What being “Each Other’s Champions” means at Certinia
This article is written by Kris Kildahl, Certinia’s Chief People Officer. Kris’s primary focus is creating an environment where employees can thrive personally and professionally to deliver great outcomes for our customers and the business. Here she shares insights on what it means to be each other’s champions at Certinia.
Company values often end up as nice-sounding words that live on a far corner of a website or a dusty plaque in the building lobby. But at Certinia, we genuinely try to make them principles that shape how we work together and show up for one another. One value that consistently stands out to me, especially as Chief People Officer, is being Each Other’s Champions.
What does a value like that mean in practice? It’s simple: we actively look out for each other. It means building a workplace where supporting your colleagues’ growth and well-being is just as important as hitting your own goals.
We operate on the belief that when our people feel supported and empowered, it fuels everything else, from the innovative products we build to the commitment we show our customers.
How We Champion Our Champions
So, how does being “Each Other’s Champions” show up day-to-day?
You see it clearly in our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). Whether it’s EmpowerHer (our women’s network), the Pride alliance, CUBE (Certinia Unites Black Excellence), The Village (for parents and caregivers), or PACE (our Pan-Asian Community for Empowerment), our ERGs provide spaces for connection, shared experience, and advocating for an inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong and ensure diverse perspectives are heard across the company.
Being champions for each other also means prioritizing well-being in a real way. We know that high performance isn’t sustainable without genuine support for work-life balance. That’s why initiatives like our dedicated “Time for You” and “Friends and Family” company holidays, plus our year-end shutdown, are baked into our global calendar.
Everyone needs dedicated time to step away, recharge, and focus on themselves or their loved ones. When people come back refreshed, they bring their best energy and ideas.
We also provide resources like the Wellness Coach platform and quarterly wellness education sessions to offer personalized support for everyone’s wellbeing, from physical and mental health to financial wellness.
The Impact of Supporting Each Other
Does this focus on community and well-being make a tangible difference? We certainly think so, and our team seems to agree.
Survey feedback reflecting these values is encouraging. 89% of our team members say they feel respected and can be their authentic selves at work. 90% feel their manager genuinely cares about their well-being. 91% feel supported in using flexible work arrangements. And 94% say they are able to arrange time out from work when they need it. The data tells us we’re on the right track.
Building this kind of environment doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s never truly “finished.” Maintaining this environment requires ongoing commitment from everyone to listen, support, and adapt. But creating a workplace where people feel genuinely valued and look out for one another is fundamental to who we are.
We’re proud of the community we’re building together, and committed to continuing this journey, because ultimately, when we champion each other, Certinia wins — and so do our customers.
If building community and championing colleagues alongside delivering great work sounds appealing, take a look at our open positions. We’d love to hear from you!
