People join companies for all sorts of reasons — competitive pay, benefits, a flexible schedule — but there’s one factor that plays a significant role in whether they will stay: career growth opportunities.
Just ask Hunter Martin, a manager of software engineering at Riot Platforms, Inc., which operates large-scale data centers and bitcoin mining networks. He joined the company out of a desire to own systems end to end, and so far, that’s exactly what he’s been able to do.
“What started as ownership of individual applications became ownership of how software gets built here,” Martin said.
It’s a similar story for Territory Sales Manager Trevor Webb, who joined connected beverage platform provider Bevi because he wanted to join a company where he could make an immediate impact. Over the past two and a half years, he has taken on several different roles and responsibilities, encouraged by others who believed in his abilities.
“Rather than feeling like I had to wait years for new opportunities, I was encouraged to raise my hand for new challenges and prove what I was capable of,” Webb said. “That culture of trust and internal mobility has made all the difference.”
For these two professionals and nine others, having resources and support to grow has been a career game-changer. Read on to learn more about how their employers have helped them achieve their professional goals.
Riot Platforms, Inc. operates large-scale data centers and bitcoin mining networks across the United States.
What originally attracted you to Riot Platforms, Inc., and what has kept you here as you’ve grown in your career?
The pace. Riot moves fast, and I wanted a role where I could genuinely own systems end to end rather than contribute pieces of someone else’s. That’s what brought me in, and it’s the same thing that’s kept me here; the scope has just kept expanding. What started as ownership of individual applications became ownership of how software gets built here.
How have you grown or developed professionally during your time at Riot Platforms, Inc.?
I started as a software engineer and have since moved into managing software engineering for Riot. The biggest change wasn’t the title; it was the shape of the accountability. I’m now responsible for the entire software development function: the team, the standards we hold ourselves to and the direction we take. Learning to be accountable for outcomes I don’t personally produce has been the steepest and most valuable part of that growth.
“Learning to be accountable for outcomes I don’t personally produce has been the steepest and most valuable part of that growth.”
Can you share a moment, project or experience that made you realize how much you’ve grown in your role?
Stepping into the software engineering manager role. Up to that point, my value was measured by what I shipped. Almost overnight, it became about setting strategy, deciding what the team builds, how we build it and why. The first time I found myself defining direction for a system I wasn’t going to write a single line of code for and trusting the team to execute, it was obvious how far I’d come from where I started.
Amalgamated Sugar produces sugar from sugar beets.
What originally attracted you to Amalgamated Sugar, and what has kept you here as you’ve grown in your career?
I was originally attracted to the company because of its reputation. What’s kept me here is the combination of the people and the opportunities. I’ve really appreciated working with a supportive team and leadership that encourages growth. Over time, I’ve been able to take on new responsibilities, build my skills and see the impact of my work. That sense of progress and being part of something meaningful has made me want to stay and continue growing with the company.
“Over time, I’ve been able to take on new responsibilities, build my skills and see the impact of my work.”
How have you grown or developed professionally during your time at Amalgamated Sugar?
During my time here, I’ve grown both professionally and personally. When I first started, I focused on learning the core responsibilities of my role and understanding how the team operates. Over time, I’ve been able to take on additional responsibilities, improve my organizational and problem-solving skills, and become more confident in handling day-to-day challenges independently
Can you share a moment, project or experience that made you realize how much you’ve grown in your role?
One experience that really made me feel proud to work here was being part of organizing and setting up our annual meeting for the executive team, board members and growers. It’s such an important event, and having the opportunity to contribute behind the scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly was really rewarding.
I especially valued working closely with the other admins. We collaborated on coordinating logistics, managing details and supporting one another to ensure everything came together successfully. It was exciting to be part of a team effort that brings so many key people together. Seeing the event come together and knowing I played a role in that made me feel proud of my work and the team I’m part of.
Best known for its Smart Water Coolers®, Bevi has grown into the leading connected beverage platform, combining hardware, data and beverage innovation to deliver premium still, sparkling, flavored and enhanced drinks on demand.
