Flexibility first: Why Nulab chooses to be fully-remote
At Nulab, we were lucky to embrace remote work before it became the norm. And ever since, it’s been a game-changer — giving us the freedom to collaborate with teammates in Tokyo, Sri Lanka, Amsterdam, New York, Ireland, to name a few.
Originally, we introduced remote work in 2019 to help our New York team cut down on their daily commute. But by 2020, it became the way forward for everyone — including our Amsterdam office, which already had a flexible work-from-home setup.
“During COVID, NYC shut down. We adapted fast because we already had the tools in place—unlike other companies that had to scramble to figure out remote collaboration,” recalls our front-end engineer David Rivera.
While our remote work policy started as a necessity, it’s now become a core part of how we work. We’ve found that it’s not just about flexibility — it’s about bringing together people with all kinds of experiences, skills, and perspectives, no matter where they are. And with tools like Backlog and Cacoo ready to go, the shift to fully remote working was much smoother than expected.
Here are what some fellow Nulabers have to say about their experience working remotely at Nulab.
The benefits of going remote
Initially, the decision to embrace remote work wasn’t just about adapting to external circumstances — it was about offering our employees a better work-life balance and fostering a more diverse, global team. “Remote work provided a better work-life balance, allowing people to get more time to themselves, their families, and their hobbies,” says Antonia Tympou, our HR Generalist in Amsterdam.
More time
Without the daily grind of commuting, remote employees have more time to spend on what matters most, whether it’s family, personal growth, or simply having a moment of peace in the morning before starting the workday.
“I was able to adjust my work schedule with my peak productivity hours and concentrate on complex tasks requiring more focus and creativity early in the morning during the time that I would normally be commuting,” our web designer in Amsterdam Alex Zubenko says.
Saving money
The financial perks of remote work are just as significant. Cutting out the commute means fewer expenses on gas, public transport, and daily coffee shop runs. “Less eating out and iced coffees is another bonus!” says David.
Better focus
While the camaraderie of in-person work is great, many of our team members have found that remote work helps them stay more focused and productive.
“Remote work has made it easier to maintain my work schedule. While it’s always nice to see my colleagues in person, I noticed with remote work, there were fewer distractions and interruptions. Any time to chat with team members was scheduled into my work day, which made it effortless to plan my tasks and get more done!” says Elizabeth Chien, our Digital Marketing Manager in New York.
Diversity
One of the best parts of having a remote workforce is that we aren’t limited to hiring from one geographic location. Instead, we’re able to bring in the best talent from around the world, no matter where they’re located. This diversity of thought, culture, and experience is a key driver of the creativity and innovation that define our products and services.
Elizabeth emphasizes how working with people from different backgrounds has broadened her understanding: “Working at Nulab has opened my eyes to the power of diversity. Every day, I get to learn from people with different backgrounds, experiences, and ways of thinking. It’s inspiring to see how everyone brings something unique to the table.”
Web designer Alex Zubenko shares a similar sentiment: “I love that I get to work with people from so many different countries. It makes every project more interesting because everyone brings a fresh perspective. You get to see how different cultures approach problems and come up with solutions that you might never have thought of on your own.”
Challenges of remote work
Of course, working remotely across different time zones and cultures isn’t without its challenges. As David points out, there’s a learning curve to coordinating and collaborating when your team is spread out.
“One of the challenges is making sure we’re all aligned when we’re working from different parts of the world. But it’s also really rewarding when you see how all the different pieces come together to create something great,” says David.
Antonia also notes that the lack of face-to-face interaction can sometimes feel isolating: “It can be tricky to have colleagues bond with each other more personally when we only see each other through webcams or during online initiatives where only one person can speak at a time.”
How we’ve overcome hurdles
Transitioning to remote work wasn’t without its challenges, but we’ve found creative ways to maintain collaboration, connection, and company culture—even from a distance.
Coworking spaces
For our New York team, we have a permanent WeWork space in Manhattan where employees can come together for coworking days once a month or so. We’re able to book spaces around the city. “Once we went to Navy Yard where there was a beautiful rooftop and amazing view,” says Bianca. “These in-person meetups provide a great balance—giving our team the flexibility of remote work with just enough in-person time to strengthen working relationships.”
Team meetups
Beyond coworking days, we also organize team meetups once every few months to strengthen our connections outside of work. “Our last coworking day, we made candles in Red Hook and had American BBQ afterward. We’re always thinking of creative ways to get everyone together,” says Bianca.
In May, we’re flying staff to Japan for a company-wide meeting, an opportunity for team members from around the world to collaborate in person. “Everyone is really excited about Japan! It’s going to be amazing to finally meet teammates in person, explore the culture together, and strengthen the connections we’ve built online,” Bianca adds.
By blending remote flexibility with intentional in-person experiences, we’re creating the best of both worlds — making sure everyone feels like they’re truly part of a team, no matter where they are.
Communication
Of course, bringing people together isn’t just about physical meetups—it’s about how we collaborate every day. One of the things that makes working across different countries so seamless is the openness and respect baked into our culture.
Elizabeth highlights how this flexibility has shaped her own experience: “There’s this amazing culture of openness and respect at Nulab, where every idea is valued. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what your role is — if you have a good idea, people listen. That openness makes it so much easier to collaborate across borders.”
The right tools
With teams spread across different time zones, keeping projects on track could get messy. Luckily, our suite of tools were designed for remote collaboration. Whether we’re mapping out deadlines with Gantt charts or keeping tasks organized on Kanban boards, Backlog helps us stay in sync. And when we’re sketch out a marketing plan or planning a new feature design, Cacoo makes it easy to collaborate visually. It’s the kind of seamless teamwork that makes remote collaboration feel effortless.
The future of remote work at Nulab
While challenges of remote work like isolation and time zone coordination exist, we’re proud to have created a work environment that is as flexible and supportive as possible for everyone.
Remote work has given us the freedom to work from anywhere, the flexibility to balance life and career, and the joy of avoiding rush hour traffic. But more importantly, it’s given us the ability to collaborate with people around the world, bringing together diverse perspectives that make our team stronger. Great teams aren’t built on shared office space—they’re built on trust, communication, and a commitment to working better together.
Looking ahead, we’re more committed than ever to continuing our global collaboration efforts — whether we’re working from New York, Amsterdam, Tokyo, or beyond.