Linda Ho
Chief People Officer
Seismic
Creating Purpose & Ownership: Insights from Linda Ho, Chief People Officer at Seismic
As People Leaders, we all dream of creating organizations that people genuinely believe in and want to stick around for. But here’s a little secret from Linda Ho, CPO at Seismic: it's not magic—it’s strategy. Here’s how Linda and her team approached two transformative initiatives to anchor culture and empower their people.
The Challenge
The mission? To put purpose into words. The vision? To make that purpose feel real in every corner of the company. And along the way, Linda realized: hey, why not give everyone a literal piece of the pie?
So, Seismic embarked on two big projects:
Formalizing their Mission, Vision, and Values (MVV) to ground their focus and define “how we work.” Check out the end product here.
Redesigning their Equity Program to now include every single employee, fostering a culture of ownership and engagement.
Why This Matters
Why, you ask? Because purpose-driven companies win. For Linda, having an articulated MVV woven into the fabric of Seismic was a game-changer. Equity, she explains, is more than just compensation—it’s a stake in the company’s success, encouraging everyone to bring their best and feel invested in Seismic’s future.
Lessons Learned
If this journey taught Linda one thing, it’s that people strategy must mirror business strategy. People aren’t just numbers on a balance sheet—they’re the heart, mind, and (admittedly) the biggest expense. Aligning them with the company’s purpose is key to making both the business and the culture thrive.
The Power of Team
Speaking of thriving, nothing happens alone. Linda worked closely with her Learning & Development lead on MVV and with Total Rewards on the equity changes. She gathered feedback and insights across departments, because if they’re in this together, they’re all in.
Impact on Seismic’s Culture
Today, the MVV is Seismic’s North Star. With a defined culture rooted in shared values, they know exactly who they are and how they work. And the equity changes? They’ve fueled an owner mentality, helping everyone think beyond the daily grind and feel like they’re part of something bigger.
Linda’s Advice for Other People Leaders
“Know your organization’s ‘why.’ Then, make sure you’ve got ways to capture your team’s hearts and minds,” says Linda. When people feel connected to the purpose and get to share in the success, they’re more motivated to stick around—and to go that extra mile.
After all, isn’t that what every People Leader dreams of?