Built In’s 20 Companies to Watch This Summer

As the summer heat swells across the country, something else is steadily rising. 

Ambition. 

It’s the driving force behind many of the nation’s top companies, fueling their efforts to achieve grand business goals. These goals, though disparate, reflect a wider commitment to bettering the world through powerful technology and cultures that give team members the support they need to pursue progress. 

For instance, as Pfizer aims to push the boundaries of scientific research, it also ensures its people have what they need to succeed, whether that’s generous PTO or childcare benefits. Meanwhile, at John Deere, team members have the freedom to leverage some of the industry's latest technologies as they strive to build a more sustainable future for agriculture. 

For the following companies, the start of a new season heralds a surge of innovation — and a gamut of exciting open roles. Learn what makes these 20 companies ones to watch this summer. 

 

 

PwC is a professional services firm that works with clients across a wide range of industries, such as energy, banking and healthcare. The firm’s specialties include digital assets and cryptocurrency, generative AI and cybersecurity. 

In the News: Earlier this year, the firm released an online statement regarding its accelerated adoption of AI and ChatGPT in the United States and United Kingdom. In the statement, technology leaders for both regions described how the firm plans to give its U.S. and UK customers access to the latest version of ChatGPT in addition to enterprise-grade security and privacy. 

 

 

Headquartered in Chicago, Mondelēz International is a multinational confectionery, food and beverage company. Some of the company’s brands include Cadbury, Clif, Belvita and Honey Maid. 

In the News: Earlier this year, the company announced the opening of its Regional Biscuit and Baked Snacks Lab and Innovation Kitchen in Singapore. In a press release, Executive VP and President AMEA Deepak Iyer described the impact of this inaugural event, stating, “Through collaborative efforts, we aim to create a dynamic space where creative ideas can flourish and contribute to the development of new innovative products for our consumers.” 

 

 

Founded in 1999, BAE Systems is an aerospace, defense and security company that develops a wide range of products for organizations within these sectors. The company creates solutions for civil and commercial space agencies, the U.S. military and other entities. 

In the News: According to a Built In report, BAE Systems acquired Ball Aerospace earlier this year, adding space, science and defense capabilities to its portfolio through a new business called Space & Mission Systems. With this acquisition, the company added over 5,200 U.S.-based employees. 

 

 

 

Established in 1848, Pfizer is dedicated to discovering, developing and delivering medicines to prevent, treat and cure health conditions and diseases. Some of the organization’s specialties include gene therapy, precision medicine and immunizations. 

In the News: Earlier this year, the company announced that Dr. Andrew Baum would be joining its team as chief strategy and innovation officer and executive vice president. In a press release, Pfizer Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Albert Bourla shared his excitement about the news, stating, “I am delighted to welcome Andrew to Pfizer where he will be an important thought partner for me and my leadership team as we continue to advance impactful vaccines and therapies that deliver value for patients, health systems and shareholders.”

 

 

CrowdStrike’s AI-native platform offers enterprises protection from cyber attacks. The platform provides real-time visibility, detection and protection against all types of identity-based attacks, powering a wide range of services, including cloud security assessments, real-life simulation exercises and endpoint recovery. 

In the News: According to VentureBeat, the company recently launched advanced security information and event management to power AI-native security operations centers. Heightening SIEM capabilities is intended to help SOC teams optimize their time so they can more effectively fight against cyber criminals. 

 

 

In an effort to “improve the quality of life for people around the world,” Arrow Electronics helps technology manufacturers and service providers source, build and launch products. The company’s capabilities include warehousing and inventory management, market intelligence, design engineering and data security. 

In the News: Earlier this year, the company announced its decision to sign a new distribution agreement with Broadcom for VMware solutions covering 20 European countries. In a press release, Nick Bannister, president of the company’s enterprise computing solutions business in EMEA, elaborated upon the significance of this decision, stating, “As a VMware distributor for 20 years and the exclusive Symantec cybersecurity aggregator for Broadcom in Europe, we are excited to continue our relationship and play a crucial role in VMware’s new go-to-market approach.” 

 

 

 

Block oversees an ecosystem of brands, which includes Square, Cash App, Spiral, TIDAL and TBD. Through these brands, the organization offers a variety of services, including personal banking and Bitcoin investments, in addition to supporting entrepreneurs and funding open-source Bitcoin projects. 

