The People Behind the Work: Limetree Wins 2025 Inc. Best Workplaces
By: Tom Rouse, Founder and President, Limetree
This one meant more.
We just found out that Limetree has been named to the Inc. Best Workplaces list for the second year in a row.
It’s an incredible honor, and it comes after a year that tested us more than most.
We experienced some unexpected changes to our clients' budgets this year due to market factors, which forced us to make tough decisions. The kind that keeps you up at night... not because of the numbers, but because of the people it impacts.
And so, to be named a Best Workplace in this year? That means something deeper. It means that even when we lost some people… we didn’t lose who we are.
We’ve grown fast. We’ve consistently outperformed our competitors in head-to-head tests. We’ve won RFPs that we never would have even seen a few years ago. But growth, like anyone who’s done it knows, isn’t a straight line. The wins are real, but so are the moments where you wonder if the foundation is strong enough to make it through unexpected changes and come out stronger, knowing that the test was beyond what you thought you could overcome.
I think this recognition says it is.
We didn’t win this award the first time we tried. And, honestly, we shouldn’t have. We had the culture, but we hadn’t yet backed it up with the kind of benefits and policies that people deserve. So we changed that. We added better support, adjusted how we show up for each other, and put our money where our mouth was. This year’s recognition isn’t just about who we are – it’s about who we’re becoming.
We’ve heard things like:
“It’s a place where I feel safe being real.”
“Even during change, I know what’s going on.”
“I’ve never been part of a team where wins actually feel shared.”
That’s what got us through unexpected challenges and what makes it so great to celebrate wins together. A place where collaboration isn’t a buzzword – it’s how we breathe. Where transparency isn’t just something we talk about – it’s how we lead. And where people are treated like, well, people.
We are, by design, a company powered by innovation. We hold two patents and use machine learning and AI to drive performance across marketing, data science, and behavioral strategy. We’re building more AI that will bring proven behavioral science solutions to business at scale, fueling new growth and improvements into the market. That’s real, and we’re leaning into it. But tech alone isn’t enough.
Our advantage isn't just patents, algorithms, or tech stacks, though those sure assist us. It's how we combine those things with insight, empathy, and people who give a damn.
That’s what we’re going to spotlight over the next few months. Not just what Limetree does, but who we are, all through the voices of the people who’ve built this place. People who’ve shown up when it was easy, and when it wasn’t. People who know how to deliver, collaborate, and lead with heart in a data-driven world.
To our team, past and present: thank you.
To our clients: thank you for trusting not just our output, but our people.
To those still building: keep going. Not every year is a highlight reel. But those are often the ones that matter most.
– Tom