Life at Ardoq
Four of our employees talk about their Ardoq experience.

Viola Mucaj - Senior QA Engineer
What was your first impression of Ardoq's culture when you joined?
When I first encountered Ardoq, even from the initial interview, I was immediately drawn to its culture. What struck me most was the genuine sense of comfort I felt, which is unusual for me during interviews as I tend to get nervous. This positive impression continued to grow, and I quickly realized that Ardoq's culture is truly shaped by the people who work here.
My manager, in particular, made me feel incredibly at ease, which speaks volumes about the supportive environment. Coming from Albania to Norway, I was initially apprehensive about feeling alone, but the people at Ardoq genuinely care. They are honest, readily share their experiences, and offer a wealth of insight from day one. This welcoming and collaborative atmosphere made me feel right at home.
The company's values of being bold, caring, and driven are not just words; they are embodied by everyone here. This collective spirit is why I love Ardoq's culture – it's a place where you feel valued, supported, and empowered to contribute.
Can you share a specific example of how Ardoq has supported your professional growth or helped you learn a new skill?
Ardoq has been instrumental in supporting my professional growth, particularly in my aspiration to become a test manager. My manager and I have collaborated to create a detailed development plan, outlining clear, achievable steps towards this goal without creating undue pressure.
One key aspect of this plan involves leveraging the learning budget to attend courses focused on management skills. However, it's not just about theoretical learning; Ardoq strongly emphasizes hands-on practice. I've had numerous opportunities to apply what I've learned by hosting various meetings and taking initiatives, which has been incredibly valuable in seeing those new skills in action.
Perhaps one of the most significant lessons I've learned here is the importance of "learning from your mistakes" rather than blaming yourself. This approach fosters continuous improvement and helps pinpoint areas where further development is needed, ultimately contributing to personal and professional growth. Ardoq truly provides an environment where you're encouraged to learn, evolve, and achieve your career ambitions.

Damjan Obal - Head of Product Design
What initially attracted you to Ardoq, and what made you choose us for your next career step?
Here comes a cliche; the people. From the initial impression to meeting the team, I was constantly reminded this was the right choice. I was first drawn to Ardoq because of the challenge and the opportunity to own a piece of Ardoq’s success. Having the mandate to own the problem as well as the solution space, plus the ability to execute together with some of the brightest mind is what wins me over, and keeps me hungry for more.
Can you share a specific example of how Ardoq has supported your professional growth or helped you learn a new skill?
In Ardoq, we grow together. Instead of superstar individuals (which we DO have!) and divas, we are a tight-knit bunch. I’m especially grateful for the patience and guidance I get from the engineers. The intricacies of Ardoq can get quite complex and industry-specific. For example, when working on underlying data structures and the graph, I absorbed so much by tagging along, and grew so much by numerous 1:1 sessions on the topic. No school or bootcamp can give you that tacit knowledge.
Describe a project or challenge you've worked on that you're particularly proud of. What was the impact, and what did you learn?
Soon after joining, I teamed up with our chief architect Jason, or professor Jason, as we call him. We worked together on what we called the Concept Car, the vision for Ardoq. It was a steep learning curve, especially after being paired with the most knowledgeable person in Ardoq. But it was also the most rewarding and gratifying learning experience that I’m really proud of. We managed to visualise and verbalise what the future of Ardoq might be, and made it actionable and relatable for anyone.
How does Ardoq empower you to make a meaningful impact in your role?
Ardoq has a no bullshit mentality. To everything. I love that everyone has a mandate to challenge, to question and to execute. Leaders lead with enablement and not by delegation. As a designer, I know what the company vision and mission is, it’s clear to me what the goals are. But how to execute, and make most impact is on me and the team. We then constantly take a pause and measure how “our” work contributes to the overarching strategy and goals.
Tell us about a memorable moment with your colleagues that highlights the collaborative spirit at Ardoq.
Has to be the “Happy Path” project where we went out to map the desired behaviour for our customers. It was an exercise where all parts of Ardoq got involved, and collaborated with extreme speed and autonomy. Various streams worked in parallel, but there seemed to be this connectedness, togetherness that tied us all. At the end, everyone in Ardoq has the same goal: to make our customers successful and a tiny bit happier at what they do.
How does Ardoq support a healthy work-life balance for you?
As a father of 2 small boys, I appreciate the flexibility to arrange my days. Not just by the company, but by my team as well.
As part of a multi-national team, how does Ardoq foster an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued?
A lot of companies state that they are multi-national, diverse and inclusive. But after working in several multi-national environments, I can state with confidence that Ardoq truly is a diverse and inclusive place. Not just on paper and in words. You can come as you are, bring your quirky sense of humour, your attitude, baggage and just be yourself. Only rule is to be respectful and caring. And that’s a value we live by.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering joining Ardoq?
Challenge us with honesty, boldness and show us what drives you. Don’t hide behind a facade or cliches, we want to meet the real you. Show us what you aspire to be, and what steps did you take to become that person.

