Lessons learned after 21 years on Fortune’s list of 100 Best Companies to Work For

Today, Great Place to Work and Fortune Magazine have honored Adobe as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For. We are so proud to say that this is Adobe’s 21st year on the prestigious list, and have come in at no. 18, moving up 17 spots from last year.

To determine the 2021 list, Great Place to Work surveyed over half a million employees on issues including how trustworthy, caring and fair the company is in times of crises; employees’ physical, emotional and financial health; and the company’s broader community impact. Particular attention was paid to how employees’ experiences varied depending on their job role, gender, race/ethnicity, payroll status, and other characteristics to ensure that the company is creating a great workplace for all.

After 21 years of being recognized, especially after a tumultuous 2020, here are our lessons learned.

1. Our people are our most important asset

Adobe’s success is not possible without our 22,000+ employees around the globe, who are rallied around our mission and strategy – to create products and experiences that inspire people, transform industries, and move the world forward. Simply put, our people come first, and our top priority remains the health and wellbeing of our employees. So, how do we make sure our people are taken care of? From life changing benefits to robust developmental opportunities, we enable all our employees to succeed at work and at home, and achieve their goals.

2. Culture changes. Values do not

As a company that’s been around for over 35 years and is constantly growing, we recognize that our company culture is fluid. However, what has not changed are our company’s core values. When John Warnock and Chuck Geschke founded Adobe in 1982, they wanted to build a company that was technologically innovative and prosperous. But they also wanted to create a workplace based on honesty, trust and a belief in treating others as they would like to be treated. Adobe’s core values—Genuine, Exceptional, Innovative and Involved—remain critical to our success, guide how we hire candidates, and are embodied by our employees worldwide.

3. Great ideas come from everywhere in the company

At Adobe, we believe that great ideas come from everywhere in the organization, and that’s what helps us compete. For example, did you know that interns play a central role in our research publication program? In fact, nearly half of the technologies shipped in Adobe products in recent years have come from projects with interns or university collaborators. And last year, more than half of the technology patents the Adobe Research team filed included an intern as an inventor.

In order to foster new ideas from across the company, we bring creative people together in an environment that rewards experimentation and breaking the status quo. This is what has enabled us to transform countless industries throughout our history—from desktop publishing and electronic documents to interactive web experiences and games.

4. To be a successful company you need to build a diverse and inclusive workplace for all

It is our belief that everyone deserves equal treatment and opportunity, and that building a diverse and inclusive workplace that is reflective of the world we live in is not only the right thing to do, but essential to ensuring that our employee base represents the broad range of customers that Adobe serves.

Our commitment to people is cemented in our long track record of progressive people-centered benefits and programs, continued investment in the growth and development of our employees around the world, and vibrant employee community networks, which amplify the diverse backgrounds among us and foster an enriched culture of belonging.

5. Purpose-driven companies change the world

In 2020, Adobe’s mission–to Change the World Through Digital Experiences–proved to be more relevant than ever. The benefits of our innovation help millions across the globe–from the creative professional, to students, governments, small businesses, and the largest multinational enterprises–create, be productive, and develop and deliver the world’s best digital experiences. Adobe’s mission has always been to create products that empower people to change the world. Our purpose is anchored on harnessing our people, platform, creativity, and innovation to make lasting change in the areas where we can uniquely make the most impact, and our bold ambitions, combined with world-class execution, have enabled our continuous growth for nearly four decades.

With 21 years of success on Fortune’s list of 100 Best Companies, we are excited to continue building a legacy of being a great place to work. Experience it for yourself and apply today!