3. Systems Evolution, Inc.
It's been quite a rise up the rankings for Cincinnati, Ohio-based IT firm Systems Evolution, Inc. Three years ago, the firm made its debut at No. 14. Last year, its ranking rose to No. 5. In 2013, the upward momentum continues as the firm settles in at the No. 3 position in the Best Small Firms to Work For.
"I think the award is a source of pride for anyone who works at a firm that earns a spot on this list, but it's a little different for our people," says Rob Seichter, Chief Operating Officer at SEI.
"Our employees don't just work here; they own the company and they participate in the day-to-day leadership and direction."
As such, he says they are responsible for defining and protecting the culture, and to be recognized for the employee experience they've created is a great achievement.
From the beginning, he says that SEI has always considered culture to be at the core of its success. The firm's founder and CEO, Dan Pierce, has been SEI's culture cop from Day One. That includes fostering core values and ensuring the firm only hires exceptional people who will help protect those core values is one of the reasons SEI is on this list.
To that end, SEI recently hired a VP of Talent Management, a critical role on the executive leadership team that it's been looking to fill for almost two years, Seichter says. And the recently opened SEI-New York office has boosted enthusiasm, for sure.
"Morale at SEI has always been positive," Seichter says. "I would attribute that to the connection and sense of purpose our consultants have with both company and with each other."
It helps, of course, that the culture is backed by a steady and predictable track record of growth and success through both positive and challenging economic cycles.
"Our culture is based on peer accountability, and morale is defined by our team of consultants not by leadership," he says. "Morale at SEI is not a measuring stick of the environment leadership has created; it's a testament to the employee experience our consultants have created."
It's no surprise, then, that the firm ranked among the top in the Leadership category on this year's survey. Seichter says that's a reflection of the servant leadership style Pierce has employed since he started the company 20 years ago.
"That same style is demonstrated by everyone in a leadership role at SEI," Seichter says. "There aren't many companies where you will see such a consistency of values and decision making across an extended leadership team. Our leaders work for our consultants, not the other way around."
WHAT'S YOUR TOP PRIORITY OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS?
Chief Operating Officer Rob Seichter says: "Our top priorities over the next year are Talent Management, Brand Awareness and Collective Value. We continue to look for new opportunities to attract and develop great talent. We're in the business of hiring "rock stars" and we've been successful building a strong employee brand through our Brand Awareness initiatives. Our ability to attract talent is directly impacted by our ability to share our story with the right audience through multiple channels.
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