2025 Honoree
President & CEO
BCU
Mike Valentine, President & CEO of BCU, is the 2025 Flex Leader Award Honoree. Under Valentine’s leadership, BCU’s flexible, people-first approach has become a strategic advantage, directly impacting employee engagement, organizational growth, and member loyalty. Since implementing widespread workplace flexibility, BCU has achieved a Gallup Q12® employee engagement score of 4.47/5.0 and a near best-in-class net promoter score (between 79–80)—nearly double that of large national banks.
“Receiving this award is a testament to the people-first culture we foster at BCU. Flexibility isn’t the result of a policy or guideline – for me, it’s a commitment to valuing our employees as individuals, empowering them to thrive both personally and professionally. When we put our people first, everything else falls into place, and our teams and the organization grow stronger as a result.“
— Mike Valentine
2024 Honoree
President & CEO
The Hain Celestial Group
Wendy P. Davidson was honored for understanding the direct link between a human-centered culture focused on flexibility, wellbeing and inclusion, and impressive performance and productivity outcomes. In 2023, Davidson led Hain Reimagined, a multi-year transformation plan involving large-scale global integration of organizational structure, processes, systems, and culture, including the rollout of its Agile Work Model, which provides team members with the flexibility to work virtually and come together for “moments that matter.”
“Creating flexible work environments, models, and systems allows employees to perform at their best without feeling like work is a sacrifice…Hain Celestial’s purpose of Inspiring Healthier Living goes beyond what you put in and on your body. It’s also how you live and work. We have an opportunity to demonstrate that we can attract, retain, and engage top talent…AND…deliver high performance by leveraging the lessons learned with flexible work during the pandemic. At Hain, we focus on performance outcomes rather than activities to deliver on our business goals.”
— Wendy P. Davidson
2023 Honoree
Chair
Miller & Chevalier
Kathryn Cameron Atkinson is being honored for exemplifying the powerful benefits of a flexible schedule, serving as a role model for other professionals, and for building an organizational culture that celebrates holistic flexibility and encourages her colleagues to create unique career paths that work for them.
“I am grateful to Miller & Chevalier for agreeing to break new ground more than 25 years ago and learning how to walk the path with me and my colleagues. Allowing for flexibility – simply that, no more, no less – helps people bring their whole selves to work, and that can make all the difference.”
— Kathryn Cameron Atkinson
2022 Honoree
Managing Partner
Saul Ewing LLP
Jason St. John is being honored for his passionate support for and unwavering dedication to offering flexible working options. Jason’s compassionate leadership has been integral to the creation of Saul Ewing’s new hybrid working plan, 4+4, which applies to all employees, including attorneys and business professionals.
“We have tried to craft a policy that allows for the greatest flexibility while still fostering the collaboration that fuels relationships, mentoring and trust. Our people appreciate the flexibility and know that the firm cares about their well-being. We believe that our 4+4 Plan is fostering the kind of engagement, connection and collaboration that translates into outstanding client service.”
– Jason M. St. John
2021 Honoree
Chair and Chief Executive Officer
Deloitte & Touche LLP
“Individuals feel empowered and engaged when their voices are heard. This year is the year of learning – we are focused on successfully integrating the well-being, including the physical and mental health, of the individual and finding meaningful connections for advancement, development, and innovation. As leaders, it is our responsibility to navigate this journey by remembering to communicate regularly, commit to one another on respecting boundaries, and connect with purpose, whether virtually or in-person, to sustain the organization’s culture.”
– Lara Abrash
2020 Honoree
EVP, Head of Communications
Wells Fargo
“At no cost to a company, flexibility can be the highest value perk you can offer to employees. When employees have control of their schedules to plan work life integration, you increase their productivity, engagement and their work product. Flexibility became both a recruiting and retention tool for us.”
– Barri Rafferty
2019 Honoree
Jennifer M. Flynn
Managing Vice President, Head of the Small Business Bank (SBB) Division
Capital One
“I believe that as leaders, it is our job to create and foster an inclusive and flexible work environment that allows us to attract, retain and develop talent, which, quite simply, results in a happier employee population and better work products,” said Ms. Flynn. “Our business is better because of how we work and, as a result, so are our customers.”
– Jenn Flynn
Read full press release here.
2018 Honoree
Kim Koopersmith
Chairperson
Akin Gump
“I want to make sure I use my voice and experience as a lawyer, working mother and firm leader to address and advocate for diversity and flexibility. I truly believe that our success originates from our talent, and one of the best ways we can support our employees is to provide the flexibility that they require. Equally as important, flexibility allows us to be in sync with our clients who also value diversity and flexibility.
– Kim Koopersmith
Read full press release here.
2017 Honoree
Nancy Laben
Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.
