5 minutes with Steven Parker, Limeade Global VP of Customer Success

We think we have a pretty awesome leadership team. Our leaders are creative. They’re visionary. They’re quirky. And we learn so much from them every day. To share what makes this leadership team tick, we kicked off a new Q&A series. Check out our most recent post in this series — an interview with Limeade Global VP of Customer Success, Steven Parker.

What does well-being mean to you?

A customer once told me that the best definition of well-being was simply the real answer to, “How are you?” Many organizations pay great attention to how their things are — the maintenance of their buildings and equipment, the performance of their servers and computers — but don’t share the same care for their most important asset, their people.

When companies genuinely care about their people’s well-being, their people will genuinely care about their company.

What business problem are you most excited about solving?

I love helping companies create a competitive advantage through their people. It makes me sad when I meet executives at organizations who think taking care of their people is something “fluffy” or a “nice to have,” but it also reminds me that not every company can be great — and not every leader will get it. The companies who do invest in their people will always outperform those who don’t, and I’m happy to help show the way to those who truly believe.

What would you name your autobiography?

The Things I Think I Think. I learn a lot every day from the people I work and interact with at every level, but I also have this incredibly hyperbolic way of talking about the things I believe (I hope you see the irony in that statement). I’d want the world to know that I have strong feelings about a lot of topics — I think well-being should be a CEO-level initiative, that benefits teams should care more about creating a great environment than just reducing benefits costs, and that Pluto should be a planet again — but that I am also able to be convinced to think differently if presented with the right argument.

What’s your karaoke song?

“Wanted Dead or Alive” by Bon Jovi. I don’t know of any song that can bring a group of people who don’t know each other together better, especially when I sing “I’m wanted,” and the people watching sing back “wanted!” It’s just…affirming.

What’s the last thing you checked off your bucket list? (And what’s next?)

I like checking things off of other people’s bucket lists with them. When I first met my wife, she wanted to swim with dolphins, jump out of a plane, and own a star. We did all of those things in our first six months together! I loved watching her experience those things that meant so much to her for the first time, and we had a lot of fun together figuring out how to top ourselves with a new bucket list.

What’s on your bucket list, and can I come?

Want to learn more about Limeade leaders? You’ll never guess which leader wanted to be an airline pilot when he was younger. Find out in this next interview.