Purpose and Integrity with Jenny Xia Spradling
Jul 09, 2024•29 min•Ep. 23
Episode description
Jenny Xia Spradling is the co-CEO of Freewill, an online software company revolutionizing estate planning and charitable giving. With a background in math competitions, Jenny brings a unique perspective to the intersection of social impact and economic success. Under her leadership, Freewill has helped nearly one million Americans complete their estate planning and committed almost $10 billion to charity. Jenny's commitment to values like courage, joy, kindness, and focus has shaped Freewill's inclusive culture and mission-driven approach.
You’ll hear Lindsay and Jessica discuss:
Early establishment of values is crucial: Defining values early on helps align founders, guide decision-making, and set the tone for company culture, ensuring long-term cohesion.
Public Benefit Corporation designation: Choosing a legal structure that aligns profit with mission can provide clarity, transparency, and protection for purpose-driven companies in decision-making and operations.
Values drive decision-making: Mission, vision, and values act as a litmus test for prioritizing opportunities, ensuring alignment with the company's core beliefs and goals.
Human connection and trust: Building a culture centered on people fosters loyalty, engagement, and a positive customer experience, leading to long-term relationships and brand advocacy.
Inclusivity through hiring practices: Prioritizing diversity, humility, and low ego individuals fosters an inclusive environment, promotes collaboration, and prevents biases in decision-making.
Balancing values: Recognizing the dual nature of values, understanding their edges, and embracing the trade-offs helps navigate complex decisions and maintain integrity in actions.
Math and decision-making: While numbers provide structure and analysis, embracing ambiguity and intuition alongside quantitative data allows for more holistic and nuanced decision-making.
Culture is sticky: Establishing a strong culture early on, emphasizing inclusivity, humility, and feedback, creates a foundation for long-term success and employee retention.
Joy and gratitude: Incorporating moments of celebration, gratitude, and joy in the workplace fosters morale, engagement, and a positive work environment, enhancing overall productivity and satisfaction.
Transparency and clarity: Explicitly defining values, mission, and vision helps guide actions, align stakeholders, and provide a clear framework for decision-making, ensuring consistency and focus.
Resources
Jenny Xia Spradling | LinkedIn | FreeWill