When I looked through the Fortune Best Companies to Work For list for 2025, the companies that caught my attention most were Cisco, Hilton, and NVIDIA. What stood out was how often employees mentioned the way these companies design their work environments. At Cisco, people talked about how much they value the trust and open communication they experience every day. Leaders make an effort to be honest, involve employees in conversations that matter, and share information instead of keeping it private. This connects directly to what we learned about the importance of creating work structures where employees feel respected and secure enough to contribute fully.
Hilton places a strong emphasis on employee well-being, offering programs and rewards that help make demanding service work feel more manageable. This reflects the idea from class that HR practices are designed to provide employees with the support and clarity they need to perform at a high level. NVIDIA focuses on selecting workers with strong technical skills and then giving them the freedom to work independently. This relates to the concept that employees need the right knowledge and abilities, and once they have that foundation, managers can focus on empowering them rather than controlling every detail.
The type of manager I want to become would blend these practices. I want to communicate openly like Cisco, support employee well being like Hilton, and trust my team to take ownership of their responsibilities the way NVIDIA does. The hardest part of managing will probably be balancing fairness with individual differences. People respond to coaching and structure in unique ways, so applying consistent standards while still recognizing personal needs will take real skill. This is where concepts from HR, such as performance criteria and supportive supervision, will play a major role.
Sources:
“Cisco.” Fortune Best Companies to Work For 2025, Fortune Media, 2025.
“Hilton.” Fortune Best Companies to Work For 2025, Fortune Media, 2025.
“NVIDIA.” Fortune Best Companies to Work For 2025, Fortune Media, 2025.