How Appinio Builds High-Performing Teams

We care about performance because Appinio is a mission-driven company, powered by outstanding performers. As a remote-first company, performance is key to defining our culture. We bring together exceptional people who push themselves to excel each day, fostering an environment where you’re both inspired and challenged by the talent around you.

It’s often the very first thing newcomers notice as well: joining Appinio means stepping into a team that’s both inspiring in its drive and refreshingly warm in its welcome. Viktoriya, our Director of People, puts it simply:

"We focus on high performance because when your colleagues are exceptional, you’ll love working with them- and that’s what makes work meaningful. While perks and benefits have their place, and we invest in them thoughtfully- it’s the talented, driven colleagues that truly makes work inspiring. And that never wears off."

Performance here isn’t left to chance. Leaders set clear expectations, provide ongoing feedback, and keep growth conversations alive. That way, ambition, candor, and care go hand in hand.

How We Manage Performance

At Appinio, we aim to build something truly unique and disrupt an entire industry, and that means doing things differently. The high standards we promise our customers are the same we hold ourselves to: in hiring, performance, collaboration, and personal development.

Max, our CEO, puts it directly:

Everyone at Appinio owns our collective success. That means speaking up with better ideas, challenging each other honestly, and pushing hard while actually helping each other. High performance and a supportive culture don’t compete - they make each other stronger.

Here's what this looks like in practice:

At Appinio, no one has to guess where they stand. Expectations are clear, feedback is constant, and conversations are direct.

We don’t wait for quarterly reviews to address problems - if something’s off track, we fix it immediately. Like our product, our performance approach is agile: we align quickly, adjust, and move forward.

Radical clarity comes down to two things:

1. Every Appinioneer is responsible for their own clarity and growth. If something is unclear, they proactively ask questions. “No one told me” is not an excuse. 
2. Feedback flows in every direction. From juniors to managers, managers to executives, and peers to peers- feedback is direct, frequent, and mutual.

Radical candor also means addressing tough issues quickly and directly. When someone's struggling, we give them clear feedback and real support to improve. No slow, ambiguous programs - just honest conversations and concrete help.Just earlier this year a team member was stuck, and their lead sat down weekly for a month with specific feedback. They turned it around and reported one of the strongest results in the team this quarter. It’s exactly this kind of direct support and honest conversation that lets our people grow fast and overcome hurdles.

And if over time it becomes clear the role isn't the right fit and one’s strengths may be better applied elsewhere, we'll address that honestly and respectfully, helping each person move forward successfully.

Viktoriya sums it up:

👉 If you’re a candidate: You’ll always know where you stand. No surprises - just direct, honest conversations that help you grow and succeed.

True high performance at Appinio is sustainable, purposeful, and impactful. It is not about working more hours for the sake of it, politics, or doing things for show. It’s about creating real impact while working well with others- collaboration, trust, and behaviour are just as important as results. Selfish brilliance doesn't work here. We succeed together by lifting each other up, and when everyone around you is great, you raise your own game.

Max is clear on this:

During our performance growth cycles, we measure performance to provide clarity and transparency- not to put people in boxes. We share guidance on what we typically expect to see across the organization: an expected distribution, not a forced one. This helps leaders maintain a fair, high standard for all team members, ensuring assessments focus on the impact and quality of the work achieved.

👉 If you’re a candidate: You’ll be part of a team where collaboration drives meaningful impact, and recognition comes from delivering results the right way- no politics, no ego, just real work.

At Appinio, growth doesn’t come with time served. There’s no escalator carrying you upwards to a promotion automatically. Growth comes from tackling big challenges, learning from brilliant colleagues, and taking responsibility for your own development. We support you with mentorship, feedback and growth opportunities, but the real driver is you. From new joiners to the CEO, every Appinioneer has growth goals- because learning never stops, and improvement never ends.

When personal development leads to promotion, it’s about accepting a greater responsibility and the commitment to operate at a higher level.

Viktoriya explains:

👉 If you are a candidate: You’ll be surrounded by colleagues who push themselves constantly to excel, and you’ll be expected to do the same. Your growth is in your hands, but you’ll never climb alone.

What Different Performance Levels Mean

Performance at Appinio isn’t one-size-fits-all. People land in different places at different times- and we’re transparent about what each of those levels means. Clear expectations help everyone know where they stand and what comes next.

• If you meet our standards: You’ll work with exceptional colleagues, get feedback that helps you grow, and know exactly where you stand.
• If you exceed them: You’ll tackle bigger challenges, take ownership of high-impact projects, and shape outcomes that matter. Exceptional performance is recognised with opportunities to stretch your skills, make meaningful contributions, and leave a mark on the business.
• If you struggle: We'll give you direct feedback and real support. You own your improvement, but you won't figure it out alone. If over time it becomes clear the role isn't the right fit, we'll address that honestly.

This Isn't for Everyone

Appinio isn’t trying to be the right company for everyone. Our culture is shaped by people who want to perform at a high level and grow through challenges- and that’s not what everyone is looking for. Being upfront about this helps us attract those who will truly thrive here.

You won’t thrive here if you:

• Prefer vague feedback over direct conversations
• Value effort over results
• Expect promotions based on tenure rather than impact

You will thrive here if you:

• Want to work with exceptional people who challenge you daily
• Value direct feedback and clear expectations
• Take ownership of your results and growth
• Care about creating impact more than politics or ego

Our high-performance culture means we move fast and sometimes messily. We don’t have every process perfectly buttoned-up or predictable. If you need fully structured routines and guaranteed stability, you may find this environment frustrating- but for those who thrive on challenge, growth, and impact, this is exactly the place to be.

The Result

This approach has created exactly what we set out to build: a team of inspiring colleagues who push each other to excel. When everyone around you is exceptional, you raise your own game, and that collective excellence is the core driver behind our success. Building something exceptional requires exceptional people. This is how we find them, develop them, and keep them performing at their best.

In our next article, we’ll share exactly how this looks in practice- our performance growth cycles, feedback rituals, and what it means to perform at your best in a high-impact, supportive environment.

PS: Shoutout to all Appinioneers- employees, leaders, and People team members—who keep our standards high, call out the tough truths, and support each other daily. If this sounds like your kind of place, come join us and be one of us.