Joyous

Building Inclusive Tech from the Ground Up

Joyous is not only changing how organisations connect with their frontline teams, it’s also rethinking how a tech company should be built.

Through a people-first culture and deliberate hiring practices, Joyous is helping create a more diverse and inclusive industry, starting with its own team.

The Auckland-founded startup offers a platform that enables large organisations to have real conversations with employees about everything from operations to culture. But behind the product is an even bigger mission: to open doors for women, Māori, Pasifika, and those without traditional tech backgrounds.

Co-CEO Ruby Kolesky believes change won’t happen passively. That’s why Joyous launched Pathways, a practical guide to help underrepresented groups land their first paid roles in tech, no university degree required. It lays out everything from short courses and funding options to internship tips and real stories from women already thriving at Joyous.

Why Joyous Is a Great Place to Work

Deliberate About Diversity Joyous doesn’t just talk about representation, it acts. From setting gender targets to launching resources like Pathways, the team is actively working to make tech more inclusive and reflective of Aotearoa.

Culture of Openness As a feedback company, Joyous practices what it preaches. Regular rituals like retrospectives, shared ownership of change, and safe spaces to speak up are part of daily life.

Early Enough to Do Things Differently With around 40 staff and offices in Auckland, Australia, and the US, Joyous is still small enough to challenge the status quo. There are no legacy systems here, only a willingness to try better ways of working.

Mission-Aligned Work The product helps organisations listen to and empower their people, and that mission carries through internally too. Employees at Joyous have a voice and are part of building a business that puts people first.

Clarity Around Hiring When it comes to choosing between two equally strong candidates, Joyous gives the edge to the one who brings a missing perspective. It’s a clear and honest stance that acknowledges diversity doesn’t happen by accident.

Joyous is growing, and they’re looking for people who care about building great tech and a better industry.