Devika’s vision and purpose are built on four pillars…or the four p’s as we call them in the office. These four concepts guide our business and are considered throughout each element of our decision making. I am Ken, the CEO and Founder of Devika and drive the implementation of these concepts within the organisation, but also challenge myself to incorporate them into my personal life.
These elements are;
Last year I was lucky enough to go inside a shark cage on the coast of North Sydney. It was an exhilarating experience which definitely pushed me physically and mentally. It is an experience that I appreciate as sharks swam around me, within reaching distance. At one point, a shark became so close to me that I could have kissed it… But I settled for the thumbs up.
From this description, you may assume that the concept I want to discuss is pushing boundaries. However, this experience where my boundaries were pushed actually gave me great insight to the pillar, the planet.
From my experience, the planet is probably the most discarded element in businesses as environmental concerns often take a back seat amongst the multitude of other concerns. While concerns of the planet are often passionately spoken about, the active change assumed to follow this conviction is not always evident. Due to this reflection, I strive to live by a ‘lead by action’ philosophy.
My experience in the above photo is a perfect reminder of why action to preserve the planet is essential. Sometimes in the day-to-day grind of life, I forget that the planet is a living, breathing ecosystem which is full of beauty and power. While swimming with sharks, the thrill and fear I felt allowed me to realise how finite I am compared to the majestic and natural world around me. This is why I actively pursue opportunities and activities which contribute to the preservation of this world.
I’ve always admired entrepreneurs who were also philanthropists such as Richard Branson and Elon Musk as they show their personal values through both words and actions. I have been inspired by these individuals and was determined to implement my values at Devika to make positive change. These 4ps, which began as my values, have now become an integral part of our decision making process as a company and has begun to shape Devika’s identity.
From day dot, considering how the development of Devika impacts the planet has been of the utmost concern. I have ensured that we use carbon neutral servers, participate in events like plant a tree day, run a paperless office, use KeepCups, recycle our e-waste, and work out of the SMART Infrastructure facility at the University of Wollongong.
We have also considered the environment in the development of our own products, specifically including the Antarctic Experience by Kolb. The Antarctic Experience utilises virtual reality to ‘transport’ an individual to Antarctica. The purpose of doing so is to educate students about the environment so that they can appreciate and understand its value.
While each of these initiatives may vary in how effective they may be perceived to be, we believe that any change is impactful.