The Future of Finance: Block Proto Lead Thomas Templeton spoke with Built In late last year to describe how his team developed the company’s new self-custody Bitcoin wallet, Bitkey. Elaborating upon the product’s impact, he shared, “We believe that, in the future of our global, digital economy, customers will demand ownership and control, and thus self-custody wallets will become the norm. It brings peace of mind, reduces dependence on any one company and puts customers in true control of their own money.”

 

 

ZS offers management consulting and technology services to organizations in numerous industries, from pharmaceuticals to financial services. The company’s solutions include digital patient experiences and services, AI transformation, marketing strategy and portfolio strategy and management.

Putting People First: Last year, three ZS team members spoke with Built In to describe how the company takes a human-centric approach to healthtech consulting. “I’ve always believed in ZS’ unique ability to combine the head (data, analytics and technology) and the heart (patient insights, behavioral science and user experience) to solve tough client problems,” said Principal Sharon Karlsberg. “Today, we can help companies create more human-centered and inclusive clinical trials that are better for patients, less expensive for sponsors and ultimately help advance life-saving medicines.”

 

 

Headquartered in Atlanta, Cox Enterprises operates a multinational portfolio of brands spanning the communications, automotive and agricultural industries. The company’s brands include Autotrader, BrightFarms and Mucci Farms. 

In the News: Earlier this year, Cox Enterprises announced that its brand Mucci Farms acquired Hacienda North Farms, which is helping drive the brand’s expansion across North America. In a press release, Cox Farms President Steven Bradley expressed, “This strategic investment underscores our dedication to leading the industry to ensure we meet the evolving needs of consumers. Together, we are committed to scaling operations and enhancing access to sustainably grown produce.”

 

 

 

Since its founding in 2009, Square has evolved its original point-of-sale system into a platform that enables merchants to manage every aspect of their businesses, from paying staff and booking appointments to selling online and offering a “buy now, pay later” option to customers. The company’s software is leveraged by a variety of businesses, such as restaurants, grocery stores and clothing retailers. 

Mission Meets Impact: Square Head of Product for Orders and Checkout Oseyi Ikuenobe spoke with Built In earlier this year to share how a mission-driven mindset enables the company to support not just its customers, but its own business goals. “We are one of the rare businesses that become more successful as our customers grow,” he said. “Our mission to empower sellers to achieve their definition of success helps us to stay focused on solving their challenges versus our own.” 

 

 

Cash App was founded on the premise to “take the pain out of peer-to-peer payments.” The company’s Cash App Card and digital platform enable consumers to bank, send money, invest in Bitcoin, buy stocks and more. 

‘Bitcoin for all’: Three members of the Cash App team spoke with Built In last year to describe how the company is making Bitcoin more approachable and accessible for the everyday consumer. Bitcoin Brand Lead Maria Pesce shared how this effort to humanize Bitcoin comes down to every detail, including the way it’s branded. “I feel like Cash App has a unique essence and flair that makes us as a brand stand out in the financial space,” she said. “Creatively we’re always trying to push visual limits and connect with our customers in an authentic way.”

 

 

Skillsoft’s learning platforms, courses and programs are designed to help enterprises prepare for the future of work and overcome critical skill gaps. The company’s solutions support a wide range of areas, including leadership coaching, coding, employee safety and legal and ethics compliance training. 

Empowering Women: Last year, Built In caught up with three Skillsoft team members to learn how the company strives to help women land leadership roles. Senior Human Capital Management Developer Bindu Vasireddy, who has benefited from this support, described the impact the company has had on her career journey. “Right here at Skillsoft, I can see a lot more women in leadership positions and am looking forward to growing into those management roles myself,” she said. 

 

 

 

Zeta Global’s cloud-based platform is designed to simplify marketing by unifying identity, intelligence and omnichannel activation. The company’s platform leverages AI and consumer signals to help marketers acquire, increase and retain customers more efficiently. 

Support is Essential: Earlier this year, Zeta Global Senior Manager of Employer Brand and Communications Cindy Lee caught up with Built In to describe the company’s approach to supporting its people, which involves dedicated DEI training programs that help instill an inclusive mindset. “These programs foster personal growth and contribute to a more diverse and inclusive work environment where everyone feels valued and respected,” she said.

