The challenge
As an international company, a primary challenge for Blinkist is ensuring effective communication both internally and externally. Blinkist collaborates with international authors and experts to create book summaries for a global audience, making strong language skills essential for connecting with partners and customers.
Additionally, it is important for Blinkist to foster effective collaboration and communication at their Berlin office while strengthening relationships with teams in other locations.
“Blinkist is an international company with diverse teams, so it is really crucial for us to foster a multilingual environment.”
Samantha Roberts, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Blinkist
Many team members are non-native English speakers who wish to enhance their Business English skills. “Our company language is English,” Samantha explains, “and we aim to help non-native speakers improve their skills for smoother communication and better teamwork.”
Moreover, as is common in many Berlin-based start-ups, proficiency in German is not a prerequisite for employment, which means there are many employees who want to learn German or improve their existing skills. Samantha, the Talent Acquisition Manager at Blinkist, emphasizes, “Many of our employees no longer live in their home countries, and learning the local language is crucial to make everyday life easier.”
To address these challenges, Blinkist sought a digital language-learning solution that could unite their international team and enhance language skills efficiently. The diverse group of readers, writers, designers, developers, and strategists thrives in a flat hierarchy and empowering work culture, making it clear that they needed an accessible and innovative language learning platform.
Why Babbel?
Blinkist identified Babbel as the ideal language learning solution to facilitate smooth communication and boost employee motivation. Babbel offers a comprehensive language program that seamlessly fits into the Blinkist culture of continuous learning and personal growth. With Babbel, employees can learn at their own pace and level, providing the flexibility needed to integrate language learning into their busy schedules.
Furthermore, Samantha explains, “Babbel aligns perfectly with Blinkist’s mission. Both companies are dedicated to transforming education and making learning more accessible. Just as Blinkist simplifies complex ideas to help people learn and grow, Babbel provides an engaging way for the team to develop essential language skills.”
By offering learning and development opportunities like language training, Blinkist enhances its employer branding and positions itself as an attractive workplace for potential candidates. This commitment also boosts employee retention by fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued.
“When hiring, our acquisition team always highlights our learning and development opportunities, particularly emphasising Babbel as a key selling point.”
Samantha Roberts, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Blinkist
Learner feedback
Since introducing Babbel, Blinkist has received fantastic feedback from employees. One employee mentioned they’re now better able to communicate with English speaking colleagues, while another noted improvements in their cultural understanding as well as their German skills.
Hugh Brace, a web developer at Blinkist, echoes this sentiment, stating, “Being able to speak to people in their native languages, even if it’s only a sentence or two, really helps build connections.” He appreciates the practical nature of Babbel’s lessons, which allow him to study on the go. “Often I don’t have time to fit in a whole hour of studying, so something that’s 15 minutes I can use during my commute is super useful.”
Stef Borden, also a developer at Blinkist, adds, “Babbel has been really helpful in my everyday life here, boosting my confidence in my language skills. Since many of my colleagues are German, it lets me jump into conversations at work and feel much more at ease in social situations.” Stef also appreciates the additional features that Babbel offers beyond daily lessons, such as tailored podcasts and magazines that enhance the learning experience.
Conclusion
Integrating Babbel has significantly improved language skills at Blinkist, bringing the team closer together, enhancing internal communication, and strengthening the company culture. These improvements are also reflected in better relationships with external partners, as employees use their new language skills for more effective collaboration.
“Learning languages with Babbel helps us connect with global partners, delve into new markets, and communicate more effectively with customers worldwide.”
Samantha Roberts, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Blinkist
By integrating Babbel, Blinkist reinforces its commitment to employee development and well-being. The language program not only boosts overall communication but also empowers employees to thrive in a diverse work environment.
“Offering Babbel as a learning opportunity sends a powerful message to current and future employees. It’s telling your team: we care about you, your needs, and we support your growth.”
Samantha Roberts, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Blinkist
