In 2024, professional development is more than just a perk—it’s a career game-changer. Whether it’s through tuition reimbursement, formal mentorship programs, or leadership training, companies are offering opportunities that help employees enhance their skills and advance their careers. The benefits go both ways: Employees grow in their roles and careers, while businesses create a thriving culture of internal mobility and long-term success.
Professional development is just one of the key categories we’re celebrating in the 2024 VIBE Awards, recognizing companies that are leading the way in offering the best employee benefits. “VIBE” stands for "Voted In By Employees," reflecting our unique methodology that combines proprietary data with direct feedback from employees, who rate the strength of their company’s perks. We highlight the top companies across seven categories, including parental benefits, work flexibility, and more, featuring winners from small, medium, and large businesses.
Keep reading to discover which companies are excelling in professional development, empowering their employees to grow, thrive, and reach their full potential in 2024.
Small Companies
Small Girls PR
Who they are: Small Girls PR is a creatively driven press influencer and events marketing agency in New York City and Los Angeles.
What employees are saying: “We have a full committee dedicated to learning and development opportunities. I've undergone AI training, brainstorming workshops, new business trainings, speaking and presentation trainings, and more! Through this I'm currently working toward a Mini MBA.”
Canuck Place Children’s Hospice
Who they are: An internationally recognized pediatric palliative care provider that takes an all-encompassing approach to caring for children with complex medical challenges.
What employees are saying: “Flexibility in choosing training opportunities that are of personal interest and have an impact on the role. Emphasis placed on topics that support psychological safety, DEIB, truth & reconciliation and mental health in the workplace is very appreciated, relevant and impactful. These learning opportunities are often offered above and beyond annual education hours budget.”
Mast-Jägermeister US
Who they are: MJUS is a leading spirits brand deeply committed to core company values and rich heritage.
What employees are saying: “The company offers courses and training in various settings. We have lots of on the job training and workshops available. Also we have the opportunity to select training we want to pursue independently. The amount of options that fit to individuals style of learning is fantastic!”
HomeTap
Who they are: Hometap is a financial technology company on a mission to make homeownership more accessible and less stressful.
What employees are saying: “Hometap has extensive resources dedicated to professional developments including a dedicated Learning and Development Manager, a vast library of learning materials, and open career tracks accessible to everyone at the company complete with level-by-level competency matrices to outline exactly what's expected of the next step in your career. Very transparent environment.”
GameChanger
Who they are: This technology company is a top sports app that delivers live video streaming, scorekeeping, and team communication tools to youth sports teams across the nation.
What employees are saying: “Every employee receives a $500 annual Learning and Development budget to be allocated how we see fit. Additionally, the company encourages employees and groups to attend conferences that would further their personal and professional development goals.”
Health-E Commerce
Who they are: They are a health-tech company who believes in untangling and simplifying the health and wellness benefits marketplace through consumer-directed healthcare, corporate wellness, and Medicare Advantage users.
What employees are saying: “Multiple trainings classes throughout the year. Well established tools for employee's to take ownership of their development. Twice/year, a dedicated track to focus on individual's professional development.”
Upside
Who they are: Upside is a retail technology company that provides purchasing power to consumers and incremental profit to businesses.
What employees are saying: “Upside has provides LinkedIn Learning access in addition to the tuition reimbursement policy. Upside also bought each Upsider a subscription of their choice between Masterclass, Babbel, and Audible.”
Medium & Large Companies
Ensono
Who they are: Ensono is an expert tech advisor, innovation partner, and managed service provider. They optimize IT, evolve enterprises and innovate across hybrid environments.
What employees are saying: “Ensono come up with lots of upskilling program like Aspire Program, SOAR, Thriversity, Women Accelerator Program, Ensono has an in house trainer and collaborates with IBM, Microsoft, AWS... there are so many training partners to mention. Ensono not only provides training but support succession plans and encourages internal movement based on individual's skillset and interest. I have never seen so much internal mobility taking place on ground in any of the organization.”
Opendoor
Who they are: Opendoor is on a mission to empower everyone with the freedom to move by building a simple, certain and fast home buying and selling experience.
What employees are saying: “Our L&D team organized a leader's lounge program. It was a workshop approach to learn and hone one's leadership skills. While I attended one session, it gave me good insights into the art of giving feedback.”
Trupanion
Who they are: Trupanion is an innovative insurance provider that helps cats & dogs across the world receive the best medical care.
What employees are saying: “I didn't go to college and I don't have any special certifications—to make what I make here at Trupanion, I thought I would have to go into some kind of intensive manual labor type of work or go to trade school. I was promoted twice in my first 18 months at Trupanion and see a clear path forward and upward from here.”
Autodesk
Who they are: Autodesk is a global leader in software for designers, engineers, builders, and creators, endeavoring to empower customers with the technology to create the world around us.
What employees are saying: “Since the moment I joined the company, they have invested in my own development, not just giving us access to an immense offer of self learning content, but also investing in courses, certifications and other skills.”
Zoom
Who they are: Zoom connects people and teams through seamless video communication and ai-driven collaboration tools, enhancing productivity globally.
What employees are saying: “We have few amazing programs customized to cater to our learning needs, platforms like LinkedIn Learning, TaskHuman etc where employees can pursue self learning and dedicated 1:1 coaching (career & professional development, wellness, etc.) respectively. Zoom's book reimbursement policy is the best that I have ever seen in my professional career thus far.”
Visa
Who they are: Visa is a world leader in digital payments, with a vision to be the best way to pay and be paid for everyone, everywhere.
What employees are saying: “Not only do we have internal platforms for L&D like Visa University, but they partner with external sources like Udemy and LinkedIn Learning to offer even more professional development opportunities.”
DTCC
Who they are: DTCC stands at the center of global trading activity, processing over 100 million financial transactions every day, and maintaining multiple data and operating centers worldwide.
What employees are saying: “DTCC and its management team strives to ensure that all resources are available to all employees as needed. Also, meetings are held periodically to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to participate and grow.”
Mastercard
Who they are: They are a global technology company in the payments industry, working toward making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible.
What employees are saying: “Mastercard offers employees mobility across the organization and provides exposure to different areas of the business through a platform called Unlocked.” “A very rich array of professional development courses and paid time off to support [professional development].”
Hitachi Energy
Who they are: Hitachi Energy is advancing the world’s energy system to become more sustainable, flexible and secure whilst balancing social, environmental and economic value.
What employees are saying: “We have a wonderful ITM group and there is training on leader standard work (LSW) and they are always willing to sit in and offer support or one on one training as needed. I am also extremely pleased with the Training and Development Team. They are all so supportive and we hope to continue to build our training program.”
Booking.com
Who they are: They’re one of the world’s leading digital travel companies with a mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world.
What employees are saying: “Good amount of professional training programs, internal coaching and etc. For lot of it, cost is absorbed by the company itself.”