Best Places to Work 2021: RBA

RBA, a Dallas-based branding and advertising agency, prioritizes culture. That became a bit more challenging when its 16-person team began working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ad Age Best Places to Work 2021 To see the rest of the winners, click here The agency soon scheduled virtual get-togethers in lieu of pre-pandemic mainstays such as monthly breakfast tacos and happy hours. But when the shop’s HR person checked in with team members, she learned that video gatherings were getting to be a bit much for some after days filled with Zoom meetings. So the agency found activities it could schedule during work hours—masked, outdoors—such as pumpkin carving and a catered hamburger event. These were among the reasons RBA was ranked No. 3 among companies with 200 or fewer employees in Ad Age Best Places to Work 2021. Co-Founders Ross Cromartie and Kace Phillips, both white men, say they try to recruit and hire people different from themselves as they are eager to give others a voice. The team is half female and half male, and among senior management, 60% identify as being members of a minority or multicultural group. RBA participated in Black Out Day and educated clients on #StopHateForProfit, encouraging them to take a look at their social spending, even if that meant less revenue for the agency. RBA, which rebranded from RocketBrand in 2020, jumped from the No. 6 spot in last year’s ranking.

Best Places to Work 2021: RBA

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