A Marine’s Perspective on Workday’s Core Values

Drawn to Service and Leadership

I was always impressed by the Marine Corps’ intense focus on its people: as an institution it both understands and values the Marines that make up its ranks. As a result, I was initially drawn to the Marine Corps by its people and strong sense of history. Commissioned as a Combat Engineer, I spent seven years leading Marines, from a 45-person platoon to a 130-person company. Throughout my 7 years as an active duty Marine, the Marine Corps instilled in me a deep appreciation for its people-first philosophy and equipped me with invaluable skills: adaptability, a learning orientation, and the power of empathy. Today, I’m a Solution Strategist at Workday, leveraging my military background to add value in the world of tech.

Values-Driven, People-First

When I left the Marines I was looking for a values-driven company. Workday quickly caught my attention. The prominence of their values on their website — especially prioritizing “employees” — resonated with my experience in the Marine Corps.

It was clear that Workday, like the Corps, recognized that an organization’s strength lies in its people.

As I connected with Workmates their dedication and genuine care for each other further confirmed this impression. Furthermore, the exceptionally high average tenure spoke volumes about Workday’s commitment to its people. It was evident that this was a place where individuals felt valued and empowered to thrive. I started my Workmate journey in 2021 as a Product Operations Manager, focusing on Business Processes and Workday Extend before transitioning to my current role in 2023 as a Solution Strategist in the Customer Experience organization.

Workday’s Culture: More Than Just Words

But we all know that when it comes to values what matters is how someone (or an organization) behaves and not what’s written on their website’s homepage. My initial approach with most companies is skepticism around their core values: many use it as window dressing to hide corporate cultures that prioritize profits above all else.

What I appreciated about Workday was the company’s willingness to acknowledge profitability as important while also elevating other values, like employees and integrity, to an equal level.

Moreover, when I spoke with employees before joining, their stories illustrated how Workday actively incorporated those values into the daily work experience. It’s not just about offering great benefits: It’s about how Workday trains managers to lead and how the company supports its employees. People genuinely felt cared for, and my own experience as a Workmate has only reinforced that. For instance, my first manager sent me a birthday gift after I’d only been with the company for three weeks. It’s these small things that make a difference. True integrity comes from consistent words and actions, and I see that Workday genuinely strives for that.

Brilliant Opportunities: Skills That Translate

There are three Core skills that I consider to be central to my success transitioning from the Marine Corps to Workday: adaptability, a learning orientation, and empathy. I believe that getting comfortable with change is a skill, and nothing helps instill that in you better than the Marine Corps. I learned to adopt a mindset of adaptability, willing to pivot at a moment’s notice. Unexpected deployments, harsh conditions, and the ever-present Murphy’s Law taught me to pivot on a dime and thrive amidst uncertainty. This resilience has proven invaluable in navigating the tech industry. The Corps also instilled a learning orientation, or as some call it, a “growth mindset” — a combination of the ability, the willingness, and, importantly, the belief that I can learn new things. But what about empathy? How does one learn that? From the time I was a young lieutenant I was confronted with a conundrum — the teams and people I led were often vastly different in terms of life experience, age, education, and ethnicity. I was haunted by the question, “How do I lead, inspire and understand people who are not like me?” I found the Marine Corps to be a laboratory of human behavior where I could learn how to do this. I was particularly helped by reading widely across literature: Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Austen, Thackeray. Novels, especially the classics, helped prepare me to step inside the shoes of other people.

Innovation and Drive: A Veteran’s Sweet Spot

Initially hired through a military program, I wanted to support other veterans and contribute to Workday’s culture. Fostering a sense of community and positive morale is important to me, and shortly after I started with Workday two opportunities quickly arose. The first was starting the Colorado chapter of the Military & Veterans Employee Belonging Council, helping bring together our local Workday veterans and provide advocacy more widely for the military and veteran community. The second was outside the office: I saw a need for someone to coordinate Habitat for Humanity build days for the Boulder office. With a passion for community building and a background in construction, this seemed like the perfect fit. Over two years, I’ve helped Workmates raise tens of thousands of dollars and donate hundreds of hours to build affordable housing in Colorado. It’s been rewarding not only for the broader Boulder community but also for us at Workday, allowing us to connect outside of work, contribute our skills, and build relationships with colleagues from different teams.

From leading Marines to strategizing solutions in the tech world, my journey has been defined by adaptability, a learning orientation, and empathy — skills that have found a welcoming home at Workday. If you’re a veteran seeking a company where your skills and experiences will be appreciated, and where you can continue to grow and make a meaningful impact, I encourage you to explore the opportunities at Workday.

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