Olga Safina, Director of Employer Brand and Employee Engagement at Growe

In the fiercely competitive world of iGaming, attracting and retaining top talent is paramount to achieving sustained business success. However, this comes with its own unique set of challenges: How do you ensure you are sourcing the right people for the job? How can you attract them to your company? And then, how do you ensure that they want to stay with you for the long term?

There are several different approaches you can take to answer at least some of these questions. But one thing that we’ve found at Growe is the importance of a robust employer brand in distinguishing companies from their competitors and appealing to the best and brightest in the industry. We have witnessed firsthand how a strong employer brand can transform our organization, drawing top-tier talent and driving remarkable business outcomes.

Attracting Top Talent

A compelling employer brand is a powerful magnet for attracting top talent. Ultimately, this shows both current and potential employees who you are as a company, what your core values are, and what it’s like to work with you. As the adage goes, first impressions count. These initial perceptions can influence whether someone chooses to join your company, so use this as an opportunity to showcase all the reasons why your company is a great employer!

At Growe, showcasing who we are as an employer has been a central component of our HR strategy. By clearly communicating our values, mission, and culture, we have positioned ourselves as an employer of choice in the iGaming industry. We wanted to make sure that our brand narrative resonates with potential employees, highlighting not only the exciting career opportunities but also the supportive and inclusive work environment that we offer. We have achieved this in different ways:

Transparent Communication: Transparency is absolutely essential if you want to build a solid relationship with your team. At Growe, we maintain open and honest communication about our company values, goals, and expectations. This not only builds trust and attracts new candidates who align with our vision but also strengthens the bond within our existing team.

Showcasing Success Stories: We regularly share success stories and testimonials from current employees internally and externally (e.g., on the company’s Medium blog, through “Ambassadors of Growth” brand ambassadorship program). It’s important to highlight their achievements and illustrate the growth and development opportunities available at Growe.

Strong Online Presence: Our active presence on social media platforms (Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook) and job portals ensures that our employer brand reaches a wide audience, enhancing our visibility and attractiveness to potential candidates.

Impact on Business Success

The positive impact of a strong employer brand on business success cannot be overstated. From external reputation to commercial performance and even employee engagement, employer branding impacts all areas of a business. At Growe, our focus on our employer brand has had a number of benefits, especially in terms of talent acquisition and overall business performance.

Increased Talent Pool: Our strong employer brand has allowed us to significantly expand our talent pool by more than 25% over the last 12 months, with more than 1000 specialists located in over 40 different countries around the world. In 2024 alone, we attracted over 60,000 new unique visitors to our website, with more than 300 unique visitors per day, demonstrating the growing interest in our company.

Higher Retention Rates: A strong employer brand fosters a sense of belonging and loyalty among employees. We believe that we have created a company culture that encourages our team to develop their own careers and pursue new opportunities that might not have been available at other companies. This has resulted in lower turnover rates and reduced recruitment costs. Our internal events and initiatives, with an 80% employee participation rate, have played a crucial role in this achievement, something that we’re particularly proud of.

Enhanced Employee Engagement: Engaged employees are more productive and innovative. Our brand has helped us maintain an 82% average employee visit rate on our internal portal, with 31 articles released each month. This engagement drives higher performance and contributes to our business growth.

Market Reputation: A reputable employer brand isn’t just important from an internal perspective; it also boosts our standing in the wider iGaming industry. Through our participation in nine external events, including speaking on expert panels, attending as delegates, and exhibiting, we have solidified our position as a thought leader in the iGaming sector.

 Case Study: Growe’s Success in Action

Our journey at Growe exemplifies the transformative power of a strong employer brand. Here are some key highlights from our experience:

Internal Engagement: From June 2023 to June 2024, we organized 103 internal events across our global company hubs, achieving 80% employee participation. This high level of engagement has strengthened our internal culture, fostered a sense of community, and brought our team closer together.

Content Creation: Our brand ambassadors generated expert articles each quarter for our internal portal and public industry media, reinforcing our brand’s position as a thought leader and innovator.

Publications and PR: We have published more than 20 thought leadership pieces in global media in 2024. Our partnership with global industry media has further amplified our brand presence.

As you can see, creating a strong employer brand is much more than simply adding benefits for your employees. It is absolutely essential for attracting top talent and driving your business forward in an increasingly competitive industry. At Growe, our commitment to building and maintaining a robust employer brand has yielded significant benefits, from expanding our talent pool to enhancing employee engagement and improving financial performance. By continuing to invest in our employer brand, we are confident that we will maintain our competitive edge and drive long-term success in the dynamic world of iGaming.