MediaAlpha's Decade of Great: Culture as a Competitive Edge

LOS ANGELES, CA – April 24, 2026 – While many companies talk about the importance of culture, MediaAlpha, Inc. (NYSE: MAX) has spent the last ten years proving it. The insurance technology leader today announced it has earned the prestigious Great Place To Work® Certification™ for the tenth consecutive year, a rare milestone built on a foundation of exceptional employee trust and satisfaction.

The certification is not a subjective award; it is based directly on employee feedback. This year, an impressive 95% of MediaAlpha team members described the company as a great place to work—a figure that towers 38 points above the average U.S. company. This decade-long consistency in fostering a high-trust environment was recently celebrated at the Great Place To Work® For All Summit™ in Las Vegas.

A Decade of Distinction in a Demanding Industry

Achieving Great Place To Work® Certification™ is a rigorous process. It requires a high score on the Trust Index™ Survey, which measures employee perceptions of credibility, respect, fairness, pride, and camaraderie. To maintain this standard for ten straight years, through market fluctuations, a global pandemic, and the relentless pace of the adtech industry, is a testament to a deeply embedded cultural philosophy.

Great Place to Work®, the global authority on workplace culture, reserves its 'Decade of Great' recognition for organizations that demonstrate this sustained commitment. It signals that a positive culture is not a momentary initiative but an enduring operational principle. This is particularly noteworthy in the high-pressure adtech and insurance sectors, where burnout is common and talent is in high demand.

“Great Place To Work Certification benchmarks the exceptional workplace that MediaAlpha has built, highlighting their trust-based leadership and commitment to team member growth and well-being,” said Paul Wolcott, President of Great Place To Work®. He noted that such companies go beyond simply measuring engagement to actively fostering leadership and trust, which “benefits both people and business” and drives “sustained market-beating performance.”

The ROI of a People-First Culture

MediaAlpha’s achievement is more than just a feel-good story; it’s a case study in the return on investment of a people-centric strategy. The company, which describes itself as the insurance industry’s leading programmatic customer acquisition platform, operates at the nexus of data, technology, and performance marketing. In 2025 alone, its platform powered $2.2 billion in advertising spend and transacted over 141 million consumer referrals, demonstrating significant market impact.

Research consistently shows a strong correlation between high-trust workplace cultures and superior business outcomes. Certified companies often experience lower employee turnover, which reduces recruitment costs and preserves institutional knowledge. They also report higher levels of productivity and innovation, as employees who feel psychologically safe and valued are more likely to go the extra mile. MediaAlpha's leadership believes this cultural foundation provides a significant competitive advantage.

In an industry built on performance metrics and tangible results, the company’s sustained investment in its people appears to be its most powerful differentiator. The trust and care extended to its internal team are reflected in the relationships built with clients, creating a virtuous cycle of high performance and strong partnerships.

The Blueprint for a Resilient Workplace

MediaAlpha’s success is not accidental; it is the result of a deliberate, long-term strategy. The company’s culture is anchored by four core values: accountability, curiosity, transparency, and a long-term focus. According to the company, these are not just principles on a wall but the operating system behind every decision.

This philosophy is backed by tangible investments in employee well-being and growth. A robust training budget funds professional certifications, technical skills, and leadership development. A promote-from-within philosophy reinforces the idea that employees can build a career, not just hold a job. This approach has remained consistent through hiring surges and market shifts, which is a key element of its resilience.

“What strikes me most about ten consecutive years isn’t the number, it’s the consistency,” noted Tawny Graham, Vice President of People Operations at MediaAlpha. “Sustaining that standard through growth spurts, market shifts, and constant change is a different thing entirely. Our people are the reason we’re here, and this milestone is a testament to them.”

To support its team, the company utilizes a hybrid work model, offers company-wide “Recharge Days” to prevent burnout, and runs programming designed to keep its distributed workforce connected and engaged. These initiatives demonstrate a modern understanding of what it takes to attract and retain top talent in today's competitive landscape.

Benchmarking Excellence: By the Numbers

To fully appreciate MediaAlpha's achievement, it is essential to contextualize its employee satisfaction metrics. The company’s 95% satisfaction rate is exceptional, but its Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) of 95 is even more telling. The eNPS measures how likely employees are to recommend their company as a place to work, with scores ranging from -100 to +100.

In the tech industry, a good eNPS typically falls between 20 and 40. A score above 50 is considered excellent. A score of 95 is nearly unheard of, placing MediaAlpha in an elite, world-class category for employee advocacy. This indicates an overwhelming majority of employees are not just satisfied but are active promoters of the company's culture.

When compared to industry benchmarks, where employee engagement in the broader U.S. workforce often struggles to exceed 40%, MediaAlpha's consistent high scores underscore a culture that is not only working but thriving. The company's ability to maintain an 88% overall engagement score and this stellar eNPS through a decade of growth and change is the ultimate proof of a culture built to last.