McKinney’s ‘Smarts & Hearts’ program awards $1,000 for values-driven contributions

McKinney, based in Durham, North Carolina, takes a strategic approach to professional development through a dedicated team that partners with department leadership and staff to align personal career progression plans with the agency's overarching business goals. The ad agency’s mobility program fosters skill diversification by enabling employees to explore specializations in health, media/data, influencer, creative and strategy, broadening professional pathways beyond traditional career progression. Ad Age Best Places to Work 2025 50 companies doing a standout job See the full list here McKinney’s commitment to providing employees with comprehensive resources encompasses both professional growth and personal health, offering benefits tailored to diverse family planning and fertility needs. These include medical coverage for up to six IVF trials per year, 60% discounts on fertility medications, adoption support and postpartum and menopause resources. Recognition is central to McKinney’s culture, highlighted by the “Smarts & Hearts” program, which awards $1,000 weekly to employees who exemplify the agency’s core values. In addition to celebrating collective appreciation, McKinney emphasizes employee connection and engagement with activities such as Take Your Parents to Work Day and Pride Night at Dodger Stadium. The company in its own words: “We have the industry-required benefits and table-stakes bells and whistles, but what makes those things valuable is that in the face of ubiquitous change, we empower our people to use their voices in our refuse-to-be-ignored culture. At the end of the day, gifting creative freedom to our people is the most powerful and honest way for us to be true to our smarts & hearts values and be worthy of a Best Place to Work.” Ad Age Best Places to Work 2025 50 companies doing a standout job See the full list here

McKinney’s ‘Smarts & Hearts’ program awards $1,000 for values-driven contributions

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