In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, innovation isn’t just a competitive advantage—it’s essential for survival. The most successful organizations understand that breakthrough ideas don’t only come from executive leadership or dedicated R&D teams; they emerge from employees at every level who feel empowered to think creatively and challenge the status quo.
Leading companies are building cultures where innovation thrives by creating safe spaces for experimentation, establishing clear processes for capturing employee ideas, and recognizing creative contributions in meaningful ways. From AI-powered ideation platforms to monthly pitch contests, these organizations are proving that when employees feel heard and valued, extraordinary innovation follows.
Can you share an example of how your company encourages and rewards innovative thinking among employees?
See next question for how Concentrix encourages, gathers, and implements employee feedback and ideas related to Innovation and Continuous Improvements. Through this program, staff are considered for global Innovation Awards and internal/public recognition for the “best” innovation suggestions that were implemented and delivered ROI.
What processes do you have in place to gather and implement employee feedback and ideas?
ThinkCX is a Concentrix program that allows ALL staff to share innovative ideas to improve efficiencies, generate revenue, increase sustainability, and/or promote a better working environment for everyone. Each type of ideation relies on individuals to submit ideas corresponding to a theme aligning to Concentrix’s metrics, goals, and mission.
The tech-led ThinkCX platform supports ideation at three levels:
1. Individual
2. Campaign
3. Geo/Region
ThinkCX provides automated idea filtering using GenAI, full lifecycle capture from ideation through implementation and benefit tracking, multiple workflows, and a modern human-centric design that enables an intuitive easy-to-use interface.
What ThinkCX offers?
1. GenAI Assisted Validation Reviews: GenAI with human in the loop improves review process
2. Role-based action assignment: Allows users with role to action and easier administration
3. Multiple Workflows: New Idea vs Enhancement will help route the idea to the right person or group
4. Enhance UX/UI Experience: Interface is better and intuitive for ease of use and adaption
5. Community driven, social media-inspired: Increasing visibility and engagement
6. Manual Community Creation: Allows focused ideation discussions
7. Idea Evaluation Portal: Selection / Rejection management; GenAI enabled Switchboard Operator during Validation stage
Check out Concentrix’s careers page here!
Can you share an example of how your company encourages and rewards innovative thinking among employees?
A key part of the BFS strategy is focused on driving innovation and continuous improvement. Our team members play a pivotal role in identifying and executing new ideas. The company supports and encourages innovative thinking through multiple avenues. Best practice councils comprised of team members from across the organization and aligned with operational functions have been established to identify, document, and share best practices and new ideas. These teams both represent and work closely with field team members to ensure ideas and proven practices are captured and shared. Best practices that are identified and approved by the various councils are often highlighted through regular corporate communications. The company also occasionally utilizes contests with monthly prize drawings to encourage team members to identify & submit innovative ideas.
What processes do you have in place to gather and implement employee feedback and ideas?
Team members at BFS have multiple options to provide feedback and share ideas. New ideas and proposed processes can be submitted through the various best practice councils or through the BFS productivity leadership council and continuous improvement teams. Suggestions can also be submitted through the company Suggestion Box button predominately displayed on company intranet home page. Lean training programs designed to empower team members with the knowledge to identify opportunities to drive innovation and creative problem solving along with various kaizen events offer team members opportunities to propose new ideas and to test these ideas in a live environment.
Check out the Builders FirstSource careers page here!
Can you share an example of how your company encourages and rewards innovative thinking among employees?
At LexisNexis Legal & Professional, innovation is part of our DNA. With 11,800 employees worldwide—including more than 2,000 technologists, data scientists, and legal experts—we empower every team member, no matter their role, to innovate in ways that improve customer outcomes and advance the rule of law. Our Agile culture encourages experimentation, with safe spaces to test ideas, learn, and grow. Generative AI tools and continuous improvement practices are built into our daily operations, making it easy for employees to innovate and collaborate through channels like Viva Engage, MS Teams, workshops, and webinars.
We also love celebrating great ideas! Our global Spotlight Recognition platform lets peers and leaders instantly recognize colleagues for innovation, problem solving, and going above and beyond, creating a strong sense of belonging and appreciation. At the enterprise level, the RELX Innovation Honour Roll shines a light not only on breakthrough outcomes but also on the creativity and persistence of the people behind them. By recognizing the people, the process, and the result, we inspire employees everywhere to think differently, take risks, and lead the way in legal technology innovation.
