Highlights:
- RingCentral was listed at #18 on Glassdoor’s “Best Places To Work” -list
- We are also ranked #2 for Company Happiness and the #1 Company for Diversity by Comparably.
Over the past year, floodgates opened and RingCentral has earned accolades for everything from compensation to perks to “Best Company Culture,” “Best Company for Women,” “Best CEO,” and “Best Company for Diversity.” As Chief People Officer, I’m obviously very proud as most of these awards are based on anonymous employee input.
I would be the first one to say that we are not perfect and we have a long way to go. But it also makes me ask – What did we, as a company, actually do to earn the praise we are getting?
My hypothesis – it’s our culture and the conversation we got going about reexamining our “purpose-led culture”, has inspired and invigorated our employees. RingCentral employees are special – the vibe I have experienced and the examples I have seen are that they have always supported their peers. When a colleague faced hardship, they surrounded them with affection and provided resources. I have seen RingCentral employees doing their work as an extension of helping solve a societal problem.
I believe shared value is the most powerful way for companies to work and to deliver on their “purpose.” I also believe the people of RingCentral share a sense of pride about why we do what we do, and their shared sense of purpose informs every move we make.
RingCentral’s mission is “to power human connections.” The tangible things we do – technology, products and services – help businesses all over the world communicate, collaborate, connect and thrive. But as Chief People Officer, I think there’s a secret sauce to how we achieve that mission – our own people and the culture each one of them creates and supports.
The way we connect with one another is not only the truest embodiment of our mission, it’s an ongoing test case we can, and should, share with the world. Here is an overview of a few ways our culture set us apart in 2021. We are not perfect and we have a lot more to do but I hope this can be a playbook that can inspire more innovation because I think it’s a great reminder of how powerful human connections really are.
JANUARY – Employee Resource Groups were important before COVID. Now? They’re a crucial source of information, progression, and above all, connection. BE@R (Black Employees @RingCentral) shared a few of the ways ERGs create a sense of community, improve employee retention and ultimately make RingCentral a more welcoming, innovative and competitive workplace.
FEBRUARY – Powering human connections demands constant innovation. And that demands a constant stream of fresh ideas. That was the thinking behind our first-ever Winter RingTern session, a cohort of 32 interns. Ultimately we hosted over 120 interns globally in 2021 (our biggest year ever!).
MARCH – There’s a reason RingCentral consistently earns “Best Company for Women” -honors, and that’s not just due to compensation, flexible scheduling or the emphasis on career growth we offer. It’s the women themselves. I don’t think there’s another company in the world with more driven, dynamic, brilliant women, every one of whom seems to be constantly supporting, pushing and inspiring other women. Our March 2021 SaaSy Women’s Leadership Panel was a fascinating discussion around how women in technology define leadership now, and how the next generation of female leaders can take success to an even higher level.
APRIL – One of the things I’m proudest of is the honors we consistently earn for diversity. We’re one of Mogul’s Top 100 Diverse Employers. We’re Comparably’s #1 Best Company for Diversity. And we’ve received a 100% rating from the Corporate Equality Index. That doesn’t just happen. It takes leadership, effort and execution. Most of all, it takes purpose. RingCentral truly believes diversity is a competitive advantage, which is why we prioritize it as highly as we do. This discussion of allyship in action with Akshay Srivistava is a great example. It takes more than words to build a diverse workforce, and I loved seeing how inspiration from Vlad turns into tangible results for our Finance team.
MAY – 2021 was a huge year for RingCentral China. Between dealing with the pandemic and opening a new facility in Hangzhou, no one would have faulted the team for taking their foot off the proverbial gas pedal a little. Well, they did exactly the opposite, absolutely lighting up the scoreboard with award after award, and leveraging our technology to turn China’s “996” (9am-9pm, six days a-week) work culture upside-down. We are not surprised that Harvard Business Review named China GM Marc Chan “Outstanding Management Person of the Year,” but we’re certainly proud.
JUNE – Did I mention how proud I am of the emphasis RingCentral puts on diversity? Well, I’m mentioning it again. RingCentral is among the first major U.S. tech companies to make Juneteenth a paid holiday, and I believe the impact of this overdue gesture will pay dividends for years to come. June also saw RCause in Conversation produce a video on the experiences of the parents of transgender children that I found really powerful.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of Together 2021, dropping tomorrow, December 23, 2022.
Originally published Dec 22, 2021
