Tech Happy

Managing director Brett Lodge says treating everyone like family is the secret to subnet’s success.

- WENDY KAY

The perks of working for an IT company are many. Just look at Google. Consistently ranked as one of the best companies to work for, the tech giant offers its employees free food, onsite medical staff, massage therapists, decompression (stress) capsules and so much more. Why does Google do it? Reportedly because, ‘It’s the right thing to do.’

Now, Subnet – a leading provider of ICT professional services in South Australia – may be smaller than Google, but its heart is just as big. Employees here get access to a full gym, a personal trainer, flexible work arrangements and the coolest new gadgets and gizmos to hit the market – simply because, “It makes a big difference.”

In fact, it’s the “making a difference” that causes Subnet’s Managing Director Brett Lodge to leap out of bed each morning, eager to start his day. “It might sound corny, but I want to make a difference in people’s lives,” he shares. “It’s why I come into work every day.”

His desire stems from many years in the corporate world, working for large corporations. In that setting, employees can be just another cog in the machine. But not at Subnet. Here, employees are valued and encouraged to speak up and share opinions.

“Culture is absolutely critical. It’s what makes the difference between a mediocre business and a successful one,” Brett says. “I’ve worked in much larger organisations in the past where your opinion falls on deaf ears, and you don’t really understand the impact you make. I never wanted that at Subnet. Here, we have a culture that feels like we’re all family – everyone’s opinion matters, and you go out of your way to help someone else.”