Culture Matters

I recently finished the book “Bad Blood” by John Carreyrou about the insanity of the fraudulent Silicon Valley start-up, Theranos. It’s a great, fast read that I couldn’t put down. I encourage everyone to read it if for no other reason than to see how even the most accomplished, worldly people can have the wool pulled over their eyes.

While there are many lessons to be learned from this book, one is foremost in my mind: corporate culture matters. At Theranos, anyone who voiced a concern, be they an employee or board member, was considered to not be a “team player”. Persisting caused shunning and unemployment. Sycophants were promoted. By surrounding herself with “yes men”, company founder Elizabeth Holmes had free reign to lie to customers, investors, and authorities without fear of her company’s reality being discovered.

I am so thankful to work for a company that spends lots of time and effort to foster an open, ethical culture. I am not afraid to express my opinion or ask tough questions. I can walk into the office of Randy Hansen, Centennial’s President, to ask a question or voice a concern without fear of reprisal.

More importantly, our clients can feel assured that Centennial operates with openness and integrity toward the common goal of exceeding your expectations through outstanding service. To me, this focus will be beneficial for years to come.