What do big companies like Amazon, Apple, and Zappos have in common?
They’ve made headlines for not only their products and services, but also for their strong company culture.
Due to the demand for transparency and authenticity, there's a growing attention on company culture and employee engagement. And while you can measure culture, it’s easier to experience than describe.
To help put the importance of company culture into words, we look to those who have already said it best. Let us know which of the following 20 company culture quotes below from business leaders, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs sparks inspiration for you.
Inspiring Company Culture Quotes
If you are lucky enough to be someone’s employer, then you have a moral obligation to make sure people do look forward to coming to work in the morning.
— John Mackey, CEO Whole Foods
Always treat your employees exactly as you want them to treat your best customers.
— Stephen R. Covey, Author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Until I came to IBM, I probably would have told you that culture was just one among several important elements in any organization's makeup and success — along with vision, strategy, marketing, financials, and the like... I came to see, in my time at IBM, that culture isn't just one aspect of the game, it is the game. In the end, an organization is nothing more than the collective capacity of its people to create value.
— Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., Former CEO of IBM
I think as a company, if you can get those two things right — having a clear direction on what you are trying to do and bringing in great people who can execute on the stuff — then you can do pretty well.
– Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook
The way I think about culture is that modern humans have radically changed the way that they work and the way that they live. Companies need to change the way they manage and lead to match the way that modern humans actually work and live. We're trying to re-craft culture in a way that really matches that. I think that 99% of companies are kind of stuck in the '90s when it comes to their culture.
— Brian Halligan, CEO of HubSpot
Determine what behaviors and beliefs you value as a company, and have everyone live true to them. These behaviors and beliefs should be so essential to your core, that you don’t even think of it as culture.”
– Brittany Forsyth, VP of Human Relations, Shopify
There are only three measurements that tell you nearly everything you need to know about your organization's overall performance: employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and cash flow. It goes without saying that no company, small or large, can win over the long run without energized employees who believe in the mission and understand how to achieve it.
— Jack Welch, Former CEO of GE
You need the right people with you, not the best people.
– Jack Ma, Chinese philanthropist
Research indicates that workers have three prime needs: Interesting work, recognition for doing a good job, and being let in on things that are going on in the company.
— Zig Ziglar, Author, salesman, and motivational speaker
A hallmark of a healthy creative culture is that its people feel free to share ideas, opinions, and criticisms. Lack of candor, if unchecked, ultimately leads to dysfunctional environments.
— Ed Catmull, President of Pixar
Our belief is that if you get the culture right, most of the other stuff, like great customer service or building a great long-term brand, or empowering passionate employees and customers will happen on its own.
– Tony Hsieh, Zappos CEO
Why is culture so important to a business? Here is a simple way to frame it. The stronger the culture, the less corporate process a company needs. When the culture is strong, you can trust everyone to do the right thing.
— Brian Chesky, Co-founder and CEO of Airbnb
Great things in business are never done by one person.They're done by a team of people.
– Steve Jobs, Founder & CEO of Apple
When people are financially invested, they want a return. When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute.
– Simon Sinek, Author, motivational speaker, and marketing consultant
Employees who believe that management is concerned about them as a whole person — not just an employee — are more productive, more satisfied, more fulfilled. Satisfied employees mean satisfied customers, which leads to profitability.
— Anne M. Mulcahy, CEO of Xerox
The only thing we have is one another. The only competitive advantage we have is the culture and values of the company. Anyone can open up a coffee store. We have no technology, we have no patent. All we have is the relationship around the values of the company and what we bring to the customer every day. And we all have to own it.
– Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks
Company culture is the backbone of any successful organization.
– Gary Vaynerchuk, Entrepreneur, author, speaker
Hire great people and give them freedom to be awesome.
– Andrew Mason, Founder, Groupon
Connect the dots between individual roles and the goals of the organization. When people see that connection, they get a lot of energy out of work. They feel the importance, dignity, and meaning in their job.
– Ken Blanchard and Scott Blanchard, Fast Company
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.
– Aristotle
Browsing inspiring employee engagement and company culture is a perfect way to motivate yourself and your team, but it's just the starting point in your journey. Make sure to check out our blogs and other resources about employee engagement and company culture to start exploring how you can up your culture, improve revenue, and grow your business! 
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