VP of People at Progressive Leasing: “When you're not recognized, you don't know if you belong”

In this episode of the A-Listed podcast, David Bator and Emma Harvie speak with Connie Washington, Vice president of People at Progressive Leasing, about how appreciation drives belonging, trust, and performance at work. They discuss why simple, consistent recognition helps employees feel seen and valued, and how it connects to inclusion, psychological safety, and engagement. The episode also explores how leaders can be more intentional with appreciation in hybrid environments and why making recognition a daily habit helps build strong, people-first cultures. ___________________________________________________ ⭐ Learn more: https://www.achievers.com/ ___________________________________________________ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the video 00:03 David Bator shares an antidote on remote work 00:30 AWI research on belonging at work 1:55 Emma Harvie introduces guest Connie Washington 2:35 Connie explains her role at Progressive 3:21 Connie’s perspective on the importance of appreciation 6:28 Defining a culture of appreciation beyond programs 7:26 How appreciation connects to DEI 9:15 AWI’s Belonging Model and the role of belonging at work 11:11 Connie shares a personal appreciation moment 13:21 What happens to cultures lacking appreciation 14:48 How psychological safety shows up at Progressive Leasing 17:03 The role of recognition in psychological safety 19:05 How organizations can make appreciation more inclusive 22:59 Why organizations struggle to make appreciation consistent 24:47 Underrated forms of appreciation 26:02 How people managers can better appreciate employees 29:04 How hybrid and remote work has changed appreciation 32:15 Connie’s perspective on recognition trends 34:51 Connie’s perspective on her legacy at Progressive Leasing 38:06 David recaps the episode and discuss key takeaways ______________________________________________________________ Discussion topics ✔️ What makes a culture of appreciation beyond programs ✔️ What happens when appreciation is missing at work ✔️ The importance of psychological safety at work ✔️ How people leaders can support employees with recognition ✔️ The importance of appreciation in hybrid and remote work __________________________________________________ About the podcast: A Listed is a podcast about how recognition at work impacts performance, engagement, and retention. Hosted by David Bator and Emma Harvie, each episode examines what research shows about appreciation and how organizations are applying it in practice. The show features conversations with business leaders, customers, and experts who are responsible for building cultures of recognition. __________________________________________________ ▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel:    / @achieversvideos   🎧 Subscribe to A-Listed on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4dLJCPR... 🍏 Subscribe to A-Listed on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... __________________________________________________ About Achievers Workforce Institute: Achievers Workforce Institute (AWI) is the research and insights arm of Achievers. AWI produces primary, science-backed research on workforce topics including employee engagement, retention, and culture. Its work reflects the perspective of employees and HR leaders across five global regions. AWI insights are published through reports, webinars, checklists, and frameworks used by organizations to understand and act on the trends shaping today’s workplaces. Learn more: https://www.achievers.com/workforce-i... ___________________________________________________ About the host: David Bator leads Achievers Workforce Institute, a global research practice that studies the conditions that need to exist so employees can do the best work of their lives. David is passionate about people and has spent the last 20 years working closely with leaders to build programs that position their people, teams and company to grow. David’s work has appeared in Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and The Globe and Mail. 💻 Connect with David:   / davidbator   Emma Harvie leads global studies such as the Achievers Workforce Institute State of Recognition Report, uncovering trends that shape the future of work, and advising leaders on how recognition can drive performance, retention, and belonging at scale. With more than a decade of experience in employee experience and workforce strategy, Emma is passionate about connecting the science of recognition with the art of leadership. Emma has presented at leading conferences globally, including Gartner HR Symposium and Total Rewards Asia, and regularly facilitates thought leadership sessions and webinars across APAC, North America, and EMEA. 💻 Connect with Emma:   / emmaharvie