Reflecting on a Year of Impact, Belonging, Growth and Well-being

As we say goodbye to 2023, it's only fitting to take a moment and reflect on the incredible journey the Achieve teammates have had. This past year has been defined by remarkable, innovative milestones, unwavering dedication to our core values, and a collective commitment to fostering a workplace culture that thrives on inclusivity, collaboration, and growth. We’re proud to highlight some significant accomplishments that have defined our success throughout the year.

Investing in Growth
From launching multiple products and services, like the Achieve MoLO™ app and Achieve Debt Relief for members, to finalizing a long-awaited brand transformation and hosting our largest Hackathon yet, 2023 was a year of exceptional growth for the Achieve brand. At the heart of these successes was our teammates' drive to get better every day with a major focus on innovation, personalization and magical experiences for our members and everyday people looking for financial help and guidance.

“2023 was pivotal for us as we grew our Achieve brand, showcased our innovation through great apps like MoLO, and unleashed the creativity of our broader organization through hackathons focused on AI and the use of our over 4 billion data points. In the year ahead, we’ll continue to innovate with a focus on member experiences and personalization so that we can tailor our solutions to meet individual needs.” said Brad Stroh, co-founder and co-CEO of Achieve. 

Training Excellence

In 2023, Achieve prioritized professional development, investing heavily in multiple training programs. As of December 7, our efforts resulted in an impressive 97,477 training hours, benefiting 5,031 individuals across 535 classes. The Rio Salado Educational Partnership further exemplified our commitment, with 330 employees earning college credits and accumulating an astounding 3,153 free college credits valued at $268,005.

Promotions and Education Assistance

Recognizing the importance of growth within our organization, Achieve celebrated numerous promotions and advancements internally. In 2023, 33% of our open roles were filled by internal Achieve teammates alone—that’s huge! In addition to fostering career opportunities within the organization, we also provided education assistance to enhance individuals’ career paths to contribute to the overall success of our mission and value to “Get Better Every Day”. 

An Award-winning Year

Our dedication to creating the best environment for teammates to thrive and their ability to help millions of everyday people has not gone unnoticed. 2023 was a year to be proud of for all 3,000+ people across the organization with awards like:

• Celebrated being a #1 best place to work for the third year in a row by the Phoenix Business Journal

• San Francisco Business Times Best Place to Work in the Bay Area

• Arizona’s Most Admired Companies

• Built In Best Places to Work in the Bay Area

• Phoenix Business Journal Arizona’s Largest Employer List

• Lending Tree #1 Personal Loan Customer Satisfaction

• Tempe Chamber of Commerce Diversity in Leadership Award

Special recognition was given to our Chief Financial Officer, Ralph Leung, Executive Vice President of Human Resources, Linda Luman, and General Counsel, Mike Freedman, for their outstanding leadership and dedication to our mission.

Well-being at Work
At Achieve, we are dedicated to the principle of "Get Better Every Day." This commitment extends to our benefits program as we continuously evaluate and evolve it to ensure that the needs of our teammates’ well-being are cared for. 

Our comprehensive wellness program takes a holistic approach, offering resources that support the mind, body, and financial health of our teammates. We believe in supporting the well-being of the whole person, beyond physical health, and in the significance of a healthy work-life balance. Whether in our offices or in the comfort of their home, our teammates enjoyed a well-rounded experience in 2023 that involved a variety of company-wide events throughout the year, including monthly education webinars, a fall benefits fair, onsite blood drives, massages and workout classes, healthy living seminars, and volunteer activities.

Making an Impact

Outside of helping everyday people get on the path to a better financial future, we believe in the importance of serving the communities around us in other ways whenever possible. Achieve teammates contributed both time, money, and resources throughout the year to various organizations and events to care for others:

• Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk: $5,422 with company match

• Down Syndrome Walk Arizona Buddy Walk: $2,145

• Virtual Holiday Meal Food Drive

• Over 970 total volunteer hours were used for time off to support local non-profits

• Over 200 employees benefited from the Achieve Care Fund, where teammates help teammates in challenging times with donated funds and paid sick hours.

A Sense of Belonging

One aspect we focused on in 2023 was ensuring every teammate felt connected and supported, no matter their location. We understand that a sense of belonging is crucial to a great culture, and no matter where someone is sitting, whether at home or in the office, they feel united with the brand, their peers, and our mission. Here are some of the key initiatives we took in 2023 that have contributed to creating a better work environment:

• A dedicated onboarding program that goes above and beyond introductory training

• Inclusion of teammates in decision-making processes with leadership

• Peer-to-peer recognition to celebrate milestones and achievements

• Leadership development and mentorship to empower and support our teams

• Embracing diversity and honoring the whole person by celebrating differences and encouraging everyone to show up as their authentic selves

Collaboration and Community with ERGs (Employee Resource Groups)

Our six ERGs – Aspire, Heroes, Pride, Freedom Riders, She Achieves, and Unidos – have been instrumental in promoting collaboration, support, diversity, and inclusion. Their activities throughout the year showcased a commitment to building a solid community at Achieve with strong initiatives like:

• Unidos con Libros (United with Books) book club

• Black History Month recognition by Freedom Riders

• Pride’s participation in the AIDS Walk Arizona Festival

• She Achieves Women’s History Month celebration

• ERG Expo provided a platform for team members to connect

• Unidos hosted a ‘Paint & Chat’ event for Mother’s Day

• Heroes partnered with an integrative healing farm to support veterans and their families

And many more! This includes the support of over 15 charities across the combined ERGs to aid in causes relevant to each group. With CARE at the heart of our core values, Achieve teammates are always looking for ways to help others outside of the members we serve. These ERGs are instrumental in driving change both inside and outside of work. 

As we embark on a new year, we carry these successes forward, knowing that our commitment to culture, collaboration, and growth will continue to drive Achieve's excellence. Here's to a bright and promising future!