The Garden at Work

Riya had worked at five companies in eight years. Each time, she saw the same thing—leaders posting values like “integrity” and “respect” on glass walls, but never living them. One day, she joined a mid-sized firm led by a calm, curious founder named Jayesh. On her first day, he handed her a culture handbook—not a boring PDF, but a story-driven guide filled with real examples and even what not to do. “What is this?” she asked. Jayesh smiled, “It’s our garden manual. We don’t let culture grow wild here. We plant it, prune it, and protect it—together.” Riya chuckled. But over the months, she saw the difference. Her team gave feedback without fear. New ideas were welcomed—even failed ones were learned from. And people didn’t just know the mission—they felt part of it. She wasn’t just an employee anymore. She was a gardener.