At Goalbook, we believe in the power of human connection and the importance of professional relationships that value the dignity in others while working with them. As Jon on the District and School Customer Success team put it, “We have a strong understanding and care for one another. I appreciate that about Goalbook, and it is one of the biggest reasons I joined Goalbook.”
We recently sat down with some of our teammates to talk about what Goalbook’s core value of relationships means to them. Here’s what they said about how relationships have positively impacted their work and personal lives.
With teammates across the United States, relationships are primarily developed virtually. Todd, who’s been at Goalbook for seven years, said, “I worked in schools, and there’s something about being in a building and seeing everyone daily that causes relationships to be far more traditionally built. Here, we are committed to being more deliberate in building relationships virtually.”
“I have to be more thoughtful with how I’m showing up and how I embody that value,” Todd continued. One way he does this is through spending the first five to 15 minutes of a meeting connecting personally with whomever is in the meeting.
Like Todd, Bethany worked in schools prior to joining Goalbook four years ago. She shared, “I had strong relationships working as a special educator and school administrator, and I wasn’t sure what that would look like when I transitioned to a role at Goalbook. I realized that because we’re all remote, we have to be more intentional about relationships. Taking the extra time to get to know people matters, and it gives me a greater sense of purpose in my work.”
Nadia, who’s been on the Partnerships team for five years, also shared about checking in and getting to know each other. To her, the core value of relationships means “investing in one another’s personal and professional growth while honoring each other’s boundaries. We value mutual respect and know that how we show up may vary, and that’s okay.”
Being able to be your whole self at work was a common response to the question of what Goalbook’s core value of relationships means to them.
Kia, who’s worked at Goalbook for six years, shared, “There is a genuine and conscious effort with one another. It means I can bring my full, authentic self to work. We have created a space to be able to be vulnerable and transparent. Because we care about each other personally and professionally, we’re able to engage in critical conversations and practice radical candor.”
Truly caring about each other personally and professionally means that we care about the work we do and want each other to do their best work.
Nick on the District and School Customer Success team shared, “We ground what we do in trust-building. I feel passionately that I don’t have to put a face on at work. I can be truly authentic with others. Goalbook creates an environment where that can happen, where I can get to know people personally, professionally, give and receive feedback, without judgment.”
Jon, who’s been at Goalbook for three years, said, “There’s a strong presence around relationships and how we interact as an organization. Having positive relationships with everyone we interact with is essential to our growth as individuals and as a company.”
Goalbook’s commitment to fostering strong relationships has created a positive work environment where teammates feel supported, valued, and motivated. The feeling of camaraderie and shared purpose enhances both what we get out of and put into working with each other. By prioritizing the core value of relationships, Goalbook has cultivated a culture that promotes authenticity and collaboration.
“We have a mutual respect for one another,” said Nadia. “We unify and band together to be in service to the special education community and for our central mission to empower educators to transform instruction so ALL students succeed.”
