Big growth stems from the little things at Boomi

While interviewing with Boomi in Vancouver, Mariana Ellis was shocked when the global senior director of sales development, Mike Leyden, flew in from San Francisco to meet with her.

“He travelled to have an in-person interview with me, walking me through what the role would look like and how we could build it,” recalls Ellis, now sales manager. “Post-COVID, that was unheard of.”

The simple action spoke volumes for her, along with the clear vision and alignment she saw from the entire leadership team at the intelligent integration and automation company.

“After meeting with the leadership, I knew that this is the place that I wanted to grow,” she says. “A year and a half later, I still feel like I'm growing my career at the perfect pace.”

That kind of personal touch is the bedrock of the technology company’s unique culture, where analog relationship building meets forward-thinking digital solutions.

When the U.S.-headquartered Boomi – which has over 1,800 employees in more than 20 countries – was getting started in Vancouver, leadership sought to create a community-focused culture that would differentiate it from other companies, explains chief commercial officer Greg Wolfe.

“It was foundational to build a culture for those who crave social experience mixed with professional development and live, active coaching,” he says.

Employees work collaboratively in the office three days a week under the belief that human connection fuels innovation and growth.

“We try to empower folks to enjoy the experience of working together while also creating fertile territory to build their career how they want,” Wolfe explains.

Boomi balances the realities of in-person work by offering lunch and transit compensation as part of a larger benefits package with tuition subsidies and flexible time-off policies.

By addressing these challenges head-on, Wolfe believes Boomi has been able to attract a younger demographic looking for career growth, mentorship and social interaction.

“We’ve created a space for high-potential people looking for that next step in their careers and who want a more human experience,” says Wolfe.

Recognizing each other’s accomplishments is also baked into the culture through regular recognition rewards and a quarterly Impact Award.

The result is a creative, high-performance work environment where staff are encouraged to share ideas and show up as their authentic selves.

“We really want you to step up and bring your ideas forward – if you want to start something new, go for it,” says Ellis. “I like to say that I don't only manage the development of the business, but of the people.”

Fostering an environment where staff can confidently take risks is built into the core values, which include being bold, but also trickles down from the top.

“It starts with leadership,” says Ellis. “The CEO will even answer your questions on Slack – that builds a sense of trust and a safe space for you to grow.”

For those looking for career growth, the Vancouver office has proven to be a good place to be. At what Boomi calls its Centre of Excellence in B.C., the workforce has increased from 70 to over 150 since its inception in 2023. The company is due to open a new, larger office in downtown Vancouver in February 2025.

This kind of fast yet sustainable growth comes back to being rooted in the company culture and values, Wolfe explains.

“People thrive where they have that kind of community experience, and when people are thriving, they'll be better at what they do,” he says.

“They can absorb change more quickly, which in the modern enterprise is really important and allows you to take more risks as a business.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's BC’s Top Employers winners, published February 11, 2025 in the Vancouver Sun. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.