How Hailey Builds Confidence (and Connection) Through Language Learning

At Hailey, a fast-growing HR tech company, language learning isn’t just about words — it’s about connection and belonging.

It all began when one of Hailey’s Finnish employees suggested offering a Swedish course to help himself and other international colleagues feel more at home. Ida, People & Culture Manager at Hailey HR, took up the challenge. With help from her Finnish colleague, they conducted a survey, gathered interest across teams, and soon had a group of seven enthusiastic participants ready to learn.

A Shared Journey Toward Confidence and Integration

The first group, taught through SpeakCharlie, included employees from several backgrounds, all with some prior exposure to Swedish — though at slightly different levels. The company’s official language is English, but as Ida explains:

“Many informal meetings, “fikas” and almost all lunches naturally happen in Swedish. We wanted everyone to feel included in those everyday moments — and in life in Sweden more broadly.”

The course quickly became about much more than language.

“You could really see the difference,” Ida says. “People started speaking more Swedish at lunch, and their confidence grew. Others in the company noticed it too.”

Holding the course on-site was key.

“We’re a very on-site company,” Ida adds. “It felt natural to have the lessons here — and it became a form of team building as well. The participants bonded and became an even tighter group.”

Flexible, Learner-Centred, and Personal

From the start, Hailey appreciated the collaboration and support they received from Rebecca at SpeakCharlie, who helped design a setup that suited the team. “At first, there was quite a lot of grammar,” Ida recalls. “But the group wanted more conversation — and the lessons were adjusted right away. That flexibility was really valuable.”

Some participants had Swedish-speaking partners, others had only studied a little before, but everyone shared the same motivation: to feel more integrated — both at work and outside it.

New Languages, New Goals

After seeing the success of the Swedish program, Hailey decided to expand their language learning efforts. Two new courses — Business Norwegian and Business Danish — are starting soon, each tailored for employees in sales and customer-facing roles.

“The Swedish course was about cultural integration,” Ida explains. “The Norwegian and Danish courses are about strengthening communication in customer meetings. We’ve hired colleagues with various nordic language skills, and it’s exciting to offer something that builds even better collaboration.”

The enthusiasm is clear: “They’re really excited — jätte taggade!”

Looking Ahead

Hailey hopes to continue with Swedish next year, offering a follow-up course for the original participants and possibly starting a new beginner group for recently hired employees.

For Ida, the results go far beyond language.

“The biggest difference we’ve seen is confidence and connection,” she says. “People are engaging more — at lunch, in meetings, and outside of work. That’s what makes it meaningful.”