Polarsteps is proud to announce that Relinde Boerman, Lead Recruiter at Polarsteps, has been named the winner of the Talent Acquisition & Employer Branding Award at the 2025 People & Culture IMPACT Awards, hosted by Personio and 7people.

The award recognizes organizations that raise the bar in attracting, engaging, and retaining talent, and celebrates Relinde’s creative approach to showing candidates what it really means to work at Polarsteps.

Redefining recruitment through experience

At the heart of Polarsteps’ winning strategy is a hands-on, people-first approach to hiring, centered on two standout initiatives that bring its company ethos to life: the Day at the Office and Team & Values Interview.

During the Day at the Office, shortlisted candidates spend a day with the team, tackling a real challenge that reflects the role they’re applying for. It’s a behind-the-scenes experience that offers the chance to demonstrate skills, solve problems together, and get a genuine sense of how Polarsteps works. 

The Team & Values Interview takes a deeper look at alignment. It’s a way to explore how the candidate’s own way of thinking, learning, and working connects with the Polarsteps environment, while also bringing fresh perspectives that strengthen the team. 

“These are more than just interviews,” says Relinde. “We want candidates to experience our vibe firsthand, to see our values in action and decide if Polarsteps feels like their next adventure.”

This experiential method has helped Polarsteps attract top talent while maintaining an exceptional Glassdoor rating of 4.9/5, reflecting both employee satisfaction and alignment with values. The award jury applauded the approach for its personalization and focus on quality, calling the process "as smart and meticulous as the travel app itself."

“As we scale, our focus isn’t on hiring many candidates — it’s on hiring the right ones." Relinde adds. "We look for people who can make a real impact. Good people attract more good people, and that’s how you build something lasting.”

Building on a culture of exploration

This recognition follows last year’s win by Sascha Vloet, Polarsteps’ Head of People & Operations, who took home the Benefits & Ways of Working Award in 2024 for the company’s innovative Teleporter program, a benefit that sends each employee on a trip to explore a surprise destination each year.

Together, these back-to-back wins underscore Polarsteps’ forward-thinking approach to people and culture, blending creativity, empathy, and a deep connection to the company’s mission: helping the world travel more meaningfully.

About the People & Culture IMPACT Awards

Organized by Personio and 7people, the People & Culture IMPACT Awards recognize outstanding HR initiatives that have made a measurable impact on company culture, talent engagement, and workplace innovation.

About Polarsteps

Recognized as one of Europe’s hottest scaleups, Polarsteps is the market-leading travel app that helps over 15 million travelers worldwide to plan, track, and relive their adventures in a beautiful and seamless way. Using pioneering technology and design, the all-in-one app builds itineraries, maps travelers’ paths across the globe in real-time, and provides a new way to share travel experiences. Headquartered in Amsterdam and powered by an international team of 80+ passionate travelers, we’re becoming the essential tool for modern-day explorers — before, during, and after their trips.