First remarks!

Almost every organization in corporate America makes some sort of claim about being the greatest place to work. To attract the public's attention, some people go one step further and showcase their brand in a distinctive and eye-catching way. I've had the chance to go to a number of events over the last several years where businesses not only covered my airfare and lodging but also gave me an inside look at their workplace culture and conducted interviews for internships. Until I entered Intuit Credit Karma, I had never been on-site at a for-profit business, even with these experiences. I've tried to accurately portray what I saw during my first week of orientation at Credit Karma in this blog. For the purpose of simplicity, I'll just call the business "Credit Karma" from now on. Give credit Karma's key values: helpfulness, ownership, progress, and empathy. They are surprisingly simple. These aren't merely catchphrases that you'll see mounted on a wall and then forget. No, these principles are evident in daily encounters and are ingrained in the company's culture. The first person I met at the company was Lejorne, a Senior Recruiter at Credit Karma. He didn't merely send me a conventional welcome email when we first met. He encouraged me to text him directly if I had any questions or concerns, and he provided me with his personal phone number. There was no need to write a well worded business email or go through formal hoops. This small act showed true helpfulness, the kind that is uncommon yet significant. The parent company of Credit Karma, Intuit, revealed its Q3 FY25 numbers yesterday, revealing an astounding $7.8 billion in revenue. Although I can't remember every statistic, I do remember that they all surpassed projections and that profits rose in every industry. The way the leadership decided to communicate the news was more noteworthy than the numbers. They recognized and honored the combined efforts of all staff members rather than just highlighting the CEO or the executive team. I consider that to be actual ownership. Everyone's efforts are valued, and this is evident. By making so much money, you might assume they would be happy to keep things as they are. However, Credit Karma doesn't work that way. By researching the market and figuring out how to give their users even more value, they strive for constant growth rather than merely stability. For instance, they will provide resources and advice to help raise your credit score if it is poor. They will suggest credit cards or money-saving financial items if your score is already high. This dedication to improving consumers' lives is not just growth, but steady, forward-thinking progress. Then there is empathy, which is a quality that is frequently disregarded in the business sector. When several businesses announced huge layoffs during the epidemic, Credit Karma experienced a startling 70% decline in sales month over month. Instead of laying off workers, the company adopted a risky stance: executives accepted a 50% pay cut, while all employees agreed to a temporary 15% pay drop. Profits returned to normal after six months, and they did it without firing a single team member. It's uncommon to see that degree of empathy and unity. It's simple to be doubtful and believe that businesses are simply interested in making money. However, that narrative has been called into question by my first week at Credit Karma. So far, everything I've observed shows a sincere adherence to their basic principles. Credit Karma seems to be a place where people genuinely matter, whether it's through a straightforward text message from a recruiter, a leadership team that celebrates successes with everyone, or a culture that emphasizes development and humanity. I'm eager to keep developing and learning here.