Abeer Thompson adjusted the last piece of artwork so it was level and stepped back to see how it looked.
“That was just one of the little ancillary pieces around the apartment,” recalled Thompson. “I was helping with some of the finishing touches, but we got to remodel the entire apartment.”
Thompson is the director of partner engineering and operations at Q2. The reason Thompson was hanging artwork on that particular afternoon was because she and some Austin-based colleagues were volunteering with an organization called LifeWorks — a nonprofit that helps meet the needs of youth who are experiencing homelessness.
“The leader on my team is actually very passionate about LifeWorks,” said Thompson. “He organized the opportunity through our Q2 Spark volunteer initiative. He shared a request throughout Q2 with a wish list of items.”
The wish list had everything from furniture to smaller items like oven mitts or pots and pans. The Q2 team took all of the items collected and set up a new apartment through LifeWorks’ housing program for young adults experiencing homelessness.
“The entire wish list was gone within a day,” Thompson said enthusiastically. “It was so incredible how much support we got from all across Q2.”
Thompson was part of the volunteer team in Austin who set everything up for a young woman and her child to walk in and immediately call the space home.
“Doing that was one of the most rewarding things ever,” she added. “We got to be there when this young woman came in with her child to see the apartment. She was over the moon and speechless. It was a really, really cool thing that we were able to do.”
The day with LifeWorks is just one example of the volunteer work that employees at Q2 are able to both initiate and take part in.
“To see the support that we got from across Q2 for this family’s new home was really amazing,” added Thompson.
What Does Q2 Do?
Q2 provides digital transformation solutions for financial services, serving banks, credit unions, alternative finance companies and fintechs in the United States and internationally. Q2 enables its financial institution and fintech customers to provide comprehensive, data-driven digital engagement solutions for consumers, small businesses and corporate clients.
Philanthropy Builds Community
In 2023, Q2 employees volunteered more than 10,300 hours. Q2 is celebrating its 20th birthday in 2024 and has set an ambitious goal to collectively volunteer 20,000 hours throughout the year. Giving back is at the heart of Q2 and in 2021 the company launched its corporate social responsibility program, Q2 Spark.
“I had the opportunity to participate in a Q2 Spark event hosted in Bengaluru, India,” said Software Development Manager Adwait Srivastava. “Alongside my colleagues, I contributed to assembling stationery kits to support children assisted by Samarthanam Trust, ensuring they had essential school supplies. It was inspiring to see our collective effort make a direct impact on educational opportunities for these children.”
Within Q2 Spark is an initiative called Q2 Philanthropy Fund, which is how the company provides grants to nonprofit organizations. Q2 employees are hands-on in the grant process — a committee of team members reviews nominations and selects the recipients.
In 2023, Q2 employee and corporate donations totaled more than $1.3 million to philanthropic organizations worldwide.
Spending time in-person at the Q2 Austin headquarters means spending time in the community as well — whether that is volunteering or seeing a soccer match at the Q2 Stadium. The company holds the naming rights for the 20,738 capacity stadium in Austin where the Austin FC, a Major League Soccer team, plays.
Greg Keller, an HR business partner at Q2, also shared how he was able to volunteer with an organization called Carrying Hope. He and other Q2 employees spent the day packing backpacks for kids entering emergency foster care.
“That specific foster care process is done so quickly that the kids can basically arrive on doorsteps with nothing but the clothes on their back,” said Keller. “Carrying Hope provides them with backpacks full of items that they would need for the first 24 to 48 hours in a new home.”
The bags include everything from entertainment to clothes, shoes, toothbrushes and more. Keller and his team spent time also writing cards of encouragement to the kids and thank you cards to the foster families.
“It opened up my eyes to the fact that this was even an issue,” added Keller. “I just assumed that they have this stockpile of supplies that the government would give the kids, but it sounds like that’s not necessarily the case. So it was touching to hear from the founders, two moms who saw that there was a need, and they took it upon themselves to do something about it.”
Philanthropic- and Community-Focused
These programs and initiatives are a few of the many ways Q2 promotes community involvement:
- Q2 Spark — Q2 team members give their time, talent, resources and expertise to impact our communities, customers and one another through Q2 Spark, Q2’s corporate social responsibility program.
- Q2 Philanthropy Fund — the Q2 Philanthropy Fund makes it easier and more accessible for non-profit organizations to apply for grants from Q2.
- Q2 Stadium and Austin FC Partnership — This partnership helps Q2 dig deeper roots in the Austin community while giving back through initiatives such as Q-mmunity Gives and Dream Starter, which both support underserved communities in Central Texas.
