Today, Esper was listed as one of Inc. Magazine’s 2025 Best Workplaces. As CEO and founder, this is a distinct point of pride for me. I’m equally responsible to our customers and investors as well as the well-being of the people who work at Esper. It validates the core values that we’ve built our company on.
At Esper, we have put careful thought into shaping a positive, sustainable workplace where employees are successful, productive, engaged, and see value in their work. To support this vision for a great workplace, we landed on five core principles that serve as a compass, guiding us toward collective success: Fiercely Collaborative; Build Trust; Get Sh!t Done; Innovate, Experiment, Learn; and Committed to Customers.
Fiercely Collaborative
Being fiercely collaborative is an ideal that is very personal to me, and one that I hold at a premium. I firmly believe that a collaborative approach to work beats out all other ways of getting work done. I personally strive to be a collaborative person at all points in time, with every person I work with — extending to everyone, at all levels and roles within the organization.
By combining the brightest minds with diverse skills, different viewpoints, and a willingness to listen, we create fiercely collaborative efforts. As a leader, this means empowering individuals to think and act on their own. Rather than telling them what to do or how to get the results we seek, we empower everyone to contribute, question, and co-create. As a result, individuals learn quickly and think more independently. Teams move faster and get better results, making fierce collaboration a powerful accelerant for both individual development and company-wide momentum.
Build Trust
Building trust means creating a culture where people believe in each other’s capabilities, good intentions, and commitment to the greater good. It’s not just about trusting that someone will get their work done — it’s about trusting that their efforts are aligned with the company’s mission and their teammates’ success. Trust is foundational to how we collaborate, solve problems, and move forward together.
This means breaking down silos wherever we can. While it’s important to celebrate individual excellence, trust in other teams and other people is paramount. This is because true success happens when people support one another, share knowledge, and build each other up. That’s the kind of trust that makes a company stronger — and the kind we’re committed to nurturing every day.
Get Sh!t Done (GSD)
Trust is empowering. It’s what enables teams and individuals to make fast, sound decisions and act quickly, or as some like to say: Get sh!t done.
Whether you’re just out of college or with decades of experience behind you, the onus to get sh!t done means that we trust each other to make decisions based on sound judgements. It’s a signal that action is respected, ownership is encouraged, and results matter. It’s how we stay scrappy, focused, and ahead of the curve.
Innovate, Experiment, and Learn
Life is about growth. I encourage everyone to push boundaries, try new things, and step outside their comfort zones. And this extends beyond career growth: I encourage everyone to find ways to innovate and learn as an individual, to try new things and learn new skills, and experiment in all areas. Whether it’s testing a new idea, learning a new skill, or exploring a better way to work, innovation starts with a willingness to evolve. Because when our people grow, our company gets better right alongside them.
Not every experiment will succeed, and as people learn new things, they often fail at first — and that’s the point. Failure in and out of the workplace is simply part of the process. What matters is learning quickly, adapting fast, and applying those lessons forward. This mindset doesn’t just drive creativity; it builds resilience and makes us a more dynamic, future-ready organization. It’s how we stay curious, agile, and always one step ahead.
Committed to Customers
We wouldn’t be here without our customers, so our commitment to them is a business imperative. When customers thrive, so do we — financially, strategically, and as a company. That’s why every team, from engineering to operations, is deeply invested in building relationships, understanding challenges, and creating real solutions that push our product and the market forward.
This value also holds up to scrutiny and shows up in our industry-leading net retention, a direct result of our customer-first mindset. When customers see value, they stay and grow with us. Customer loyalty stems from the same principles that drive our innovation and ensure that Esper is one of the best workplaces: Collaboration, trust, the ability to act quickly, and experiment, learn, and adapt to serve them better.
Fostering Growth at All Levels
When it comes to workplace wellbeing and culture, I know that as CEO, I’m just the tip of the iceberg. Leadership sets the tone, but it’s the people who shape the day-to-day reality. And the Esper team continues to inspire me by demonstrating trust, collaboration, and growth every single day.
There’s one part of my role I hold especially close:
Esper employees: I know that I’m successful when Esper is an important stepping stone in your career. I know Esper is likely not your final career stop, but I hope it’s one you look back on as meaningful. If we can keep learning from each other, working with trust, empowering bold action, and focusing on what our customers truly need, we’ll create an environment where everyone is stretched, supported, and proud of what they’ve accomplished. I believe this because I know that when we build individuals up, they’ll take the company to new heights.
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