What originally attracted you to Bevi, and what has kept you here as you’ve grown in your career?
What first attracted me to Bevi was the opportunity to join a fast-growing company where I could make an immediate impact. The product was innovative, the mission made sense, and during the interview process it was clear that the people genuinely cared about helping one another succeed.
What has kept me here for the last two and a half years is the opportunity to continuously grow. Since joining, I’ve had the chance to take on several new roles and responsibilities, and each transition has come with incredible support from managers and teammates who trusted me to step outside my comfort zone. Rather than feeling like I had to wait years for new opportunities, I was encouraged to raise my hand for new challenges and prove what I was capable of. That culture of trust and internal mobility has made all the difference. It’s rewarding to work somewhere that invests in its employees and creates opportunities to build meaningful careers instead of having to look elsewhere for the next step.
“Since joining, I’ve had the chance to take on several new roles and responsibilities, and each transition has come with incredible support from managers and teammates who trusted me to step outside my comfort zone.”
How have you grown or developed professionally during your time at Bevi?
I’ve grown in almost every aspect of my career. I joined Bevi as an enterprise business development representative, where I built the fundamentals of prospecting, relationship-building and creating new opportunities. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to support multiple teams and territories, contribute to our expansion into the United Kingdom and Ireland, and most recently, become the territory manager for the Northeast. Each role has required a different skill set. I’ve gone from generating pipeline to managing customer relationships, partnering with distributors, working with enterprise accounts and helping drive growth across an entire region. Along the way, I’ve become much more confident communicating with executive stakeholders, solving problems collaboratively and adapting quickly to new challenges.
One thing I appreciate most is that my growth wasn’t limited to formal promotions. My managers consistently gave me opportunities to stretch beyond my current role, whether that meant taking ownership of new projects, supporting different territories or stepping in wherever the business needed me. Those experiences accelerated my development and prepared me for the role I’m in today.
Can you share a moment, project or experience that made you realize how much you’ve grown in your role?
One experience that really stands out was having the opportunity to help support Bevi’s expansion into the United Kingdom and Ireland. Being part of a project of that magnitude is something I’ll never forget, and knowing I played a role in helping establish our early success in a new market was incredibly rewarding. More recently, I’ve had the opportunity to step into different roles as the business has evolved and take on new challenges whenever they arise. Being trusted with those opportunities has been both humbling and motivating, and it reminded me of the impact I am making as well as the confidence my leaders had in me. Looking back, those experiences made me realize just how much I’ve grown since my first day at Bevi. I wasn’t just executing my own responsibilities anymore; I was thinking strategically, collaborating across teams and helping partners and customers find long-term solutions. When I was ultimately promoted to Territory Manager for the Northeast, it felt like a reflection of all those experiences and the trust the company had placed in me along the way. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see how much I’ve developed, and I’m excited to continue growing.
Riskified’s AI-powered fraud and risk intelligence platform analyzes the individual behind each interaction to provide real-time decisions and robust identity-based insights.
What originally attracted you to Riskified, and what has kept you here as you’ve grown in your career?
I wanted to join a company with an established, strong sales team so I could be a sponge in my first few months. Riskified had that, and it was already respected for how it helps retailers prevent fraud. That combination is what originally attracted me to the company. It was obvious during my interview process that Riskified had exactly what I was looking for.
What’s kept me here is the people I work with and the constant support I receive from everyone in the sales organization. I’ve always felt accounted for, and my peers are super welcoming and eager to lend a helping hand. It’s been rewarding to go from being the person who asks all the questions to being someone new hires now come to for direction.
“What’s kept me here is the people I work with and the constant support I receive from everyone in the sales organization.”
How have you grown or developed professionally during your time at Riskified?
