Ufuk Kayserilioglu

Actually, Shopify's response to this whole pandemic has been really impressive because senior executives at Shopify were aware of where the whole pandemic situation was going really early on. And they were really quick in taking measures to ensure that people working for Shopify are safe. So that was very early on. So they basically closed all the offices.

Actually, Shopify's response to this whole pandemic has been really impressive because senior executives at Shopify were aware of where the whole pandemic situation was going really early on. And they were really quick in taking measures to ensure that people working for Shopify are safe. So that was very early on. So they basically closed all the offices.

before like most countries were like aware of what's even what's going on. So for me personally, I can't quite talk for those office closures because I've always been working remotely for Shopify. So I live in Cyprus. I work for Shopify remotely from here and our whole Ruby and Rails infrastructure team has been distributed, has been a distributed team as well.

before like most countries were like aware of what's even what's going on. So for me personally, I can't quite talk for those office closures because I've always been working remotely for Shopify. So I live in Cyprus. I work for Shopify remotely from here and our whole Ruby and Rails infrastructure team has been distributed, has been a distributed team as well.

So we had a couple of people working in the offices in Ottawa. Someone in Montreal, one person in Poland, one person in France, UK, Cyprus, all over the world. So our whole team dynamics and everything didn't obviously change that much.

So we had a couple of people working in the offices in Ottawa. Someone in Montreal, one person in Poland, one person in France, UK, Cyprus, all over the world. So our whole team dynamics and everything didn't obviously change that much.

But obviously, as everyone's feeling it, starting to work remotely during the pandemic was a huge burden to a lot of people because they weren't ready to work like that. Also, it wasn't a normal working remotely setup either, right? Because Schools are also closed. Everything else is closed. You're trapped in this house and you can't go out. And you're also trying to do work.

But obviously, as everyone's feeling it, starting to work remotely during the pandemic was a huge burden to a lot of people because they weren't ready to work like that. Also, it wasn't a normal working remotely setup either, right? Because Schools are also closed. Everything else is closed. You're trapped in this house and you can't go out. And you're also trying to do work.

So it's not necessarily the normal working from home situation. But like you said, our senior executives looked at the situation going forward. So first of all, Shopify isn't reopening any of their offices. before the end of this year, whatever happens, because the outlook isn't that great. It doesn't look like this pandemic is over anytime soon.

So it's not necessarily the normal working from home situation. But like you said, our senior executives looked at the situation going forward. So first of all, Shopify isn't reopening any of their offices. before the end of this year, whatever happens, because the outlook isn't that great. It doesn't look like this pandemic is over anytime soon.

So there's no point in like opening offices and making people feel safe in going there just to then like close them again. But also, the company has, based on this experience that we've had for the last couple of months, the company has also decided to be digital by default, which doesn't necessarily... It's digital already. It is digital already, but it wasn't digital by default, right?

So there's no point in like opening offices and making people feel safe in going there just to then like close them again. But also, the company has, based on this experience that we've had for the last couple of months, the company has also decided to be digital by default, which doesn't necessarily... It's digital already. It is digital already, but it wasn't digital by default, right?

So that's the extension. So what used to be the case is, for example, if there were people in the office and if there was a meeting, so if there were like 10 people in the office and three people joining remotely... then the 10 people in the office would be huddled up in a meeting room, and then the three people would join in on a call remotely. But that isn't necessarily the best way of working.

So that's the extension. So what used to be the case is, for example, if there were people in the office and if there was a meeting, so if there were like 10 people in the office and three people joining remotely... then the 10 people in the office would be huddled up in a meeting room, and then the three people would join in on a call remotely. But that isn't necessarily the best way of working.

because the people who are joining that call remotely don't get the same experience that those 10 people in the room get. So the digital by default kind of changes that. And they say, we're not closing our offices, but they're saying the offices won't be the same offices. So they'll be revamped to accommodate this new digital by default future.

because the people who are joining that call remotely don't get the same experience that those 10 people in the room get. So the digital by default kind of changes that. And they say, we're not closing our offices, but they're saying the offices won't be the same offices. So they'll be revamped to accommodate this new digital by default future.

But basically then in that future, we'll get to experience it obviously, but in that future, those 10 people will also individually join that same meeting as well. So everyone will be digital in the meeting by default rather than having 10 people co-located somewhere and then three people remote.

But basically then in that future, we'll get to experience it obviously, but in that future, those 10 people will also individually join that same meeting as well. So everyone will be digital in the meeting by default rather than having 10 people co-located somewhere and then three people remote.

So that's the biggest difference because the decision there was very simple because you either do fully co-located or you do fully remote. In between is this hybrid thing that doesn't work that well for either party, right?

So that's the biggest difference because the decision there was very simple because you either do fully co-located or you do fully remote. In between is this hybrid thing that doesn't work that well for either party, right?