Inside the Culture of Recognition: Our Visit to Achievers
HLOs: 
This article is written by: Jensi Patel (LinkedIn) and Bhagyashri Sisodia (LinkedIn) 4th year students in the Digital Business Management BComm program at Humber Polytechnic.
On October 8th, our Product Management class got the chance to step outside the classroom and explore how technology, culture, and recognition come together to make people feel valued at work. We visited Achievers, a Toronto-based company known for its employee recognition and engagement platform, and it was truly a fantastic experience.
We started the day with a walkthrough of the platform by Chris Fudge (LinkedIn), the Chief Marketing Officer. Right from the start, it was clear that Achievers is built around three foundational pillars: productivity, engagement, and recognition. Chris emphasized that recognizing employees isn’t just about making people feel good; it has a tangible impact on business outcomes. Even small gestures of appreciation can make a huge difference in how connected employees feel to their work and, in turn, to the company’s overall performance.
One example shared was about a major airline that faced delays because employees often took longer to close aircraft doors, which disrupted flight schedules. To address this, the company implemented the Achievers recognition platform to reward ground staff who consistently closed gates on time. Instead of relying on pressure or strict rules, they used positive reinforcement, recognizing and celebrating employees who contributed to improved punctuality. This simple initiative motivated teams to work more efficiently, fostered friendly competition, and made staff feel valued for their efforts. As a result, the airline achieved faster gate closures, better coordination, and overall improvements in on-time flight performance.
This exemplifies how effective product management focuses on understanding user behavior and designing solutions that motivate positive action. It shows that the best products don’t force change; they inspire it through thoughtful, user-centered design. It was interesting to see how something as simple as praise could translate into better operations and stronger results.
Watching how Achievers designs its platform around employee engagement and recognition reminded me that successful products start with a deep understanding of their users’ needs. The “employee” is their end-user, and everything from GIF integrations to redeemable points is designed to make the experience enjoyable and meaningful.
We also had the chance to meet Lauren Mahmoud (LinkedIn) and Alexa Shtun (LinkedIn), two Humber grads from our own Digital Business Management program who are now thriving at Achievers.
Lauren shared her journey of continuing her studies at McMaster University after Humber. She shared a vulnerable moment where she mentioned how hesitant she was at first when it came to deciding the direction of her work. Just one eye-opening conversation with her leader, Chris, encouraged her to pursue what she was truly passionate about: video production. Her story was a reminder to follow your own path, take chances, and communicate what you really want.
Alexa, now an Implementation Manager, oversees the early adoption of the Achievers platform by clients. She spoke about how hands-on our Product Management class is and encouraged us to take advantage of every opportunity that comes our way, whether in class or beyond. It was wonderful meeting both Lauren and Alexa, who reflected what success can look like after Humber. It was genuinely inspiring to see how far our alumni have gone.
After the talks, we got an office tour that gave us a closer look at Achievers’ work environment. We visited the sales department, marketing and branding teams, cafeteria, and even the boardroom where all the high-stakes decisions are made. One thing that caught my attention was the TV screens in the sales area displaying a leaderboard of employees who had completed the most client calls. Each name had a fun GIF beside it showing how they felt about their progress, perfectly mirroring the Achievers platform’s own design, where users can recognize each other with messages and GIFs.
The workspace had a creative energy to it. Their open meeting area replicated a similar space at Google HQ, making it conducive to collaboration and idea-sharing. The breakroom had sketch-boards and markers beside each table, something Chris said, helps capture ideas when they strike unexpectedly. It was a notable reminder of the product iteration mindset, where ideas can come from anywhere and are always evolving. That’s a huge part of being a great product manager.
Before wrapping up, Chris shared something that really stuck with me. He said that what makes his role truly fulfilling is knowing that he helps employees feel how they deserve to be treated. Such a simple but powerful statement, and one that perfectly sums up what Achievers stands for. It showed that for product managers, building with empathy for both their users and their teams is essential.
To top it all off, we met Scott Landers (LinkedIn), the CEO of Achievers. He gave us a deeper overview of the platform and answered questions about topics like data security, financial models, and future trends in employee engagement. One point that really resonated with me was when he said that employee engagement is no longer a “nice-to-have” but a “must-have.” It’s something that defines the success of modern organizations today.
- Effort > Outcome. What matters most is consistency, recognising and repeating the good stuff until it becomes part of your company’s DNA.
- Recognition makes everyone better. It’s not always about a raise; it’s about being seen, valued, and heard, even for something as small as setting up a meeting.
- High-frequency recognition = faster growth. Because at the end of the day, a company is its people.
- Have a mission. Whether it’s making employees feel valued or helping others do the same, purpose keeps everything moving forward.
- Play to strengths. Scott (the CEO) talked about how crucial it is to place people where they thrive and to appreciate every small win along the way.
- Align passion with work. Chris shared a story about Lauren, who loved photography. He found a way to tie that passion into the business, giving her space to create and contribute in a way that truly mattered. That stuck with us.
As always, a huge thank you to Hanadi Alnawab for organizing this experience. It was one of those days that reminded me how much learning can happen beyond the classroom. Seeing how our lessons connect to real companies, real roles, and real people made me even more excited about the kind of impact we can make after Humber.
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