It’s hard to put into words how much I’ve developed professionally over the past year and a half at Riskified. Flying out to different cities across the country to sit down with e-commerce leaders face to face is both challenging and exciting. Meeting with executives at well-known companies can be intimidating at first, but confidence in our product and myself turns any anxiety into curiosity and excitement to find out how we can help them tackle fraud or abuse. I’ve developed far more here than I thought possible when I started in May 2025.
Can you share a moment, project or experience that made you realize how much you’ve grown in your role?
The Shoptalk Conference in Las Vegas this past March was a turning point that made me realize I was well on my way. Our booth sat in a prime foot-traffic location, and the booth behind us had puppies, which helped, of course. The in-depth conversations I had there were where I noticed how much I’d learned. My colleagues and I had several productive conversations with merchants facing a range of situations, many of whom have turned into real partnerships.
Live conversations and experiences with people build trust in a way that an email or a phone call never can. They’re where you learn what a retailer is actually up against, and that understanding is what turns into partnerships that last. I think everyone on the business development team here will tell you that conferences and other face-to-face events are where a lot of that groundwork gets done.
FareHarbor creates tools for tour and activity operators, like boat rentals, food tours, outdoor experiences, events and more.
What originally attracted you to FareHarbor, and what has kept you here as you’ve grown in your career?
I joined FareHarbor more than seven years ago because of the people, the energy and the opportunity to work in an industry that helps create unforgettable experiences. What has kept me here is that the company has never stood still. I’ve watched FareHarbor adapt through rapid growth, industry shifts, a global pandemic and continued innovation. Every challenge created new opportunities to learn, contribute and grow alongside the business.
One thing I’ve learned is that growth here isn’t tied to a title; it’s tied to how you show up. If you’re curious, willing to step outside your comfort zone and embrace new challenges, people notice. Leaders invest in you, trust you with meaningful work and encourage you to explore new paths. My career has evolved because FareHarbor kept evolving, and I was fortunate to grow right alongside it.
“If you’re curious, willing to step outside your comfort zone and embrace new challenges, people notice.”
How have you grown or developed professionally during your time at FareHarbor?
When I joined FareHarbor as a business development associate, I was new to both the travel and tech industries. I had a lot to learn, but a strong onboarding experience and a manager who encouraged me to stretch beyond my role gave me the confidence to dive in. Whether facilitating internal training, taking on special projects or jumping in wherever help was needed during the pandemic, every opportunity expanded my understanding of our product, our business and the industry.
Over time, I realized what energized me most was helping people grow, so I pursued a position on the people team. As a learning and development specialist, I embraced opportunities to keep learning myself. I took advantage of our learning platforms, shadowed leaders across FareHarbor and Booking.com, and sought mentorship from our chief of staff to the CEO. Through her guidance, and by seeking out increasingly strategic work, I developed skills in project management, stakeholder partnership and strategic planning that ultimately led me to my current role as chief of staff for the people team.
Can you share a moment, project or experience that made you realize how much you’ve grown in your role?
There have been several moments, but two projects stand out.
The first was taking ownership of our Work Abroad Program. What started as an idea on paper became a companywide program that I built and led during its first two years. It required navigating operational complexities while partnering with leaders across FareHarbor to strengthen connections across our global offices. Seeing the program come to life and help employees grow professionally has been incredibly rewarding.
The second was leading the development of our Leadership Anchors. It wasn’t just another project; it helped define how we expect our leaders to navigate change, develop their teams, collaborate and deliver results. Collaborating with senior leaders to shape something that will influence the company for years to come strengthened my stakeholder management, strategic thinking and execution skills.
Neither opportunity came with a playbook. Leaders empowered me to turn ideas into reality, giving me the confidence to tackle other challenges that ultimately led me to my current role. Today, I’m excited to serve as a mentor in our mentorship program and support others in their career growth.
Playground’s child care management software is designed to help child care programs streamline their operations and administration.
What originally attracted you to Fortin, and what has kept you here as you’ve grown in your career?
I honestly didn’t know much about the child care industry before joining Playground, but I was immediately drawn to how fast-paced the company is. The product is constantly evolving, which keeps things interesting for both our customers and our team. Every day brings something new, so you’re always learning, adapting and picking up new skills.
