‘Culture Takes All of Us’

Christina Balam and other executives at Seattle tech company Impinj use a simple yet powerful phrase to ensure collaboration and communication.

“‘Culture takes all of us’ is the call to action we remind employees of often,” says Balam, the company’s senior vice president of human resources. “To empower this attitude, we’ve built pathways for discussion through open Q&A at weekly all-company meetings and small group sessions several times per month.”

Those sessions feature up to 15 employees across departments to discuss company culture with senior leaders and a member of the executive team. Balam says those small forums help generate insight into company actions and promote engagement.

Impinj, a company that designs, manufactures and sells RFID devices and software, has had quite a year. The company laid off 10% of its staff in February to “improve profitability and sharpen strategic focus,” and was recently added to the S&P small-cap index, which sent its stock soaring.

Balam says the company builds culture around the values of respect, curiosity, and collaboration that begins during the hiring process. The company publishes an annual corporate citizenship statement, and monthly “Culture Connection” sessions are designed to strengthen cross-company relationships and trust.

Employees lead a quarterly awards program that highlights “Impinjineers” who embody company principles while achieving corporate goals. Impinj Cares is a global corporate giving program that promotes and supports corporate and employee-led philanthropic activities. All employees receive 16 hours of paid time off to volunteer each year and a $100 employer match.

The company has added three Employee Resource Groups this year for underrepresented groups across its workforce: Pride at Impinj, Black Employee Network, and Women @ Impinj Network. Impinj also hosts weekly meetings between team members and top executives. It’s not unusual for employees to meet on the company’s rooftop deck that overlooks the Space Needle.

Culture is especially important given that Impinj has nearly doubled in size since the beginning of the pandemic. The company now has employees all across the United States and in 14 countries. Balam adds that half of company employees have never meet their peers in person, so “we consistently evaluate and implement new ideas and methods to foster connection in our global hybrid environment, with input from employees across departments, levels, and geographies.”

Perks include an annual holiday party at an upscale Seattle venue, a ping-pong table and designated creative room with games, and a yearly picnic.

Balam says “nuance” matters, noting that the knee-jerk reaction to office politics is that “it’s all toxic.”

“We are creating a shared vocabulary to describe what good leadership looks like,” she says, “so whether an employee is leading a project, a meeting, or a team, we can easily articulate the actions and behaviors that foster inclusivity, and encourage others to listen and learn from differing perspectives.”