GMF#24 | Behind the Scenes: How We Work, Fail, and Grow at Give.Asia
TL;DR:
At Give.Asia, we’ve learned that no matter how well-intentioned we are, we rarely get things right on the first try. The key is to keep learning, iterating, and pushing forward. Today, this mindset shapes how we work as a team—practicing radical candor, balancing autonomy with accountability, and staying fueled by human stories. If you believe in what we do and want to be part of it, reach out at careers@give.asia!
Fail Fast, Learn Faster: Mistakes are inevitable; what matters is adapting and trying again.
Culture First: Talent alone isn’t enough—shared values of Growth, Impact, and Trust make the team work.
Autonomy & Accountability: Agile sprints allow flexibility while keeping projects on track.
Human Stories Matter: Beyond deadlines and metrics, real impact keeps us motivated.
Always Growing: New team members bring fresh ideas, shaping what we build next.
From Failure to Fuel: How We Work at Give.Asia
The first time we launched a campaign at Give.Asia, we thought we had it all figured out.
We had the best intentions, a solid plan, and the technology to back it up. But… we got it wrong. Spectacularly wrong.
That’s when we learned one of the most important lessons in our journey: it’s not about getting it perfect—it’s about learning how to get back up, adjust, and try again.
The real challenge in our work isn’t about having all the answers from the start. It’s about finding ways to keep trying, keep learning, and most importantly, keep going without giving up. Over time, we’ve experimented with different ways of working, and while it’s still a work in progress, we’ve built a core approach that shapes how we operate as a team at Give.Asia.
The Hardest Hiring Lesson We Learned
The first thing we do before someone joins our team is explain our culture with radical candor.
This has been one of the hardest and most painful lessons to learn—because sometimes, we meet incredibly talented people who are passionate and driven. But if they don’t share the same values we do, it never works out in the long run.
At Give.Asia, our culture is built on three core values, captured in the acronym GIT:
(G) Growth Mindset – We believe in constantly learning, adapting, and embracing challenges.
(I) Impact Focus – We take action that makes a real difference, not just busy work.
(T) Trust & Integrity – We hold ourselves accountable and build trust with those around us.
One of the toughest hiring mistakes we made was when we brought on someone incredibly skilled, but who didn’t fully believe in building trust. We ignored the early red flags, hoping things would work out. They didn’t. And it reinforced why skills can be learned, but values must be shared from the start.
Agile, but Make It Impactful
A major breakthrough in how we work came from a conversation with Xavier.
Give.Asia is filled with people who have big ideas and the drive to make them happen. The challenge? Syncing up effectively while still giving everyone the space to move fast and innovate.
What works for us today is a balance of autonomy and accountability, inspired by agile methodology in startups.
Every project runs on bi-weekly sprints, allowing our teams the freedom to explore solutions while keeping sight of shared goals.
We have two project tracks, and every Monday, project leads come together to align on objectives and resources.
Every Friday, we gather for Demo Day—a chance to showcase progress, celebrate wins, and reflect on what didn’t go as expected so we can learn together.
At first, it was hard to get into a rhythm. But over time, we realized this system allows us to take risks, move fast, and still stay accountable to each other.
The Stories That Keep Us Going
While sprints and timelines keep us moving, it’s human stories that fuel our passion.
Once a month, Kent, Chloe, Anh Kiet, and Ermelly put together something special—a recap of the real people we’ve helped.
We take a step back from the numbers to watch and read the happy news from families who once faced uncertainty but now celebrate recovery.
We remind ourselves why we do what we do—because behind every campaign, every donor, and every click, there’s a real person whose life has been changed.
There’s nothing like hearing a grateful parent share how their child has recovered because of the kindness of others. It’s these moments that remind us—this isn’t just work. This is impact.
Want to Build Something That Matters? Join Us.
So that’s a peek behind the scenes at Give.Asia. The best part? Every time a new and amazing person joins the team, we get to do something new and amazing that we never imagined before.
Every time someone new joins our team, we don’t just get another colleague—we gain a new perspective, fresh energy, and another person to push us further than we imagined.
If Give.Asia sounds like the kind of place where you’d thrive, let’s make it happen. Reach out at careers@give.asia—we’d love to meet you. 🚀