Beyond the fast pace, the company culture and mentality has been a huge reason I’ve stayed. If you have a great idea, you’re encouraged to take ownership of it and see it through from start to finish. That’s not something you find everywhere. It’s incredibly rewarding to see your work have a direct impact on both the company and the customers we serve.
How have you grown or developed professionally during your time at Playground?
One of the biggest ways I’ve grown is by learning to balance a wide variety of responsibilities, many of which extend beyond my official role. At Playground, you’re not put into a box. If you’re willing to take initiative, dedicate yourself to something and prove yourself, the company recognizes that and gives you opportunities to grow.
“If you’re willing to take initiative, dedicate yourself to something and prove yourself, the company recognizes that and gives you opportunities to grow.”
I genuinely feel like I’ve learned more in the past year at Playground than I would have in several years at many other companies. A big part of that is because Playground has embraced my interests and given me opportunities to develop them, which has accelerated both my professional growth and my confidence.
Can you share a moment, project or experience that made you realize how much you’ve grown in your role?
One moment that really stood out was being asked to help train our first official new-hire cohort. I had the opportunity to travel to Denver to meet the new team members and lead product training, which was an incredibly rewarding experience.
It meant a lot to know that Playground trusted me to teach others about our product and represent the company in that way. Having both my managers and peers show that level of confidence in my product knowledge, especially this early in my career, was a huge milestone and really made me realize how much I had grown in my role.
Domino Data Lab’s enterprise machine learning operations platform is designed to accelerate the development and deployment of data science work, helping organizations develop better medicines, grow more productive crops and more.
What originally attracted you to Domino Data Lab, and what has kept you here as you’ve grown in your career?
I was drawn to Domino by the prospect of tackling complex challenges for our public-sector clients and exploring how AI/ML could accelerate mission-critical use cases. I wanted to dive deeper into the field and be at the forefront of industry innovation. What has kept me here, however, is the culture. Working alongside such a deeply motivated team is incredibly inspiring. No matter their role or how busy their schedules are, people here are always willing to lend a hand and support one another’s growth.
“No matter their role or how busy their schedules are, people here are always willing to lend a hand and support one another’s growth.”
How have you grown or developed professionally during your time at Domino Data Lab?
My time at Domino has transformed how I approach AI/ML, shifting my lens from a purely technical standpoint to a broader business and strategic one. The startup environment naturally demands a high degree of responsibility and autonomy. Having the freedom to truly own my work has allowed me to mature as both an individual contributor and a leader. Furthermore, collaborating with diverse clients at varying stages of their AI journeys has shaped my perspective, allowing me to approach high-level conversations strategically and design use cases that genuinely excite our partners.
Can you share a moment, project or experience that made you realize how much you’ve grown in your role?
My growth at Domino has been multifaceted, so it’s hard to share just one. My realization of technical growth came when I had the privilege of speaking at the Geospatial Intelligence Foundation’s 2026 conference on Autonomous Geospatial Knowledge Graphs. Presenting complex technical content that defense leaders could take back to optimize their organizations was an incredible milestone, and it cemented my place as a thought leader in the field. My realization of growth from a functional standpoint came when I was tapped to lead our forward deployed engineering arm. It was a validation of my ability to translate complex business problems into exciting technical solutions. This role has taken me to various customer offices to sit down with executive leadership and listen to how they view AI in the context of broader global impact. Being in those rooms, advising top-tier leaders, is a clear reflection of how much I’ve grown since day one.
Golden Hippo builds and operates health and wellness brands for both humans and their pets.
What originally attracted you to Golden Hippo, and what has kept you here as you’ve grown in your career?
I applied for a video editor position through Craigslist back in 2016. Honestly, I was just looking for an editing job with good benefits. My English wasn’t very strong at the time since it’s my second language. I think the fact that my main focus has always been telling stories through visuals actually worked in my favor.
