Summary
Verkada, a San Mateo-based company, launched a business travel program in 2022 that allows its employees, especially Gen-Z, to travel for professional development. The initiative has successfully engaged over half of its 35 participants, offering clear business objectives for each trip and enhancing employee productivity. Notable success stories from participants emphasize the program’s impact on collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the company, as it continues to attract talent amidst expanding global operations.
In 2022, Verkada, a physical security company based in San Mateo, California, instituted a business travel program aimed at harnessing the travel enthusiasm of its young employees, particularly those from Gen-Z. The impetus for this initiative came when a marketing team member expressed a desire to learn about operations in the company’s six global offices. The program allows one to three employees from the 108-member marketing team to travel for one to two weeks each quarter, commencing with the inaugural trips in April 2022. As of now, the program has facilitated travel for 35 employees, with over half identifying as Gen-Z. “They want any opportunity to travel,” asserts Priyanka Srinivasan, Vice President of Product Marketing, reflecting the findings of a 2023 Morning Consult report stating that 52 percent of Gen-Z adults are frequent travelers. The program not only encourages travel but also mandates a “business purpose” for each trip. Employees must delineate this purpose in their applications along with the intended application of their learnings upon their return. Lisa Yan, a 23-year-old growth associate at Verkada, shared her experience traveling from the San Mateo headquarters to New York City, where she engaged with enterprise clients and gleaned insights that enabled her to craft more targeted marketing campaigns. Similarly, Masha Roney, a 35-year-old Millennial manager of localization, highlighted the collaborative advantages of her trips to Verkada’s London and Japan offices, stating they fostered stronger relationships and improved communication with her colleagues across cultures. Upon returning from their business trips, participants present their experiences at all-hands meetings, contributing to the overall knowledge base of the company. Although costs vary, with domestic trips generally ranging from $800 to $2,000, Srinivasan has noted tangible returns, such as enhanced demand generation campaigns stemming from employee travel. Furthermore, international travel has become a significant factor in attracting talent to Verkada, which has grown to 16 offices worldwide since the program’s inception. Co-founder and CEO Filip Kaliszan attributes the program’s success to its grassroots nature—employee-driven rather than mandated from upper management. This approach has stirred interest across various departments, notably prompting Alana O’Grady Lauk to initiate the program within the communications and public affairs team after witnessing the marketing department’s success. Kaliszan is optimistic about extending the initiative to other areas of the company, tailoring program specifics to meet diverse departmental needs.
The emergence of a business travel program at Verkada highlights a growing trend among companies to leverage the travel interests of younger employees to benefit organizational objectives. As Gen-Z demonstrates a strong desire to travel—underscored by data indicating that more than half identify as frequent travelers—employers can harness this enthusiasm not only to enhance employee satisfaction but also to foster professional development and networking opportunities. Establishing a program with clear business objectives while promoting employee engagement represents a strategic alignment of workforce motivations with company goals, which is particularly salient in a globalizing business landscape.
In conclusion, Verkada’s business travel program serves as a successful model of integrating employee interests with organizational growth. By facilitating travel based on business needs while ensuring that employees derive professional insights from their experiences, the company has fostered a culture of connectivity and understanding across its global offices. The program not only enhances employee engagement but also proves vital for workforce productivity and effective collaboration, addressing the diverse aspirations of modern professionals. As businesses like Verkada continue to evolve, flexible and innovative programs such as this one will likely play a significant role in attracting and retaining talent in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
Original Source: www.inc.com
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