The Importance of a Value-Based Culture
As I reflect on our recent recognition, I can’t help but think back to our early days. Workiva started with a folding table and dream – to revolutionize the way corporations manage data and build a workplace that employees love. We wanted to create a Company that would mean more to employees than just a job and have a culture where everyone feels comfortable bringing their best, authentic self to work every day.
More than a decade later, we are a more diverse, global workforce, and our values-based culture continues to be the driving force in our success. I couldn’t be more proud to see how Workiva has grown.
At the start of the pandemic last year, we knew our success as a company would depend on how we responded during an unimaginable time. We’ve always believed that our values would sustain us through challenging times – and we were right.
Our employees took care of each other, stayed focused on their goals, and adapted to the changing environment. I am proud to say that not even a year like 2020 could stop Workiva. By staying true to who we are, we’ve become a stronger and even more innovative team.
After the events of last year, it’s even more of an honor to be named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list as well as the Fortune Best Workplaces in Technology™ list
As we begin to see hope for a return to some sense of normal, there’s one thing I’ve gained from a year full of challenges: an even deeper appreciation for the amazing team and culture we have at Workiva.
To our employees, customers and partners – thank you for being a part of what makes Workiva special. The best is yet to come!
Interested in joining the Workiva team? Visit workiva.com/careers!
About the Author
Martin (Marty) J. Vanderploeg, Ph.D., is the president and chief executive officer of Workiva Inc., a $350 million cloud-based software technology company with an open, intelligent, and intuitive platform that simplifies complex work for global organizations. Marty co-founded Workiva to transform the way people manage and report business data.
As CEO, Marty is focused on developing the company’s vision and award-winning culture, which nurtures an innovative workplace enabling customers to confidently move their businesses forward. He has over 30 years of experience in scaling software companies from start-ups to private and public global enterprises.
Marty is known for his leadership in the technology sector, including developing computer assisted design software used in medical and forensic applications and as a technology entrepreneur. Prior to serving as CEO, Vanderploeg served as president and chief operating officer of Workiva and its predecessor (Webfilings).
Previously, Marty co-founded Engineering Animations Inc. (EAI) and served as the company’s chief technology officer. As CTO, he led EAI’s’ development of computer graphics tools used in crime scene reconstruction, 3D animations of human anatomy, CAD applications in automotive design and computer games as well as other applications. EAI was acquired in 2000 by Unigraphics Solutions (now part of Siemens USA).
Marty was a tenured professor of mechanical engineering at Iowa State University and has authored 19 publications in the area of design optimization and vehicle dynamics, mechanical engineering software applications, biomechanics and graphic animation. He was the founder and director of the Iowa State University Visualization Laboratory. Marty has a Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and a Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University.