What processes do you have in place to gather and implement employee feedback and ideas?
We know innovation thrives when every voice is heard. At LexisNexis, employee feedback is central to how we operate. We run our Employee Opinion Survey three times a year to capture employee insights into what’s working well and where we can improve, and we follow up with clear action plans. We also conduct regular surveys on specific topics like our Ways of Working, so employees can help shape the future of how we collaborate.
In addition to surveys, our innovation channels—such as Viva Engage communities and MS Teams channels—make it easy for employees to share ideas, connect in real time, and collaborate across functions and geographies. These feedback loops create a dynamic culture of learning, sharing, and continuous improvement, ensuring that our people feel heard, valued, and empowered to make a lasting impact.
Check out the LexisNexis Legal & Professional careers page here!
Can you share an example of how your company encourages and rewards innovative thinking among employees?
Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation — it happens when people feel safe to think differently, speak openly, and explore new ideas together. At Classy Llama, we believe that the key to progress lies in building a culture where creative problem-solving isn’t just encouraged — it’s expected.
One of the most powerful ways we foster innovation is by setting a company-wide tone of openness. From day one, employees are invited to share their thoughts, challenge the norm, and bring fresh ideas to the table. We prioritize creating moments where this kind of thinking can naturally happen — whether that’s in a brainstorming session, a team sync, or just a casual conversation where a new perspective might spark a breakthrough.
It’s not just about having ideas — it’s about having an environment where ideas can be explored. That’s why we’ve built a culture where curiosity is rewarded, experimentation is welcomed, and feedback is seen as a tool for growth, not criticism. When people feel heard and respected, they’re far more likely to lean into creative problem-solving.
What processes do you have in place to gather and implement employee feedback and ideas?
Innovation also relies on feedback — the kind that surfaces real opportunities, sparks better strategies, and brings the team closer to our shared goals. To support this, we’ve created consistent, intentional rhythms for two-way communication.
Division leaders hold syncs with their teams to talk through challenges, progress, and potential. On a broader level, we host monthly company-wide check-ins and town hall meetings, where division leaders share updates, walk through strategies, and offer transparency into the work being done across the organization.
These aren’t just updates — they’re conversations. We create space in these meetings for employees to ask questions, voice ideas, and raise concerns. It’s through these channels that some of our best innovations have emerged — not because someone was told to “be creative,” but because they were invited into the process.
At the end of the day, innovation thrives where trust and collaboration are present. By keeping our culture rooted in openness, consistent communication, and shared ownership, we’re building more than a workplace — we’re building a place where better ideas happen, together.
“We hold a simple belief: great ideas can come from anywhere. Cutting ideas is easy; finding the breakthrough is hard—and it starts with generating many, from every level and function. We invite contributions from all, evaluate on merit, and celebrate the unexpected voices that push us forward.” -Paul Ebisch, President of Classy Llama
Check out the Classy Llama careers page here!
Can you share an example of how your company encourages and rewards innovative thinking among employees?
One way we encourage and reward innovative thinking is through our monthly Pitch Contest. Employees are invited to share a brief pitch for a creative idea or concept, which is then judged by a panel of peers. It’s a fun, engaging way for team members to showcase fresh ideas and think outside the box. The winner not only gets bragging rights, but also a mix of exciting prizes: $100, a free car wash, the chance to choose a company lunch, front-of-the-line lunch privileges while wearing the championship belt, and a feature spot on our Pitch Competition Wall of Winners. This initiative creates a culture where innovative ideas are celebrated, and employees are recognized both publicly and tangibly for their creativity.
What processes do you have in place to gather and implement employee feedback and ideas?
We have several processes in place to ensure employee feedback and ideas are heard, valued, and acted upon. As an employee-owned company through our ESOP, we believe every voice matters; whether you’re an intern or an executive, all employees are encouraged to share suggestions and ideas. One way we do this is through our virtual suggestion box, which our CEO personally reviews each week. We also dedicate time in our weekly town hall meetings for live Q&A sessions, giving employees the chance to ask questions and share ideas directly with leadership. In addition, we regularly conduct internal and external surveys, and we host a monthly Pitch Contest where employees can present creative ideas to be recognized and rewarded. These initiatives reflect our values of transparency and innovation, and they ensure employees not only have a voice but also see their input actively shape the company’s direction.