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Beyond the Paycheck: What Makes Achieve a Best Place to Work

Written byLindsey Ardale
Posting date: May 11, 2023

"Our employees are our greatest differentiator," says Brad Stroh, co-founder and co-CEO of Achieve—and we couldn't agree more! As a leader in digital personal finance, we made the list of best places to work in the Bay Area for the seventh consecutive year by the San Francisco Business Times.
While we work hard to create an environment of care, collaboration and growth, our dedicated teammates bring this culture to life every day and make these awards possible. A great workplace is where employees feel comfortable, respected and challenged. It's where people embody the Company's vision and values and have opportunities to learn, grow and make meaningful contributions. But what does that look like at Achieve's San Francisco office? As we approach her second anniversary with Achieve, we got an insider's experience from our VP of Corporate Communications, Erica Bigley. 



What made you want to work at Achieve?

Three key factors drove my decision to join Achieve:

1. There was a huge opportunity to help build and grow a new brand. Not only is this a major challenge, it is a really fun project and I was excited about taking it all on.
2. A culture of growth and innovation. I love to work in environments where there is perpetual change and with new products on the horizon, a platform in development and digital capabilities being added to existing products, I knew there would be a lot to do.
  1. 3. Great people. I loved the passion and intelligence of everyone I met and I knew that I could learn and grow alongside some really talented people.


In your opinion, what makes Achieve a "best place to work"?

We don't just talk the talk; we walk the walk. Many companies talk about culture and then show pictures of ping-pong tables and people wearing flip-flops (and don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my flip-flops). Sure, that's culture, but is it really meaningful for your career? At Achieve, we believe in supporting the entire individual with comprehensive benefits, flexible work schedules and environments, values that put CARE at the forefront, leadership development and training opportunities with a view that people will progress in their careers here. That's indicative of a truly great culture.


There are many finance companies in the Bay Area. What sets Achieve apart?

Our mission sets us apart. We believe in offering people help when they need it and know that more people need more help to contend with the current economic environment. There are a lot of financial institutions looking to get people into debt or bad financial situations and so few are looking to offer a lifeline when people need it most. I love being a part of a company that focuses on helping people with their finances.


How does Achieve make an impact on the San Francisco community?

The Bay Area is all about technology and innovation. We're one of the few companies at the intersection of technology and financial services AND we get to say that we do well when our members succeed. Plus, we love giving back. From participating in the San Francisco Pride events to local food banks, our teammates are given tons of opportunities to lend a hand locally. So we're helping everyday people that are a part of the local community, we're employing great people that are a part of the local community and we're caring for our local community through a spirit of philanthropy and volunteerism.


What about your work is meaningful?

As a parent, I've always had this belief that if I'm not spending time with my kids, I want to know that they are proud of the work that I'm doing. This is 100% the case at Achieve. I'm always so impressed by the great ideas, the passion and the thoughtfulness my co-workers bring to each project. Not only do I love what I do, I love who I work with. I'm blessed with the most talented, capable, passionate and caring team, which brings meaning to the work we do together daily.


How have you grown in the last two years? 

This is one of the first companies I've reported directly to the CEO. Interacting with one of the people charged with founding and running the Company daily has been a great learning experience for me. His leadership has helped me prioritize, better support the business, measure what's working more effectively and lead my team.

Creating a work environment that allows our teammates to thrive has greatly influenced our success over the last 20 years. From supporting the communities around us to collaborating and putting heart behind everything we do, we're proud to be named a 2023 Best Places to Work in the Bay Area. 

Want to join us? We're hiring! Check out our open roles or join our talent community to be notified when new opportunities are posted. 



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