Lead with why.
Make it count.
Own it.
Choose teamwork.
Say what you mean.
Our values are at the heart of everything we do.
They are deeply embedded in the way we work, how we operate and how we treat each other. Our values define our core beliefs and inspire us to be the best version of ourselves.
“Our values represent the best parts of who we are and who we want to become. When we live them, we enable pros to get more jobs and homeowners to get more done. The result is a thriving company made up of ambitious, engaged individuals.”
Marco Zappacosta
Co-founder & CEO
Our values in action
At Thumbtack, we live our values every day. Both grounded and aspirational, they keep us aligned, challenge us to grow and guide us to become even better.
Lead with why.
Every decision we make boils down to purpose. Are we acting in alignment with our mission? Are we building for our pros and consumers? By leading with why, we ensure that everything we do is with our mission in mind.
First principles thinking guides our work.
We act in service of our pros and consumers. For example, launching a Pro Advisory Board has helped us to better understand the needs of our pros, and the resulting insights enable us to build a more impactful product. By helping our pros thrive, they better serve homeowners, sending ripples of impact throughout communities.
"'Lead with why' acts as our compass for envisioning, crafting, building and shipping better products for our users. Our product process is anchored in creating positive impact, and we’re dedicated to continually improving the way we solve user challenges.”
Waqas Sheikh
Senior Director, Product Managers
Make it count.
Each action we take drives meaningful impact. That means making a difference that people can feel, and asking ourselves, “Did we work on something important today? Did we improve an outcome?” The answer should always be “yes.”
Impact begins with prioritization, alignment and tracking results.
We make it count by following through on the work that brings our vision to life. From strategic planning to tracking progress through individual performance and 360 reviews, we provide every Thumbtacker with support to drive results and celebrate impact along the way.
Own it.
Whatever we’re working on, it’s up to us to make it happen. It’s about doing the right thing and doing it well, following through on commitments, mapping problems to solutions and taking big swings. If we fail, we find the lesson and move forward.
Building better together with our pros.
We aspire to be the smartest investment that pros make in their businesses. That’s why we hosted our first-ever Pro Summit, an event where pros got a first look at product updates based on their feedback and heard from our leaders about how their input guides product improvements.
“In my seven years at Thumbtack, I've seen coworkers, teammates and cross-functional partners embrace risk and take ownership when things don’t go as planned. That behavior is a testament to the culture at Thumbtack; there really is safety in learning as you go and making mistakes.”
Dusti Ondryas
Senior Product Marketing Manager
Choose teamwork.
We believe that teamwork is a choice. Our goals are bigger than one person, and they require our collective effort. Together we’ll go further because of our differences, not in spite of them.
Our teams seized the opportunity to reimagine the future of work at Thumbtack.
Our employees shared a desire to maintain the flexibility of virtual work without losing valuable in-person connection. Thumbtackers from across the company came together to redefine our working norms, keeping equity and flexibility top of mind. The outcome: a virtual-first model coupled with high-quality, in-person connection.
Say what you mean.
We show respect by sharing openly and authentically. Whether recognizing success, contributing ideas, or providing honest feedback, it’s up to each of us to create an inclusive space built on a foundation of mutual trust. We foster a culture where everyone can speak up and feel heard.
Listening to our employees and taking action.
Internal employee pulse surveys provide a clear path for feedback, and change happens quickly, like when we adopted our virtual-first working model and deepened our investment in leadership development.
Feedback is a gift that helps us all improve.
We deliver honest and intentional feedback with best intentions and in alignment with our shared goals. The result is stronger relationships and better outcomes that benefit everyone.
Transparent communication from leadership.
Leaders share 360 reviews and quarterly financial and business updates, and they answer questions as part of “ask me anything” sessions with the entire company.
Celebrating our 2024 Values Award winners
Our global Values Awards celebrate Thumbtackers who show up and live our values every day. Nominated by their peers and leaders, winners inspire us and represent the best of our culture. In addition to company-wide recognition, they also receive prizes, like experiences, leadership coaching and monetary awards for vacations or home renovations.
“As a product manager, there are always more ideas than resources to build. When it comes to prioritizing and getting others on board, it's key to lead with the ‘why’ behind any strategy or idea. This helps everyone get on the same page and ensures we're focusing on the things that matter most.”
Sarah
Product Manager
“For me, making it count is an obsession that starts with an opportunity, ends with an impact and includes all the efforts that come in between to make it happen.”
Sachin
Software Engineer
“I embrace the 'Own It' value in my work by continuously learning from areas where I can improve. When I commit to a task, I ensure I execute it well and deliver on time, always mindful of my responsibilities.”
Mike
Senior Product Specialist
“Choosing teamwork is made easier by being surrounded by a great team, which I've been very fortunate to have at Thumbtack — both with my immediate team and cross-functionally.”
Taylor
Lead Risk Analyst
“I strive to exemplify this value by showing up every day for my internal partners and candidates through authentic and empathetic communication. I see ‘say what you mean’ as being intentional and thoughtful in how we communicate, even in everyday interactions.”
Rachel
Senior Recruiter
This award highlights the Thumbtacker who brings our pros’ perspective to every decision, constantly reminding us of the why behind our work.
“Living the Voice of the Pro Award every day means being a true advocate for the pros we serve. I strive to make each interaction with pros meaningful, ensuring that they feel empowered to succeed because we’re here to help them achieve their goals on our platform.”
Renalie
Advanced Service Advocate
This award celebrates the Thumbtacker who speaks up on behalf of the homeowners who use our platform, reminding us to focus on the real people who we impact every single day.
To me, being a ‘voice of the customer’ is all about ensuring their needs are at the forefront of every product decision we make. I try to embody this value by really making sure that I'm properly telling the stories of our customers in a way that inspires and compels our teams to act.”
Angeline
Senior Experience Researcher