 

 

Headquartered in Boston, Liberty Mutual Insurance offers property and casualty insurance for both consumers and commercial businesses. The company houses a global innovation lab, Solaria Labs, in which technologists design and test new products, experiences and capabilities. 

Ownership Drives Innovation: Last year, Built In spoke with three technologists at Liberty Mutual Insurance to learn how a focus on product ownership drives innovation. In describing the impact of embracing product ownership, Product Owner III Shauna Landrum shared, “It’s not just about the pieces you’re delivering. It’s about rallying the team around the vision and focusing on the value each product brings to the organization.”

 

 

Established in 1837, John Deere manufactures a broad range of agricultural products, from lawn tractors and mowers to dump trucks and excavators. Leveraging AI and other cutting-edge technologies, the company aims to support infrastructure around the world with efficient, sustainable solutions. 

Shaping a Brighter Future: In an interview with Built In earlier this year, three winners of the John Deere Fellows Award shared the work they’ve done to build a more innovative and sustainable future for agriculture. Kurt Chipperfield, who received the John Deere Advanced Visualization Fellow Award in 2022, expressed that the work he has accomplished has much to do with his peers as it does his own expertise. “I haven’t been alone on this journey,” he said. “A lot of the credit, even for the things that I’ve done, goes to other people I’ve worked with. This really is like a family.”

 

 

 

GRAIL is guided by the mission “to detect cancer early, when it can be cured.” The company has developed several cancer-detection solutions such as the Galleri test, which is a multi-cancer early detection test that can help screen for many deadly cancers that currently lack recommended screening. 

Intertwining Inclusion: Earlier this year, GRAIL Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Rayshawnda Madison caught up with Built In to describe the work she does to help advance the company’s health equity advocacy, noting that the organization’s employee resource groups play a significant role in this effort. “At GRAIL, we target efforts to enhance health equity by decreasing disparities in cancer through broad promotion and equitable access to and use of multi-cancer early detection and emerging technologies,” she said. “The GRAIL ERGs create an environment where employees are better equipped to collaborate and tackle these challenges together.”

 

 

Now a part of Cisco, Duo Security is a multifactor authentication and secure access provider. The company’s mission is to transform security by solving the world’s most pressing geopolitical challenge: safe, secure information access.

Kiss Passwords Goodbye: After acquiring Duo Security in 2018, Cisco introduced Duo passwordless authentication in 2021, enabling enterprise users to skip the password and securely log into cloud applications via security keys or biometrics. In a press release on the company’s website, SVP and GM of Cisco’s Security Business Group Gee Rittenhouse said, “It’s not an overstatement to say that passwordless authentication will have the most meaningful global impact on how users access data by making the easiest path the most secure.” 

 

 

GoHealth aims to improve access to healthcare in the United States through its digital platform. The company’s platform helps consumers find Medicare plans that best fit their needs. 

‘Leaning Into Empathy’: In honor of Pride Month, GoHealth VP of People and Culture Erika Madison Williams caught up with Built In Chicago to describe how the company empowers its LGBTQIA+ team members, which she considers a direct reflection of the culture as a whole. “Leaning into empathy as one of our core values, we strive to create safe spaces where everyone feels comfortable sharing their authentic selves and enriching us with their unique, varied and shared experiences,” she said.

 

 

Founded in 2013, Home Chef offers an online meal kit delivery service as well as in-store meal kits, the latter of which are a product of the company’s merger with The Kroger Company. Consumers can choose from a range of meal kit offerings, from fast, easily prepared meals to oven-ready dishes. 

The secret ingredient: Late last year, Built In caught up with members of Home Chef’s product and engineering teams to learn how they created the company’s new ready-to-heat line of meals, Tempo. Their response? Cross-functional collaboration. “The process was a testament to innovation and our internal culture of ‘let’s just do this,’” shared Senior Director of Special Operations and Projects Jennifer Helms. 

 

 

 

Through TPT’s online marketplace, educators can access a wide range of educational resources. The company’s material, created by educators and for educators, covers material ranging from second-grade math to high-school economics. 

 

 

Inclusion Fuels Empowerment: In an interview with Built In, three members of the TPT team described how the company’s inclusive, hybrid culture has played a major role in its success. “As we relate to each other on a more personal level, our collaboration and shared sense of respect will increase even more,” said Employee Experience Specialist Megan Timpf.