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BELONGING ISN'T JUST A BUZZWORD—IT'S A NECESSITY.

If your employees or customers feel disconnected, the impact can be devastating—decreased productivity, high turnover, increased absenteeism, decreased revenue, negative word-of-mouth, stifled innovation, to name a few. Whether it’s through behaviors like exclusionary practices or poor communication, the reasons behind this disconnect are numerous and often overlooked.

But don't worry, you're not alone. All of our clients have exhibited one or more of these behaviors at some point in their BELONGING JOURNEY™. And we've been there to help.

Examples of why your culture might be pushing people away and what’s driving that sense of exclusion.

  • Cultural insensitivity undermines belonging for employees and customers by disregarding or disrespecting diverse backgrounds, values, and experiences. This fosters exclusion and alienation, preventing individuals from feeling valued, understood, and included.

  • Exclusionary practices hinder belonging for employees and customers by creating environments where certain individuals feel unwelcome, overlooked, or marginalized. This erodes trust, connection, and the sense of being valued within the organization or brand experience.

  • Inadequate recognition in the workplace diminishes belonging by making employees feel their contributions are overlooked or undervalued. This lack of appreciation weakens their connection to the organization and their sense of being a valued member of the team.

  • The absence of intentional efforts to ensure all individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute, which undermines their sense of belonging and connection.

  • Lack of leadership support undermines belonging in the workplace by failing to champion inclusivity, recognition, and connection among employees. Without visible and consistent advocacy from leaders, efforts to foster a sense of value and community often fall short.

  • Lack of opportunity undermines belonging in the workplace by limiting employees' growth, development, and ability to contribute meaningfully. This creates feelings of stagnation and exclusion, reducing their sense of value and connection to the organization.

  • Lack of personalization diminishes belonging for employees and customers by treating them as generic rather than recognizing their unique identities, needs, and contributions. This lack of individualized attention can lead to feelings of disconnection and undervaluation.

  • Neglecting feedback diminishes belonging for employees and customers by signaling that their voices and perspectives are not valued. This lack of responsiveness erodes trust, engagement, and the sense of being an integral part of the organization or experience.

  • Poor communication erodes belonging for employees and customers by creating misunderstandings, a lack of transparency, and feelings of being unheard or undervalued. This disconnect undermines trust, engagement, and the sense of being an integral part of the organization or experience.

  • A toxic work environment undermines belonging by fostering exclusion, negativity, and distrust, making employees feel unsafe, undervalued, and disconnected. This prevents individuals from fully engaging and contributing, eroding their sense of inclusion and community.

EXPERIENCE
THE POWER
OF
BELONGING

Inclusive and connected cultures thoughtfully designed

FOR humans BY humans

Employees building a sense of belonging within their new work environment.
Two factory workers showcasing the importance of a culture of belonging.
A saleswoman providing a quality customer experience (CX).

WE INGITE CURIOSITY. THEN WE DESIGN FOR BELONGING.

Fueled by curiosity, we challenge conventions and push boundaries to transform the way organizations think about and treat their employees and customers. We dismantle the barriers that prevent genuine human connection and then design experiences that foster and celebrate connectedness.

But we're not just designing environments where every voice is heard, every story matters, and every person feels safe, included and valued, we're crafting a new reality—one where belonging isn't an exception, but the rule.

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ALREADY HAVE A SOLID CULTURE?

Of course you do! If you weren't genuinely committed to fostering belonging, you wouldn't be here exploring ways to improve it. Maybe even make it exceptional.

We can help you elevate it to the next level.

A human-centered design lab created by Experience Willow.
COX
EXLAB

We partnered with Cox Enterprises to create the EXLab, an innovative space dedicated to reimagining the employee experience. The EXLab aims to design a workplace where every employee feels valued, included, and connected, fostering a deeper sense of purpose and engagement.

A newly built corporate building in midtown Atlanta, GA.
NCR
HQ MOVE

We facilitated a smooth transition for employees as NCR consolidated six suburban offices into a new global HQ in midtown Atlanta, ensuring everyone felt a strong sense of belonging in their new workplace.

Actors and musicians performing at BizBash's 2015 Customer Experience of the Year.
CINEMAX LAUNCH

HBO Latin America prepared to launch their Cinemax network and debut its programming, including Game of Thrones. With limited lead time, they tasked Experience Willow with creating an event that would make their top customers feel truly valued and part of the HBO family, fostering a sense of belonging and inspiring significant marketing and media commitments.

EXPLORE OUR CLIENTS' BELONGING JOURNEYS.

Our work spans diverse industries and challenges, but the common thread is our commitment to fostering a sense of belonging.

Through our collaborations, we've transformed workplaces, elevated customer experiences, and built inclusive environments where everyone feels valued. Discover the impact of our efforts and see how we've helped our clients on their journey to genuine human connection.

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"Experience Willow is exceptional at what they do. Their dedication to creating inclusive and empathetic environments has revolutionized our employee experience. We've seen a remarkable shift in engagement and satisfaction across the board."

ANDREA LEDFORD

Chief People Officer, IEX

"It's their curiosity that sets them apart. They go beyond the surface, diving deep into understanding our needs and designing solutions that truly resonate with our team."

ANDREA LAWSON

Chief Talent & Diversity Officer, Equifax

"Their insights were key in shifting our company's direction. By focusing on inclusion and genuine connection, they helped us build a culture that not only boosted employee engagement but also attracts and keeps top talent."

JEFF HUGHES

CEO, Enverus

"Thanks to Experience Willow's empathetic guidance, we're transforming our company into a place where every employee, regardless of their role, feels included and valued."

EDDIE OPLER, JR.

Chairman and CEO, World's Finest Chocolate

"I've never worked with a company that cares so deeply about our people. Their willingness to provide the hard truths, coupled with their dedication to creating a culture of belonging, has made a significant difference in our organization. We're better because of their guidance."

ANDY SLENTZ

SVP HR & Office Management, Hess Corporation

WE DESIGN FOR HUMANS.

Our design philosophy puts people first. Using human-centered design, we dig deep to understand the needs, challenges, and experiences of your employees and customers. By building empathy and gathering real insights, we create solutions that are intuitive, inclusive, and human-driven.

With an iterative, hands-on approach, we refine each step to ensure it connects on a personal level. Our goal is simple: to design spaces and systems where people feel valued, heard, and empowered. Because when people feel like they belong, both they and your organization can thrive.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DO
Sticky notes from a human-centered employee experience (EX) design workshop.
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