Last week, we had the pleasure of talking to Or Lenchner, the CEO of the highly successful BrightData. We were particularly excited about this conversation because we had heard about their ‘No Meeting’ culture from multiple sources, and it’s not every day you get to speak with someone who has implemented such a radical approach to productivity.
The discussion did not disappoint. We learned some fascinating insights about BrightData’s approach to productivity and collaboration. If you haven’t heard of BrightData, Or describes it as the world’s most trusted web data platform. “It’s how the world collects public data,” Or says. And with the rise of AI and the demand for large-scale training data, it’s no surprise the company is thriving.
The Origins of BrightData’s No-Meeting Culture
“So wait, how does the No Meeting thing work?” we asked him. Or explained that the concept started with co-founder Ofer Vilensky when the company was still called Hola. When Or joined, he was part of the product management team so he learned to appreciate the radical approach to meetings. When he was promoted to CEO, it was clear that he must retain this unique system. “We don’t block our calendars with unnecessary meetings,” Or shared, “and it’s written into our company’s DNA.”
A Philosophy Embedded in BrightData’s DNA
The “No Meeting” system isn’t just a policy; it’s a philosophy embedded in BrightData’s operations. Their DNA document, which is publicly available here, outlines how they approach communication and collaboration. Instead of recurring or lengthy meetings, employees are encouraged to communicate directly, peer-to-peer, or document discussions in writing. “It’s not for everyone,” Or admits, but for those who adapt to the system, it’s transformative.
What Happens When Employees Leave?
In fact, Or shared some interesting details about what happens when employees leave. So like in any other company, BrightData experiences employee turnover. When employees leave, they often take this philosophy with them, sometimes introducing it to their new workplaces. But in some cases, they find themselves unable to adjust to the meeting-heavy culture at other companies and decide to return. “Once you get used to working this way, it’s hard to go back,” Or told us. The absence of constant meetings empowers employees to focus on meaningful work, move faster, and collaborate more effectively.
Scaling No Meetings in a 400-Person Organization
We were curious about how this no-meeting culture worked at scale with over 400 employees. Or explained that it enables BrightData’s fairly flat organizational structure. When a middle manager has fewer meetings, he can manage more employees and come up with more effective systems that increase productivity. Furthermore, getting rid of clogged calendars allows decisions to be made more quickly. “You can simply go to the CTO's room and talk to him and decide together.” There are no meetings, so he is very likely to be available. Interestingly, BrightData only has one meeting room in the entire office, and even that is mainly reserved for situations where guests are visiting. That agility has become a competitive advantage, allowing teams to innovate and execute without bureaucratic delays.
Bonding Beyond Meetings
That said, BrightData realizes that there is a need for human interaction. Having a team meeting on Zoom is a very bad way to do bonding, Instead of the poor bonding that happens in meetings the company provides real bonding opportunities. For example, lunch is made by a chef on the company premises, and they designed it this way so that employees eat together and get a chance to bond, mingle, and know each other. BrightData also holds a monthly all-hands meeting in a unique format that is also designed to promote transparency, alignment, and mingling opportunities.
Driving Change with SynqUp
It seems with such obvious benefits, any company should try this approach. However, when Or tells other CEOs about it, they always feel it will be very hard to drive such a change, especially for bigger companies. This is where tools like SynqUp can make a significant difference. By gamifying the experience and providing an AI-based real-time coach to every employee, companies can drive such a change in no time.
Final Thoughts: Time is the Most Valuable Resource
Our conversation with Or left us inspired. One of the reasons we started SynqUp is that so many companies are struggling with meetings. Our mission is to give companies the tools so they can get their meeting culture under control like BrightData has. As Or put it, “Time is the most valuable resource we have. Why spend it on anything that doesn’t move the needle?”
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