How have you grown or developed professionally during your time at Golden Hippo?
I’ve never really been interested in titles. I’ve always been interested in the blank spaces and the opportunities. Every role I’ve had here started as a blank space. There wasn’t a creative director. There wasn’t a VP of creative. As the company grew, I kept seeing opportunities where creativity could make a bigger impact.
“As the company grew, I kept seeing opportunities where creativity could make a bigger impact.”
Instead of asking, “Whose job is this?” I usually found myself thinking, “Someone has to build this if we want to keep growing.”
So I’d raise my hand, figure it out, and build it alongside the incredible team at Ad Creative Team. Looking back, that’s probably been the biggest theme of my career.
Can you share a moment, project or experience that made you realize how much you’ve grown in your role?
The best part hasn’t been my own growth. It’s been watching the people around me win! (Launching winning ads, earning “Win of the Year,” leading celebrity shoots and editing amazing Video Sales Letters).
At the end of the day, winning ads come and go. What lasts are the people behind them. Great people continue to raise the bar long after the ads are gone.
If my career has taught me anything, it’s that some of the best opportunities aren’t the ones you’re given — they’re the ones you create.
Terakeet is an owned asset optimization partner for Fortune 500 companies dedicated to helping brands reach consumers as they search for solutions.
What originally attracted you to Terakeet, and what has kept you here as you’ve grown in your career?
After graduating from college with a leadership and management degree, I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do or what industry I wanted to work in. Terakeet was one of the only local Syracuse companies offering a fun and inviting work environment. I knew a few people who already worked there, and they spoke highly of the work and mission they were on. I guess you can say the rest is history. Twelve years later, I’m proud to say that I’ve worked in multiple departments, grown my career, helped create processes, supported multiple company shifts and won the company Chili Cook-Off two years in a row. In all seriousness, an important piece of what has kept me at Terakeet is the people. We spend one-third of our lives at work, so the people you work with matter. It’s pretty special to be able to work with people you consider your friends.
“It’s pretty special to be able to work with people you consider your friends.”
How have you grown or developed professionally during your time at Terakeet?
Everything about me has grown and developed because of my time at Terakeet. I became an adult at Terakeet, so my time here is truly an important piece of who I am today. I learned how to be a professional. I learned how to communicate with people, especially executives and Fortune 500 leaders. I learned how hard work can turn into advancement. I learned how crucial teamwork is. I learned how important work-life balance is.
Can you share a moment, project or experience that made you realize how much you’ve grown in your role?
There are a few projects that come to mind, but honestly, what makes me beam with pride most is being described as the “the best of the best” to a client by my co-workers. It has made me realize how much I’ve grown in my role as a strategy director, and that the people I work with think this highly of me and my work.
Established in 2021, firsthand Health Inc supports individuals living with serious mental and physical illnesses by helping them connect with peer support, social benefits and community resources, and care providers.
What originally attracted you to firsthand Health, and what has kept you here as you’ve grown in your career?
What originally attracted me to firsthand was its mission and its commitment to helping individuals live their best possible lives. I was drawn to the opportunity to work alongside individuals living with serious mental illness and help them overcome barriers to care through trust, compassion and genuine human connection.
What has kept me connected to firsthand is the people and the opportunity to grow without losing sight of that mission. I began as a community resource guide, later became a senior community resource guide and eventually returned to the company as a training specialist. Even though my role has changed, I’m still contributing to the same purpose, now by preparing and supporting the team members who work directly with the individuals we serve.
How have you grown or developed professionally during your time at firsthand Health?
My time at firsthand has helped me recognize that my ability to support people extends beyond direct service. As a community resource guide and senior community resource guide, I strengthened my skills in relationship-building, problem-solving, advocacy and navigating complex situations. I also began mentoring team members, supporting onboarding and sharing practices that helped others feel more confident in their roles.
