Full Circle Insights
San Mateo, CA
Grade: A+
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Summary: A culture which encourages growth and learning while focusing on charitable causes. About 95% annual retention rate. Snacks, catered lunch, a jovial work environment with a strong focus on family. |
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Intro: Full Circle Insights has an incredibly strong company culture, which has prompted some job candidates to opt for a career at this relatively small startup over a job with a world-renowned tech giant. The founders deliberately set out to create and sustain a collaborative, caring and balanced environment. The managers are true believers in work-life balance and have even been known to strongly suggest that hardworking individuals go home to get some rest or visit the gym for exercise. Full Circle Insights is a great mix of seasoned industry veterans and young, enthusiastic employees, with millennials well-represented among the staff. Millennial values — such as achieving work-life balance, having the opportunity to give back to the community and having time to engage in hobbies or interact with family and friends — are all part of the Full Circle cultural experience. Full Circle Insights offers employees the autonomy and support they need to innovate, engage in meaningful work and make a difference. |
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Impact statements:
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Advancement Opportunities:
Employee development is highly valued at Full Circle Insights, from the top down. The executive team has significant large tech organization experience and understands the value of cross-training and leadership development. Employees can access formal training via coursework as well as exposure to new concepts and learning opportunities via company-paid attendance at major conferences like Dreamforce and Sirius Decisions Summit.
Medical benefits:
Full Circle Insights offers a high-quality benefits package, including medical benefits (that also include vision and dental) that exceed the standard for companies of its size. All full-time employees have access to this benefit. The company also provides stock options to all full-time employees.
Community service/charitable causes:
Full Circle Insights is part of the Global Pledge 1% Movement, pledging to leverage 1% of product, equity, and employee time to improve marginalized communities around the world. Additionally, the management team is reviewing opportunities to assist underserved communities on a local level with offsite volunteering activities.
Measuring satisfaction:
The Full Circle Insights workforce is small enough to get face-time with top executives as well as HR and line managers, and the executive team makes sure employees have ample opportunity to air their concerns at weekly company meetings.
The Full Circle Insights environment is unique in that it combines open spaces that encourage collaboration with private spaces so employees can focus. Cubes have low walls and there are many windows allowing for great lighting and view of the outdoor pond. The fully stocked kitchen and access to outdoor activities contribute to employee satisfaction.
Creative meeting places:
The Full Circle team has frequent happy hours both in the office and at local bars. Company outings have included movie premieres and visits to a tennis club for creative planning sessions. Additionally, the company encourages employees to “get to know someone” by taking them out to lunch. Each week, at the company meeting, employees are surveyed for who had lunch with a colleague and what they learned about each other.
Perks:
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The company keeps its kitchen stocked with snacks. |
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Each week, Full Circle Insights picks up the check for a catered lunch. |
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Company outings are held quarterly, giving team members a chance to build relationships. |
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There is a ping pong table onsite for relaxation, plus a trail on the campus where people can take walks. |
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The Full Circle Insights office is also dog friendly, which injects a level of calm energy into the office. |
Fun:
People can bring their dogs to work, which is fun for dog owners and non-dog owners alike. The ping pong table and walking trail offer recreational break opportunities.
How corporate vision is communicated:
Full Circle Insights uses the V2MOM method to advance its vision and values. Developed by Marc Benioff at Salesforce, V2MOM stands for Vision, Values, Methods, Obstacles and Measures. It involves annually assessing progress toward achieving the company’s vision and values and outlining specific objectives, strategies and methods each year. The entire team takes part so that everyone understands the vision and their role in achieving it.
Empowering employees:
The company hosts a catered lunch each week, encouraging team members to share ideas and identify opportunities for change. Transparency is an important company value, so the executives share ideas and encourage feedback from the team.
Full Circle Insights has a “Cheers for Peers” program to recognize extraordinary effort. Teams and staff members are recognized by peers during company meetings. Managers also provide support and encouragement to their team members to reward innovation.
One advantage of working at a smaller tech company like Full Circle Insights is that employees wear many hats and have more autonomy than they might at a larger company. The executive team believes in delegating responsibilities and allowing employees to make key decisions. Because they are empowered, employees have a greater stake in achieving company goals.
Ensuring well-being:
Standard working hours are nine to five, but Full Circle’s management is extremely flexible, allowing employees to work from home and deviate from standard hours as long as customers get the service they require and development initiatives move forward.
Team members can make their own schedules as long as projects move forward and customers receive top-level service. PTO time is fairly standard at three weeks, but what is unusual is that, at Full Circle Insights, the executive team encourages employees to make full use of it — work-life balance is truly a core value.
Longevity:
Full Circle Insights has an incredibly high retention rate, especially for the tech industry: Approximately 95% of the workforce is retained year-over-year. All but one of the original founders is still with the company.
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Closing company statements: The most important message for new hires is: “You can really make an impact here.” Because of the relatively flat hierarchy and unique culture, people who come to work at Full Circle Insights have an opportunity to make a real difference, and the company doesn’t demand that they give up their hobbies or personal lives to do so. Another plus is that the management team makes it a priority to build an environment where everyone is respected and valued. It’s all about the team at Full Circle Insights — and that’s great for every member of the group. |
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