Joy Dempsey - Global Director of Business Development
What attracted you to work at your company? How did you know it would be a good fit?
I wanted to work in an ambitious scale-up, taking a company on the journey from medium-sized to something big. In addition, I was aiming for the tech space, SaaS, specifically. It’s just a very cool business model, very scalable.
What are you responsible for in your current role?
In addition to keeping the company aligned with strategy, I work to get that alignment across teams, ensuring we’re executing on that strategy. I speak to a lot of people to understand what’s going on in the company and find any uncertainties we need to address or things that just slipped through the cracks within a specific department. I’m also a sparring partner for the CEO as he works through ideas, and I’m closely involved in operations.
What are you working on right now that excites or inspires you?
We have a strong foundation, a great product, a growing market, and solid funding. It is an exciting time right now, planning how we leverage this and what we do now, one year or five years into the future. We have a plethora of opportunities that we are working on turning into realities.
What do you value most about your company’s or team’s culture? What sets it apart from other places you’ve worked?
We are bold, caring, and driven. It’s the caring part that stands out compared to other companies. We care a lot about diversity, with so many people from different cultures and backgrounds, and it makes a difference.
What’s one thing you would want a candidate to know about what it’s like to work at your company?
We’re a fast-growing company that changes all the time. So no matter what role you enter the company in, you will have a real voice and the ability to set the course and have a real impact.
What do you appreciate most about the company’s mental health and wellness benefits? Which ones have made the most impact on you?
We have a company tradition, every Friday, we celebrate the wins of the week, big and small. It could be as small as someone thanking a colleague for sending jokes when they’re recovering from a broken bone or something big like celebrating closing a huge deal.

Flo Germain - Engineering Manager
What initially attracted you to Ardoq, and what made you choose us for your next career step?
When I was exploring new opportunities, I spoke with several companies - but Ardoq immediately stood out. From the very first conversation, it was clear they genuinely cared about me as a person, not just as a candidate. The interviews felt like real, honest conversations where we were already working together to try to understand if this was the right fit—not just technically, but culturally too. That level of transparency and mutual respect was refreshing and honestly quite rare. It gave me a strong sense that Ardoq was a place where people are valued and empowered, and that kind of environment was exactly what I was looking for. I have not been disappointed since!
Can you share a specific example of how Ardoq has supported your professional growth or helped you learn a new skill?
Early on at Ardoq, an email went out in the engineering department looking for people interested in future Team Lead roles. I knew I didn't have the required experience, but I expressed my interest — and instead of being turned away, I was encouraged to talk to my manager about what it would take to get me there. Over the next two years, with their support, I gradually built the skills and confidence I needed—and I’m proud to say I now lead a team of my own and absolutely love it. Ardoq really invested in my growth, helping identify gaps and giving me the tools to close them—whether through mentoring, access to targeted courses, or using my learning budget for coaching.
How does Ardoq support a healthy work-life balance for you?"
I genuinely feel like I’ve hit the work-life balance jackpot at Ardoq. Working from home has not only given me more flexibility in my day-to-day, but it also allowed my husband and me to get two dogs—something we would have been more hesitant of otherwise. I can take a break when the sun is out, go for a walk, and come back recharged. That kind of flexibility is rare and so appreciated. I also love that I’m trusted to manage my own time. If I need to push a little harder one day, I know I can reclaim that time later without question—it’s all about trust and accountability. And now, as I prepare to go on maternity leave for the first time, I’ve felt nothing but supported. From the company policies to the incredibly thoughtful and encouraging attitude of my team and department, I feel fully confident stepping away—and just as confident about coming back.