Aranya’s crowned legends immortalized in oil
In an industry where many people change jobs frequently, Aranya has made its fifth anniversary a milestone. Those who stay become legends – and have their portrait painted in oil and hung in the company’s living room. The tradition is a tribute to employees, and the number of portraits on the wall is testament to a culture where people thrive and stay for a long time.
When Aranya celebrated its fifth anniversary as a company, they started thinking about how to recognize employees who reached the milestone. Christoffer Jacobsson, one of Aranya’s founders, wanted to create a unique tradition that reflected the company’s culture. So instead of a gold watch, it was an oil portrait.
To make the idea a reality, an artist was needed who could capture both the person and the feeling. The choice fell on Lene Aronsson from Tranås, whose classic oil style felt natural in Aranya’s living room with its library-inspired interior. As the fifth anniversary approaches, she comes to Stockholm, photographs the jubilee and then takes the pictures home to the studio. Each employee can choose whether the painting should contain a personal detail or be more classical.
– One colleague wanted to be portrayed as a king, another with his constant headphones. But it’s just as well to choose a traditional portrait,” says Frida Ekström, who works as an HR manager at Aranya.
At the time of writing, there are thirteen completed portraits and two in progress. Each new painting is unveiled during a legend ceremony. The painting is hung up covered with paper, bubbly is served and before the unveiling, Christoffer gives a speech about the employee’s importance to Aranya.
– The ceremony will be a way to pause and celebrate. It’s not just about the individual’s journey, but about everything we have achieved together over these five years,” says Frida.
A workplace where networking professionals stay for a long time
In a fast-moving industry, five years with the same employer is not a given. Staff turnover in the tech industry is about double that of the Swedish workforce as a whole. At Aranya, the figure is only a fraction of both. ¹
– It’s no coincidence that people like us and stay with us for a long time,” says Frida.
Aranya was founded with the conviction that things could be done better. To constantly strengthen its competitiveness, the company invests heavily in development, which is also a key to retaining skilled and driven people. Many employees also describe being attracted by the feeling of being part of a growth journey, challenging the giants and celebrating profits together.
– Eager to learn is one of our values. We need people who constantly want to improve, and we earn them by creating conditions for learning every day.
Footnote:
¹ Staff turnover (% per year source Tech Sweden):
– Tech industry: 12-16.5% (2019-2023)
– Swedish working life in general: 8.5-12% (2019-2023)
– Aranya: 2.65-4.91% (2022-2024)
