Culture
OneZeroEight
Aug 13, 2025
6min
At OneZeroEight, our work as a brand and design agency is rooted in asking why and understanding human behavior. But we also know that the best insights often come from outside our industry.
That is the purpose of 108 Circles, our weekly sessions where we invite experts from entirely unrelated fields (like neuroscience, music, architecture, and philosophy) to share their journeys. Our goal is simple: to pause, listen, and think differently.
Recently, we invited Renutai Gavaskar, a renowned social worker, author, and educator whose life’s work has been shaped by her deep connection with children. We expected to learn about social impact. What we walked away with was a profound lesson on the true meaning of friendship, empathy, and how we build trust, both in life and in our workplace culture.
We all have our own definition of friendship. For some, it is years of shared memories. For others, it is simply the comfort of knowing someone will be there when it matters most.
But Renutai’s stories asked a deeper question: Is friendship defined by grand gestures, or by something much simpler, the ability to just show up for one another?
Through her years of creating safe spaces for children in difficult circumstances, her approach to human connection relies on three quiet strengths:
Being Present: Offering time without distractions
Active Patience: Listening without immediately trying to "fix" the problem.
Building Trust: Creating an environment of dignity and belonging.
One of the most powerful takeaways from the conversation was the simple concept of showing up in our personal lives.
We often believe that supporting a friend requires having the perfect solution immediately. It doesn't. Sometimes, people simply need someone who will sit beside them, share their time outside of work, listen patiently, and be present without expecting anything in return.
Showing up is rarely dramatic. It is quiet and consistent. A simple conversation, spending quality time together, or a moment of empathy can become the foundation of personal relationships that last a lifetime.
Renutai’s profound work at Ekalavya Nyasa, a trust she founded to support orphans, street children, and those in remand homes offered us a brilliant mirror for collaboration. Often referred to affectionately as "Renutai," she acts as a mother, friend, and mentor to these children, building a sanctuary where they can find a lost childhood. Children build relationships without the heavy complexity adults bring into them. They play, argue, forgive, and return to one another.
Her experiences reminded us that at its core, true connection is about making another person feel safe enough to be themselves. Just as her organization provides a supportive space for children to reach their full potential, the relationships we remember most and the teams we work best in are the ones where we felt genuinely understood.
We believe the best work comes from teams that know how to show up for each other. Want to join a culture built on human connection? Check out our open roles at OneZeroEight Brandcomm.
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