Today, we hosted a fascinating Lunch & Learn at Reddit’s vibrant San Francisco headquarters with the insightful Michelle Lozzi, Senior Director of Experience. The room was buzzing with energy as People and Experience leaders gathered to learn how one of the world's most community-centric companies designs its own internal culture.

Michelle shared her invaluable perspective on building meaningful connections in the workplace. She emphasized that because we spend so much of our lives at work, people naturally hope to find meaning there. The best experiences, she argued, tap into an employee's desire to be good at what they do and feel impactful.

For those who couldn't make it, and for those who want to reflect on the highlights, here are the core principles that were discussed.

The Core Philosophy: Tying Community to Business Impact

A central theme was the direct link between a thriving internal community and external business success. The discussion moved beyond perks and instead focused on "employee betterment" within a community context. When employees feel connected and valued, that energy drives the business forward.

A powerful example shared was how Reddit’s sales teams can bring clients to certain social events. This not only strengthens the client relationship but also gives the sales team a deeper connection to the impact of their work. In another creative example, the team celebrated user growth by recreating elements from Bravo's "Vanderpump Rules," tying a fun internal event directly to a pop culture moment that had driven engagement on the platform.

Building the Foundation: How Trust Drives Buy-in and Budget

So, how do you get the resources and participation needed to make these events happen? For Michelle, the cornerstone is trust. She explained that her team's budget wasn't built overnight, but grew over her tenure as she built a trusted track record within the company.

This trust extends to employees. To get their buy-in, the Experience team uses the weekly company all-hands meeting as a key communication channel. By showcasing what they are doing and reinforcing that it's for the employees, they build excitement. Showing video recaps and marketing events internally creates a positive sense of FOMO, making sure employees are eager to attend the next one.

From Idea to Reality: A Cross-Functional Process

Michelle detailed the journey from a simple idea to a live event, emphasizing that it's a highly collaborative process. It starts with sourcing ideas directly from employees and getting support from future attendees from the very beginning.

The key, she noted, is the cross-functional piece. Before an idea gets too far, the team asks people from different departments how they would feel about it, poking holes in concepts that aren't quite right. This ensures buy-in is baked in from the start. For recurring events, the team continues to listen, ask questions, and revise to ensure the programs are meeting the evolving needs of their business partners.

Measuring What Matters: A Sense of Belonging

While it can be hard to measure the ROI of culture, Reddit’s team is intentional about gauging success. Their primary tool is post-event surveys, which look beyond simple satisfaction scores.

They focus on metrics that measure a "sense of belonging" and ask targeted questions to see if their core mission was accomplished. One of the most effective questions they use is: "Did Reddit provide meaningful opportunities for you to build community?" This gets right to the heart of their goal and provides actionable feedback.

Learning in Public: The Story of Camp Reddit

Michelle also shared a candid example of an ambitious event she was proud of: Camp Reddit. The team took the entire 700-person company camping, complete with unlimited alcohol. While it was an incredible community-building experience, she noted with a laugh that it was eventually sunsetted for some of those same reasons. The story served as a perfect example of the willingness to be bold, learn from experience, and evolve a program strategy over time.

Today's session was a powerful reminder that building a world-class employee experience is an art and a science. It requires a clear philosophy, a foundation of trust, a collaborative process, and a deep, unwavering commitment to the people at the heart of the organization.

Key Takeaways: 

• Connect internal culture to external impact. The most successful employee experiences are not isolated from the business. Find creative ways to tie events to company milestones, user growth, or even client relationships to show clear value.
• Trust is the foundation for both budget and buy-in. A strong track record of delivering impactful experiences is the best tool for securing leadership support and a bigger budget over time.
• Use internal marketing to create a culture of participation. Leverage company-wide channels like all-hands meetings to share video recaps and celebrate past events. This creates a positive sense of FOMO and drives excitement for what’s next.
• Co-create experiences with your employees. Involve team members from across the organization in the ideation process. Getting their feedback early ensures that your programs are relevant and that buy-in is built-in from the start.
• Measure what truly matters: belonging. Go beyond simple satisfaction scores. Focus on metrics that gauge an employee's "sense of belonging" to understand if you’re truly building a strong community.

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Putting these ideas into practice is the next step. If you're ready to build a better workplace experience, explore our resources and see how Epoch is helping companies like yours create meaningful connections. Let’s Talk.

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