- Dodgeball for Charity — Q2 employees take part in an annual charity dodgeball tournament at the Q2 Stadium. In 2023 the tournament raised $125,000 for Breakthrough T1D.
- Annual Circle of Awesomeness Celebration — Q2 team members nominate high-performing colleagues across the organization to receive special recognition, cool rewards and professional development opportunities.
- Q2 Premier League — called QPL by employees, this cricket tournament is hosted by the Q2 team in Bangalore, India and raises funds for nonprofits in the Bangalore community.
The Perks of Hybrid Work at Q2
Volunteer time is not only a big part of the culture at Q2 but is also a huge perk of coming back into the office after the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic for employees. Like many companies, Q2 now works on a hybrid schedule that provides ample support and flexibility for teammates.
For employees like Keller, being in a hybrid work environment provides a good balance between working efficiently and having quiet time as an introvert.
“For me, it’s so much easier to get answers to my questions,” he said. “If I can just pop up and look a few cubes down and get an answer, it’s more efficient than sending an email, sending a reminder and waiting for that person to answer me.”
The shift to a hybrid work model provided employees like Keller with opportunities to expand their communication with each other, build relationships and experience a profound sense of energy during those in-person days.
Why Hybrid Works for Srivastava
Bengaluru, India-based Srivastava shares three key reasons why he appreciates Q2’s hybrid work model:
- Balanced Work-Life Integration: “The hybrid model allows me to better manage personal commitments while maintaining productivity and engagement at work.”
- Structured Routine: “Having designated office days helps maintain a structured work routine, which enhances productivity and focus on team goals.”
- Creativity and Innovation: “The blend of in-person and remote work encourages creative thinking and innovation by providing diverse work environments and perspectives.”
“I consider myself an introvert, but there is something to be said about the energy you get from being around people,” he added. “That has been helpful.”
Thompson has worked at Q2 for over seven years, during which she left and came back. She noted that her first years working at Q2 were entirely in-person, so the shift to hybrid after the pandemic was a welcome adjustment for her.
“I am very social,” she said, smiling. “And I really needed that option to come into the office. I’m actually here four to five days a week now — not because anyone’s forcing me, but because that’s my preference. In the height of Covid, my days would just blend together and last forever.”
She added that being in a small home in the city means that her and her husband share an office, which can be distracting.
“It’s better for me to take that break, come into the office itself, and have that total focus on what’s going on here.”
Hybrid Perks at Q2
- Generous paid time off
- Time away to volunteer
- Lifestyle Spending Accounts
- Robust health and wellness benefits
- Lunch, snacks and drinks provided in office
In-Person Efficiency Wins the Game
Keller noted that one project in particular would have looked very different if he was not able to work in-person with his teammates: annual compensation planning.
“Being in HR, the annual compensation reviews, that’s our Super Bowl — and it’s hard to play in the Super Bowl remotely,” he shared. “That’s the biggest project that we have every year.”
Part of what Keller has to do during annual compensation planning is actively work with a lot of different managers to compile their compensation recommendations, send those numbers “up the chain” for approval, receive any edits, then adjust and start the process over again.
“It’s just a very busy day, as you’re constantly talking with various people and making sure that everyone is aligned,” he said.
He recalled how doing this same type of project at another company during the pandemic was significantly harder.
“This was so much smoother than being remote,” he laughed. “Because, undoubtedly, things change very quickly throughout that entire process. So you need to be able to adapt, you need to be agile — being in-person and hearing those changes real time allowed me to do my job better. It made for fewer errors, fewer mistakes.”
In managing software developers, Srivastava also values in-person time with his team.
“The hybrid model has proven invaluable in managing my team effectively,” he said, noting that onboarding new team members with in-person training has ensured a smoother integration into projects, and reallocating resources between projects has been improved with the in-person days of the hybrid model. “It allows me to provide necessary guidance and input to team members before they transition to new assignments, ensuring continuity and efficiency in project execution.”
Like volunteering in the community, these examples of the hybrid model’s importance are a perfect snapshot of Q2 values being put into action.
“One of our guiding principles is integrity and doing the right thing, even when no one is looking,” said Keller.
He explained that a common fear associated with remote work is wondering if the team is really working and giving 100 percent.
“I’ve never been scared of someone not doing what they are supposed to when they are not physically here,” he concluded. “I think that really speaks to the culture that we’ve instilled here. Everyone here really wants to do the right thing. Everyone here really wants to support the mission of the company. Everyone wants to strengthen the community.”
