When Your Company Culture Sends You Nuts

At a recent event, a client said to me, “it doesn’t matter what the event is, if Beyond Encryption invites you, you immediately say yes, because you know it will be brilliant!”

As far as event management goes, that’s high praise indeed.

That comment reflects long-standing relationships across our team and the clients we work with. Towards the end of last year, a family walk on the Isle of Wight showed me the same instinct in a much smaller setting.

What Happened On The Isle Of Wight

I took my daughter to one of our favourite walks here on the island.

There is a hide in the woods there, and when we arrived, an older lady was sat watching the birds.

As she stood up to leave, she handed my daughter a walnut.

She instructed her to sit quietly and hold it out, and see what happens.

To her surprise, a little flash of orange darted along through the bushes and scurried up the side of the hide.

A few short seconds later, a bushy red tail, beady little eyes, and tiny paws came towards my daughter’s outstretched hand.

The red squirrel took the walnut out of her hand very carefully and darted off to enjoy it a few feet away.

I have never seen her more taken aback and joyful than in that exact moment. I am so glad I caught it on film.

I showed the video to colleagues who could not believe it either. What happened next showed what it is like to be part of this team.

What The Team Did Next

When I came into the office next, there was a bag of walnuts fresh from our CTO’s garden - a gift for my daughter to fuel her newfound friend.

In reply, she wanted to create a thank you video, which she did, and it was gratefully received.

That same weekend, completely serendipitously, our families happened to be staying in the same part of the country.

We were off to a wedding; they were visiting family. On the way to their hotel, he was passing ours with his wife. So he stopped off and went in.

He left a handwritten note at reception - from the squirrel - thanking her for being so kind, along with a selection of sweets.

She still talks about this every time we go to feed the squirrels.

What Our Culture Looks Like In Practice

I worked in HCM (Human Capital Management) tech before joining BE, and before that, third-party administration. “It’s our people” is not a new line in either sector.

Product matters too. What stands out here is this specific group: un-formulaic in how we work together, and authentic in how we show up for each other and for customers.

For us, leading with heart means making decisions with empathy and awareness of their impact on our team, our customers, and our wider community.

It means communicating openly, creating space for honest dialogue, and making sure people feel valued and heard. That is part of how we run the business day to day.

"Clients feel the difference when teams trust each other. Small, thoughtful gestures are often what turn a working relationship into a partnership people want to keep."

Paul Holland, Founder and CEO, Beyond Encryption (Mailock)

That same standard shows up in how we host clients and partners, and in internal moments like this one.

"Our events matter because the relationships behind them are real. The same care shows up in how we support customers, partners, and each other when nobody is putting on a programme."

Emily Plummer, Marketing Director, Beyond Encryption (Mailock)

For customers and partners, those behaviours are as important as any programme on a slide deck.

Why This Matters For Customers And Partners

The walnut story was spontaneous and human.

That matters externally because regulated firms choose partners they can trust on sensitive communication - and trust is built in how people behave day to day, including at events, in delivery teams, and in the small follow-throughs clients remember.

When colleagues move quickly together without second-guessing intent, customers get clearer answers, smoother implementations, and fewer frictions when something needs fixing.

Product quality still matters. So does the team behind it.

Why It Matters As AI Accelerates

AI is a useful tool for drafting, summarising, and structuring ideas. It can even mimic empathy in language. It cannot replace the genuine care behind a garden gift, a thank-you video, or a note left at a hotel reception.

At Beyond Encryption, that culture is lived in walnuts from a garden, in handwritten notes from imaginary squirrels (don't tell my daughter!), and in how we treat each other when nobody is watching.

FAQs

What Does This Story Show About Beyond Encryption Culture?

It shows a team habit of turning small human moments into shared connection, care, and memorable service.

Why Does Human-Centred Culture Matter to Customers?

Customers experience culture through responsiveness, attention to detail, and whether people take ownership when something matters.

How Does Culture Affect Service as AI Accelerates?

As automation handles more work, human judgement, generosity, and relationship quality become even more important differentiators.

Reviewed by

Sam Kendall, 29.05.26

This content is for general information only and is not legal advice.