The growth of TEN7 over the last decade and a half has been driven by a desire to make a positive difference in the world. As our mission clearly states, success is not just about the bottom line, it’s about a commitment to Make Things That Matter.
In recent years, we’ve been intentional about the path we take to get to our goals. We’ve established a list of values that drive the way we work with our clients, the ways we support each other, and how we position ourselves in the world:
- Be Honest
- Be Inclusive
- Be Open
- Be Mindful
- Be a Team
We didn’t arrive at these values by chance, and we don’t take them for granted now. At a time when basic human rights and dignity are under attack, being a values-driven team is more important than ever.
When we developed our list of values, my hope was that they would not only resonate with my team, but that they would also inspire the team to make them their own. These values should not just be words on a website, they need to guide action and drive us to bring our best selves to the table.
Thankfully, the team responded as I had hoped! The TEN7 core values have become a part of who we are. We discuss them in our team meetings. We refer to them as guideposts in our work. These values have helped us confidently speak out on critical issues including women’s rights, racist terms in technology, and the war in Ukraine.
It has also been gratifying, as TEN7 has grown, to see people who have been compelled to join the team because of our values.
This month, we are kicking off a series of blog posts that take a deeper dive into each of our core values. While I will set it up each month, I’m happy to say it will be the voices of our team that will carry this discussion through.
In the first post, you’ll hear from a few of our team members about our value: “Be Inclusive.” This value feels particularly relevant at a time when our nation feels so divided.
“Be Inclusive” means recognizing and respecting our differences. It also means respecting our common humanity and connection. The overturning of Roe v. Wade shows that we have heavy lifting ahead to protect equal rights, to embrace those who feel unrepresented, and to create a future where freedom and safety are open to everyone.
I’m grateful to have a team that has embraced this value, and excited to share what other team members say this value means to them.