Imagine coming to work every day knowing you’re improving the lives of others. Non-profit organizations know that feeling of purpose. What about for-profit companies? Can they develop profitable solutions that improve the lives of those who use them? And can employees work for companies that stand for something? Yes, of course. There are many examples: Timberland, Alaska Airlines, IBM Worldwide, Burt’s Bees, Seventh Generation – and Apogee. Yes, Apogee has embraced being purpose-driven and purpose-aligned. It’s in our DNA and it’s in our mission: Higher ed is our higher purpose.
For more than 20 years, we have been working with forward-thinking campus leaders to consistently explore the ways technology can enhance the student experience and outcomes. Our managed technology services free up overburdened IT and housing staff so they can focus on truly realizing their institution’s vision. We embody this purpose, and our team gets to live it out every day. It’s the heart of our organization.
According to PwC, 79% of business leaders believe that purpose is central to success. Despite this, Gallup notes that less than half of employees know what their organization stands for and what makes it different.
A report by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and supported by Ernst Young (EY) reveals a distinct connection between purpose and innovation. The EIU executive report surveyed 1,000 senior decision-makers from across three global industries to discover how they are responding to disruption.
A 63.4% majority of executives believe that having a sense of purpose and aspiration beyond their day-to-day commercial mission made their company more innovative and therefore more able to disrupt or respond to disruption. The report found that:
- Purpose creates a culture that supports innovation.
- Purpose strengthens innovation by focusing on meaningful impact beyond traditional corporate metrics.
- Purpose facilitates external collaboration.
- Purpose enables organizations to think differently so they can act differently.
Purpose-Aligned Companies Navigate Turbulent Times
Apogee Nation connects with our purpose. Our team members have aspirational motivation to enhance our world and they bring that ethos to life every day to drive future innovation. I firmly believe that our company culture has helped us continue to serve our customers throughout the pandemic and current geopolitical challenges.
Apogee isn’t immune to the commotion, but I’m proud to say that we have a strong, caring company culture that helps us attract, recruit, and motivate our team. We offer great pay, a hybrid work style, and competitive benefits for our employees. We also show empathy to our employees who require time away from work to address life’s challenges like health or caregiving issues. I’m very proud of our entire team who make Apogee a better place to work and where they can grow their careers.
While our strong company culture is beneficial to our recruiting efforts for top talent, it also improves our customer experiences. Our employees realize they are doing noble work, and this is reflected in their approach to customer service. I’m so proud of our high customer experience scores: 98% customer satisfaction rate, 96% customer retention rate, and a world-class NPS (Net Promoter Score) of 71 reflect how well we serve our customers and how plugged-in our employees are to creating customer success. Our numbers are comparable to – and in many instances – beat other companies who are well-known for their world-class service. We like to say that we proudly wear our customers’ colors by becoming an accountable extension of their teams.
Apogee is helping campus leaders reimagine the role technology plays in delivering innovative experiences that drive increased student enrollment, retention, persistence, and graduation rates. It’s why we come to work every day. Do you have the same feeling of pride when you start your workday?
If you, or someone you know, is interested in joining Apogee Nation, we’d love to welcome you. Visit our Careers page and choose an employer with a purpose.
