Company Spotlight is our interview series for employers who put social and environmental impact at the forefront of their business. We reached out to Miren Oca from Ocaquatics Swim School to learn more about her company's mission and what she looks for in a job candidate.
What problem is your company solving?
Ocaquatics Swim School has been teaching South Florida to swim since 1994. We offer swimming instruction for all ages: infants through adults.
We have a two-fold mission:
- Our mission to our families is to teach our swimmers to love swimming and to become safer, more comfortable and more responsible in, on, and around the water.
- Our mission to our team members is to grow our people within a framework of social and environmental responsibility, so we can grow our swim school in a sustainable way, and make a bigger impact in the world.
How does social impact change the way you do business?
As a Certified B Corp we are always looking at everything we do through a social impact lens. Our business is teaching lifesaving skills to children and families. But we are also very intentional about growing our team members while they are under our care. Many of our team members stay on for many years, but a good portion of them work with us through high school and college and we do as much as we can to help them gain skills to become more successful in their future endeavors.
In addition, we have a “Gifts for the Planet” program where we count on our team members to help us designate our charitable giving. On their anniversaries and their birthdays, we make donations in their honor to the 1% for the Planet Partners of their choosing.
What do you enjoy most about working at Ocaquatics, and what are some of the challenges?
I love what I do! We get to have fun with children and families everyday while teaching them a lifesaving skill! I personally also love to see our team members grow while they are here.
One of our unique challenges is our hiring process and how slowly we hire to make sure that we have the right fit for both our business as well as for the new team member. At Ocaquatics we are more than just teaching swimming lessons. Culture is a very important part of what we do and we are very intentional about bringing people in who want to continue to grow in their environmental and social responsibility.
What job opportunity are you most excited about posting and why?
Because we are a growing business, we are always hiring. We hire part time swimming teachers, front desk assistants and customer service assistants. Our team members have the opportunity to grow into full time, as well as into leadership positions in our company.
Want to be part of the Ocaquatics mission? Check out the job opportunities on their website.
What are you looking for in your next team member?
We are looking for people who want to join an organization where they can make a real difference in the world. We especially look for candidates who want to work as part of a team to make children and families safer around the water. And finally, since “Always Learning” is one of our core values, we look for those that are hungry for growth and continuous improvement.
Anything else you’d like to add?
As a Certified B Corp we want to balance purpose and profit to use the power of our business as a force for good. We will continue to work everyday to become a better business for our swimmers, our team, our community and the planet. We invite you to follow us on our journey by connecting with us on social media.
