How Modica Scaled Globally Without Losing Their People-First Culture

How Modica Scaled Globally Without Losing Their People-First Culture

Client: Modica Group | Industry: Technology (CPaaS) | Size: 65 Employees

"Humankind has been instrumental in supporting our global expansion. They have worked alongside our team todo a lot of the heavy lifting to support the delivery of our people and culture vision, development of operating frameworks, and building leadership capability, whilst navigating complexity across continents, acquisitions and an ever-changing technology business."

— Stuart Wilson, Co-Founder & CEO, Modica Group

The Company

Modica Group is a global leader in cloud-based communications (CPaaS),delivering secure, high-volume messaging across SMS, MMS, WhatsApp, Video, email, and more. Trusted by leading enterprises and governments acrossAustralasia, North America, Europe, LATAM, and Southeast Asia, Modica powers messaging for clients such as airlines, banks, Iand multiple Government agencies.

The Challenge

Modica came to Humankind following a period of rapid growth and acquisition.They needed to bring together teams and cultures, align ways of working, andlay the groundwork for continued global expansion. To build a high-performing culture at scale, they knew they needed clear, consistent, and scalable people systems.

Our Approach

Since 2016, Humankind has shaped and implemented Modica’s People & Culture function, working directly with the Co-Founders, CEO and Executive Leadership team, and operating as a fully embedded partner. We've provided strategic advice, hands-on delivery, and insights drawn from our work with over 1,300organisations across New Zealand.

Our partnership has evolved through three key phases:

01 - Post-Acquisition Integration

Laying the foundations for cultural alignment and operational clarity:

  • Supported cultural integration post-acquisition
  • Shifted to DevOps to improve delivery, retention, and technical career growth
  • Co-created shared company values and scalable people processes
  • Implemented HRIS and core compliance practices
  • Delivered management fundamentals' training

02 - Enabling Global Growth

Building the systems and capability to scale internationally:

  • Co-designed a competitive EVP to attract and retain global talent
  • Created a hybrid working model tailored to globally distributed workforce
  • Established clear performance and reward systems linked to business results
  • Implemented talent mapping and clear established career pathways
  • Defined ELT and SLT structures, and delivered targeted leadership development
  • Developed internal People capability to support long-term scale
  • Supported multiple acquisitions and integrations

03 - Future-Ready Resilience

Strengthening leadership and adaptability in a fast-changing world:

  • Led structural change aligned to new market conditions post-COVID
  • Built internal change leadership capability
  • Provided organisation wide support during significant evolution in the Company’s strategy and major multi-year projects around security
  • Currently supporting workforce evolution in the context of AI

The Outcome

Modica’s investment in its people has supported it’s exceptional  business performance.

  • Revenue grew from $18M to $50M
  • 41% CAGR between FY20 and FY23
  • Finalist –Westpac Employer of the Year (2021)
  • ENPS of 30(vs. industry benchmark of 8), even during organisational change
  • Employee turnover held under 4% from FY21–FY25, outperforming the SaaS industry average of 10–20%

 

Why This Partnership Matters to Humankind

This has never just been a client relationship, It’s a true partnership built on shared ambition, mutual investment and deep sense of trust between our teams. Over the years, we’ve walked together through big wins and hard calls.There have been urgent moments, celebratory moments, and countless hard-hitting conversations over lunch at Prego.

Modica Group is one of Aotearoa’s great companies - values-led, future-focused, and deeply committed to their people. With Modica, expectations meet reality.

We don’t just work with Modica - we proudly call ourselves Modicans.

Subscribe and be the first to hear when we share ideas.

Other recommended reads
Inspire Day 2025
11
August
2025

Inspire Day 2025

We asked one of our newest team members, Sophie McLernon, to reflect on her first Inspire Day with us. A reminder of why we do what we do, who we do it for, and what makes Inspire Day truly special. "Day one at Humankind set a high bar. I arrived in Wellington for Inspire Day, our full-team offsite designed to live our Inspire value: to redefine, innovate, and stay ahead. For Humankind it’s not just about talking about the future, it’s about creating it...

Read more
Download
An update on employment law changes
11
August
2025

An update on employment law changes

In April 2025, we shared an article that explored proposed changes to New Zealand’s employment laws. Since then, things have progressed, and many employers are watching news headlines and wondering about the potential impact on their workplaces. In this article, we share: a snapshot of recent updates; what to expect in the coming months; and how you can prepare.

Read more
Download
Upcoming Employment Law Changes: A Test of Leadership, Not Just Compliance
14
April
2025

Upcoming Employment Law Changes: A Test of Leadership, Not Just Compliance

Anyone keeping an eye on the headlines will know that employment law in Aotearoa is set for significant change in the next 12-18 months. The Government has explained that the changes aim to boost productivity and make it simpler for employers to ‘hire and fire’ and reduce compliance costs. While these changes are good news for employers, they will need to consider how to implement any changes - some of which could be worrying for employees - in a way that aligns with their values and supports the kind of experience they want to create for their employees.

Read more
Download