‘What Do Our Core Values Mean to You?’: Invest in Exceptional Culture

In this blog series, we asked employees three questions about each of our seven core values. 

Here’s what Account Manager Niraj Patel had to say about embracing investing in exceptional culture. 

“A truly exceptional environment is not crafted overnight but cultivated through consistent, deliberate actions.”

What does investing in an exceptional culture mean to you? 

Investing in an exceptional culture means building an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered. At Centric, we understand that culture is the backbone of our company’s success. Our commitment to creating an inclusive and stimulating workplace is not just about fostering productivity but also about nurturing the personal and professional growth of every team member.

As a remote-first organization, we prioritize transparent communication and flexibility, ensuring that despite physical distances, our values and spirit of collaboration resonate across all interactions and decisions.  

Beyond day-to-day operations, investing in an exceptional culture also means actively seeking and embracing diversity in thoughts, backgrounds and experiences. This approach enriches our organizational knowledge and enhances our ability to innovate and solve problems.

We strive to create a workplace where different perspectives are not only heard but integral to our decision-making processes. It’s about creating a space where each employee can bring their whole selves to work, knowing that their unique contributions lead to our collective success. We celebrate this diversity through various initiatives, such as regular cultural awareness workshops and inclusive team-building activities, which help cement a sense of belonging and community among our staff. 

This comprehensive view of culture at Centric reflects our deep understanding that a truly exceptional environment is not crafted overnight but cultivated through consistent, deliberate actions that align with our core values. It is a dynamic, evolving process that adapts to the growing needs of our team and the communities we serve. 

How do you invest in an exceptional culture in your work? 

In my role as an Account Executive at Centric Consulting, I actively contribute to our exceptional culture by leading initiatives that enhance team collaboration and employee engagement. Part of this is by co-leading Centric Together for the Columbus office. Centric Together is our DEI initiative that results from our belief that a diverse and inclusive work environment is essential to the work we do. Working to bring thought leadership to our local office allows our employees to understand the importance of these initiatives and how they shape the culture of our local office and broader organization.  

Another part of my role is to ensure exceptional delivery of projects to our clients. That delivery depends on our people working to create an unmatched experience. I must work to create an environment where our team members feel seen and heard while bringing their best to work every day to create these moments.  

I also strive to create an exceptional culture by ensuring our team members are clear on their objectives and expectations and are fully armed with the tools and resources to execute a project so they can provide the best experience to our clients. In my career, I’ve worked for great leaders and not so great leaders, and I have come to realize that the company’s culture is only as good as its managers. That’s why this is an important pillar for me to exhibit daily.  

How do you invest in an exceptional culture in your personal life?  

I exhibit this core value in my personal life by working with Junior Achievement. For the past few years, I’ve been on the Development Committee for the Central Ohio chapter. Junior Achievement focuses on teaching K-12 students financial and entrepreneurial literacy, which is a personal passion of mine.  

When I was growing up, I was taught at a very young age the importance of personal finance and healthy financial habits. I had immigrant parents who came to this country with no money but a hunger to succeed and provide a good life for their kids. I learned a lot of lessons on sacrifice and financial hardships, and because of my parents’ focus on sound financial decisions, I was fortunate to have a middle-class family built on hard work. 

I volunteer with Junior Achievement to teach kids that hard work, solid education, and a mindset to “do good” are foundational to success in life. It’s important to me that they go after their passions and are part of cultures that allow them to thrive. Centric’s culture is what attracted me to the organization from day one, and that still holds true almost five years later.