Those experiences helped me discover a passion for learning and development. In my current role as a training specialist, I’m developing new skills in facilitation, instructional design, learner engagement and evaluating whether training is effective. I’ve grown from focusing primarily on how I can help one individual at a time to thinking about how I can equip an entire team to create meaningful impact.
“I’ve grown from focusing primarily on how I can help one individual at a time to thinking about how I can equip an entire team to create meaningful impact.”
Can you share a moment, project or experience that made you realize how much you’ve grown in your role?
Returning to firsthand as a training specialist was the moment that made my growth feel especially clear. I was coming back to help prepare new hires for work that I had once performed myself. I could anticipate the questions new team members might have, explain the realities of the role and connect training concepts to situations I had personally encountered in the field. It was a full-circle moment: I was no longer only applying what I had learned to my own work but was also helping others build the confidence and skills to do theirs well. That experience showed me that my growth could have a ripple effect across the organization and, ultimately, reach the individuals we serve.
Dealerware’s platform is designed to help car dealerships streamline their operations and enhance fleet management.
What originally attracted you to Dealerware, and what has kept you here as you’ve grown in your career?
I have always been a car enthusiast ever since I was a little girl, but I had no perspective of the automotive industry and the massive machine that it is. In college, I was navigating the concept of a lifelong career and what that may look like. I was introduced to someone with a long history in automotive, and she became my mentor, guiding me into the light of the automotive industry. She helped me realize automotive was definitely what I wanted to do. She worked at Dealerware, and I bugged her about it all the time. When an office manager internship came up, she called me and said, “Hey, we just posted this job. You should apply.” And that’s exactly what I did.
Dealerware has always felt like a family. I’ve been very supportive in whatever journey I’ve ever wanted to take. It never felt like the ceiling was too low. As an intern, I made it clear I was here to learn and soak up as much knowledge as I could, and my manager created opportunities for me to shadow individual teams. That feeling of openness never went away. It still feels like that today. If I’m confused, I can go sit in on an engineering meeting, and everyone’s supportive and willing to help me understand.
“As an intern, I made it clear I was here to learn and soak up as much knowledge as I could, and my manager created opportunities for me to shadow individual teams.”
How have you grown or developed professionally during your time at Dealerware?
I started as an intern doing office management. At first, it was this super daunting idea, but it became so much more than a typical office management role. It was really fun, but I quickly wanted more; I wanted to get my hands dirty.
Eventually, I became part of our customer support team. I wasn’t excited about it at first, but it ended up being the role that really transformed me into who I am professionally. It’s the epitome of all the knowledge I currently have, and I think it’s probably one of the hardest jobs at Dealerware. I really appreciate everything I learned. It made me into a sharp tool that can be put into any scenario quickly.
About nine months in, I knew I could solve any problem, and I was ready to be more customer-facing to talk to dealers more. My manager was super supportive of my growth and made it abundantly clear that was what she was there for. After months of those conversations, I finally had the opportunity to apply to the customer success manager team, which was my goal from the beginning. I got it, and it was really fulfilling as an individual to finally reach the role I always envisioned myself in. And that’s what I’m currently doing.
Can you share a moment, project or experience that made you realize how much you’ve grown in your role?
During my time in the support role, there were moments in phone calls where customers would say, “Oh, it’s you, Halle — thank goodness I got you.” That was so fulfilling. It highlighted the relationship aspect, which I always knew I was good at. They remembered my name, even if I didn’t remember who they were. Those calls fueled me. Hearing someone say, “This was so incredibly helpful,” after I walked them through something simple. It could completely change their entire day.
But getting the call about being promoted to customer success manager was the moment. The CSM manager at the time called from a number I didn’t have saved, and I declined it four times. She finally texted me, “This is Jaime. You have to answer my phone call.” I immediately called her, and she said, “You got the job.” That was the most flying-high moment. I was like, this is literally the goal. This was the role where I’d really said, “I don’t know how I’m gonna get there, but that’s it.” It took me about a week to stop crying regularly. It was surreal. That had been my entire goal since I started as an intern.
