It began with one intentional choice, and everything else followed from there. This is a story of how trusting people shaped the way we work, the lives it quietly touched along the way, and what we learned about building a company that stays human as it grows.
Shekhar Chikara
4 Mins
•
January 5, 2026
When we started Syscore, we made a decision that felt both bold and natural: we would be a fully remote company from day one. No office space. No cubicles. No commutes. Just a team of talented individuals scattered across different locations, connected by purpose and empowered by something that's become the heartbeat of everything we do—trust.
This wasn't a decision made in a vacuum. Like many, we experienced the sudden shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. What we discovered during that time genuinely surprised us. Productivity didn't decline, it flourished. Collaboration didn't suffer, it simply adapted. And most importantly, everyone was happier, more engaged, and doing some of their best work. So when we set out to build Syscore, we knew exactly what kind of company we wanted to create. Three years later, I can say with confidence: it was one of the best decisions we ever made.
At its core, our culture is built on one belief: when you trust the individuals you work with, they rise to the occasion. We don't measure success by hours logged or seats filled. We measure it by the quality of work delivered, the problems solved, and the relationships built along the way. This isn't about checking boxes or hovering over shoulders - it's about giving talented individuals the autonomy to do what they do best, in the way that works best for them. And when you do that, something remarkable happens: they don't just meet expectations, they exceed them.
This trust runs both ways. Our team trusts that we value their wellbeing just as much as their output, and we trust them to manage their time and responsibilities with integrity. It's a relationship built on mutual respect, and honestly, it's made all the difference.
One of the most meaningful outcomes of being fully remote is the time it gives back. Time that would otherwise be spent sitting in traffic or navigating crowded trains is now time spent with family, pursuing passions, or simply taking a quiet moment before the day begins. We've heard from so many team members about what this flexibility has meant for their lives—how they've reclaimed hours each day, how they feel more present at home, how they finally have space to breathe. These conversations remind me, time and again, why we do things this way.
I think often about one team member in particular who shared how much this has changed things for them. They were able to move back to their hometown to be closer to family—something that simply wouldn't have been possible in a traditional office setup. Instead of catching flights on weekends or missing important moments, they now get to be present, really present, with the people who matter most. They told us how energized and grateful they feel, and hearing that? That's what makes all of this worthwhile.
We also have a few new parents on our team, and it fills me with so much joy knowing that they're not missing out on the key milestones of their little ones—first steps, first words, all those precious moments that pass by so quickly. They get to be there, not just in photos sent to their phone while stuck in an office, but actually there, watching their babies grow into wonderful human beings. No job should ask you to trade those moments away, and I'm proud that ours doesn't.
Of course, being remote doesn't mean being disconnected. Distance only becomes a barrier if you let it. We've been intentional about building rhythms and rituals that keep everyone aligned and engaged. Tools like Slack keep conversations flowing throughout the day—not just about work, but about life, weekend plans, small wins worth celebrating. Beyond the day-to-day, we come together every month for all-staff check-ins. These aren't status updates or performance reviews. They're real conversations. We ask how everyone is doing, what's working, what isn't, and what they'd like to see change. Their input genuinely shapes how we grow as a company, and I think that sense of ownership—that feeling that your voice matters—is something everyone here feels deeply.
While we're proudly remote, we also recognize that there's something irreplaceable about face-to-face connection. Zoom calls and Slack messages are wonderful, but they can't fully capture the energy of sharing a coffee with a colleague or the spontaneous conversations that happen when you're in the same room. That's why we actively encourage team members in the same or nearby cities to get together periodically—whether it's for a day or two of working side by side. We provide co-working spaces for these meetups, and the impact has been remarkable. People come back from these sessions with stronger relationships, a deeper understanding of each other, and a renewed sense of connection to the team. There's something about stepping outside the little rectangles on our screens and meeting as real people that brings everything together in a way nothing else can.
The results have been incredible, and they speak louder than any philosophy ever could. We're proud to share that nearly 90% of our team has been with us for the long term. In an industry where turnover can be high and talent is constantly being recruited away, this isn't something we take for granted. Everyone here is productive, engaged, and genuinely satisfied—not because we demand it, but because we've worked hard to create an environment where they can do their best work while living their best lives. When you give individuals the freedom to thrive, they choose to stay.
I want to be clear: we're a really small team. We're not curing cancer or sending rockets into space. But through our work in the sustainability sector, we hope we're making a small dent in the universe - contributing, in our own way, to something that matters. And we certainly don't have it all figured out. We make mistakes, more than we'd like to admit. But at the core of who we are is a commitment to keep learning, to acknowledge where we fall short, and to do better the next time. That's not just how we approach our work - it's how we approach building this company.
We’re excited about what comes next. As we continue to grow, we look forward to welcoming more talented individuals into our team—people who value flexibility, autonomy, and meaningful work. Every person who joins Syscore becomes part of something we've built with intention and care. We're excited to keep learning, keep improving, and keep impacting more lives along the way.
