Why Gen Z Is Thriving At Athena
Between our robust internship program and early-career analyst opportunities, Athena has become a place where young people are not only starting their careers but skyrocketing into them. Here’s why:
Opportunities to learn:
From more traditional learning opportunities to strong mentorship and support systems, Gen Z wants to invest in development, not just productivity.
Gen Z knows and believes in the “it takes a village” mindset, especially in the workplace. Young jobseekers don’t just want to check boxes or only be valued for productivity, especially not with AI on the rise. They’re looking for investment from their coworkers and company to develop their potential beyond their starting role. “I feel so supported in building new skills and finding new opportunities both on my team and beyond,” says Sarah Linkenhoker, Manager, “The culture ultimately backs that…nothing else matters unless you have a good team behind you.”
Between internal learning networks, a Lunch & Learn series featuring guest speakers, professional association memberships, employee-led interest groups, and a strong support system from management, Athena employees find they are encouraged to grow in every phase of their careers.
Ian Woodruff started at Athena as an intern and transitioned to full-time after graduating college. He’s now been with the company for five years, rising through the ranks to Senior Manager. But he’s not the only one who’s seen growth on his team. “I’ve had the same manager in the five years I’ve been here, and we’ve both grown and gotten promoted in respect to each other. Having that consistent person who knows me well is pretty unique.”
Purpose-driven work:
Getting a paycheck and “exposure” is the bare minimum. Young people want to see that their employers have a clear mission and stick to it.
“Honesty, integrity, respect, and trust are important in any healthy organization, but they are table stakes — our values run deeper than that,” says Maggy Wilkinson, CEO. The values Athena upholds, like community mindset, commitment to growth, and a bold spirit, are felt through every project the company touches. Gen Z notices.
As a women-owned company based in Philadelphia, giving back to the community and uplifting other female voices in the workplace are core to Athena’s work and are translated into the work environment. From supporting non-profit clients like City Year Philadelphia and Conferences for Women, Gen Z employees find no shortage of meaningful work to drive them.
Chris Vachow, Manager, has been able to observe the outcomes of Athena’s commitment to its culture firsthand. “There’s a lot of intention from leadership to continue the culture that’s been a core part of the company for a long time. Since I started here as an intern, we’ve almost doubled in size if not more. But despite all this growth, the core culture has not only remained but expanded,” says Vachow.
“You are encompassed into the entire Athena ecosystem, and that really stands apart,” shares Linkenhoker.
Authentic connection:
Face time with coworkers and transparency in leadership matters.
Wilkinson believes in transparency, between holding weekly all-staff meetings and engaging with staff on social media (here’s one we did together). As a result, open communication has become part of Athena’s bread and butter, making it an attractive place to work for Gen Z.
Vachow transitioned from being an Athena intern to a full-time employee at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of the isolation that many people experienced in the workplace during the pandemic, Vachow found himself feeling just as connected as before. “It was a good example of the support systems they had in place. Maggy [Wilkinson] put an emphasis on having a daily call with everyone in the company, so there was still a place to offer updates and meet people that work at the company,” he recalls. “Even though I was starting remote I still got to see people’s faces, I still got to know them, and I never felt disconnected from the organization.”
So, if you’re a recent grad or just starting your career, you don’t need to worry about landing a unicorn off the bat. What you do need is a place that will support you — all of you — and provide a launch pad for the rest of your career.
Try us on for size. https://apply.workable.com/athena-global-advisors/
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