7 Companies That Are Transforming Their Industries
Young people are redefining their expectations of labor, the workplace, and leadership – and it’s only natural that companies and organizations are also facing a reckoning and seeking greater alignment in their brands, values, missions, and visions. We’ve compiled a list of seven impressive companies in a variety of fields that are transforming their industries through innovation and leading us into the future.
Who are they?
Discover, while known as a credit card company, has evolved to be a leader in both tech and finance. The company’s vision is to be the leading digital bank and payments partner, helping people spend smarter, manage debt better, and save more. Their financial tools and resources are developed in the hope of a greater financial future for all.
How are they changing their industry?
Discover is leading the charge in taking finance to the digital world. Their teams work to research, develop, and deploy industry-leading technology that makes business and finance easier and more user-friendly at every turn. With an online Credit Resource Center, Discover Credit Scorecard, and thoughtful banking and credit card options, Discover is building their company by helping consumers get the most for their money.
How can you work for them?
Discover advertises a robust and people-forward company culture and has received several awards for both its inclusivity and quality of workplace. You can view their available roles and learn more about the company here.
Who are they?
Duolingo is the world’s largest online language learning platform and most downloaded education app globally, with over 500 million users. Based completely in science and data, the company is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA in East Liberty. The company’s goal is to make language learning fun, free, and effective for anyone to learn – wherever they are.
How are they changing their industry?
If you’re already following the Duolingo owl on TikTok, you know this app is designed to bring language learning to everyone. The universality of Duolingo is its shining feature, allowing language learners to have fun through gamification and effectively succeed with a personalized approach. Duolingo’s technology analyzes how millions of people learn at once to create the most effective educational experience.
How can you work for them?
Duolingo has a variety of open roles, from software engineering to product design (though, sorry, the TikTok creator role is already taken). Visit their careers page to view available openings and learn more about the company culture.
Who are they?
Flatiron School is an alternative education model dedicated to providing students with the 21st century tech skills necessary to succeed in a booming tech world. With online and in-person campuses across the United States, Flatiron School has an immersive and outcomes-driven curriculum to launch careers in software engineering, data science, cybersecurity, and product design.
How are they changing their industry?
Flatiron School is revolutionizing coding education by bringing tech education opportunities to all. With a commitment to accessibility and diversity, the company offers scholarships and fellowship programs through partnerships with major companies like Facebook, Operation Code, SeatGeek, and Out in Tech. Most recently, they took their classrooms online with Learn.co to provide a gamified online learning experience that expands access across the globe.
This alternative education model has proven to be highly successful, as FS coding boot campers have an 86% job placement rate in both software engineering and data science.
How can you work for them?
Flatiron School tells job-seekers,“don’t just land a job, launch a career.” The company is hiring across the nation for roles in community experience, sales, technical coaching, and more. Check out their careers page.
Who are they?
If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re actively engaged in the job market — and therefore active on LinkedIn. This company truly puts the “network” in “social network.” Launched in 2003, LinkedIn is still the only social media platform for business and networking, creating a space for people to grow and connect professionally. Their vision is simple: to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce.
How are they changing their industry?
LinkedIn was acquired by Microsoft in December 2016, solidifying its place in the internet sphere as the world’s leading professional cloud and network. Because of its targeted purpose as a social network for business — as opposed to a social network for entertainment — LinkedIn offers an entirely different experience than other major social media platforms. By giving the average internet user access to job boards, a digital volume of contacts, and the space to consume industry news, it continues to expand and meet its goals of connecting people to prosperity.
How can you work for them?
LinkedIn operates from a number of U.S. locations and is hiring for a number of open roles. See their available positions here.
Who are they?
Known for launching the world’s first robotaxi pilot, Motional is making driverless vehicles a safe, reliable, and accessible reality. Motional has provided over 100,000 self-driving rides, and boasts a record of zero at-fault accidents. Their dream of shaping the future of mobility is quickly coming to fruition.
How are they changing their industry?
Motional has been working to revolutionize driverless technology for decades. A joint venture between Aptiv and Hyundai Motor Group makes the company uniquely positioned to develop and deploy driverless technology. As pioneers in the mobility tech space, Motional prioritizes safety and powers nuScenes, a public large-scale dataset that enables researchers to study urban driving scenes using the full sensor suite of a self-driving car. The company also seeks to create this technology with all users in mind, designing for everyone on the roads.
How can you work for them?
Although Motional’s technology seems to be a futuristic human stand-in, their products are developed and tested by uniquely talented experts in engineering, robotics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Want to be a part of it? Explore open positions here.
Who are they?
Slack is a workplace communications platform that makes work-life simpler, more pleasant, and more productive. A digital collaboration hub, Slack brings people, information, and tools together to make real progress. Slack brings the digital-first work ecosystem forward by integrating the tools of various platforms — email, group communications, file storage, etc. — into one unified product.
How are they changing their industry?
Slack is a pioneer in workplace communications, reframing how we connect from nine-to-five. Even before the pandemic, Slack allowed colleagues to connect in a more user-friendly way – streamlining processes and conversations for a more unified and frictionless workplace experience. Slack is the most widely-used platform for the digital work world, and 65 of the Fortune 100 companies use the app every day. Slack’s mission of improving people’s work lives will continue to lead to hyper-growth as employees, managers, and board members readjust their approach to getting stuff done post-pandemic.
How can you work for them?
Slack is known for remote-friendly, flexible work and encourages all team members to thrive. To see their open roles and learn more about their core values, click here.
Who are they?
Success Academy’s mission is to build exceptional public schools that prove children from all backgrounds can succeed in college and in life. They advocate across the country to change public policies that prevent children from having access to opportunity. SA is the largest and highest-performing charter school network in New York, and brings equity and nuance to the hiring process by providing all necessary training for their people on day one.
How are they changing their industry?
SA is changing the face of education, both with an innovative curriculum and with their extensive training program that ensures that teachers don't need to have any background in education before joining.
Their STEM curriculum approach begins early, as elementary students take science classes every day. And it’s not just zoo trips and Bill Nye — these kids get the opportunity to study topics like engineering and computer science as early as kindergarten! STEM is a priority for SA, and STEM teachers in the network have access to unique advancement (like math leads and principalships) and exploration of different career paths under the SA umbrella.
As far as SA’s robust and visionary training program, this company does not require a background — or degree — in education upon hiring. Their approach is to immerse new educators in intensive summer training programs and provide daily coaching, regular training and development, curriculum materials, and ongoing team collaboration. Skills like public speaking, data analysts, strategic thinking, and project management are prioritized, and in turn, bring confidence and empowerment to every person in the classroom: students and teachers alike.
How can you work for them?
SA’s career page is full of amazing information, including benefits, culture highlights, and open positions.
It’s an exciting time to be joining the workforce. Regardless of your interests and skills, there are many opportunities for job-seekers today to launch their careers at companies aimed at building a better future — and changing the way we interact with our world forever. Doing your research on companies like the ones listed that are at the forefront of innovation in their industries can help you discover exactly where your passions lie and how they align with open positions, determine what kind of impact you want to have on the future, and narrow down where you want to jumpstart your career. And as you cater your resume and cover letter to every position you pursue, be sure to mention your fascination with companies that are reaching further and changing the game for both employees and customers.
