their feelings with their team and can balance work and home life well.

Colleagues are supportive and people feel comfortable being themselves

90% of colleagues feel that their voices are heard during discussions and decision-making.

Colleagues feel heard

This year, we created an action plan to cut emissions in line with climate science. We track our progress against those targets to measure our success.

We include our Annual Corporate Carbon Footprint in our financial reporting to provide a transparent view of our impact.

We are continuously measuring the effect of our mission – making second-hand the first choice – by tracking the emissions avoided by members who buy second-hand on our platform (instead of new items).

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