Episode Details

In this episode of Culture Uncovered, Jena Dunay sits down with Anju Choudhary, Chief People Officer at Xoxoday, to explore what it's like to lead HR at a global employee rewards and recognition company navigating rapid U.S. expansion.

Anju shares her unconventional path into HR and what it's like stepping into her first Chief People Officer role — including how she works through imposter syndrome using a simple framework of continuous learning, a personal "board of advisors," and paying it forward. The conversation dives into how Xoxoday builds culture across a globally distributed team, from onboarding frameworks to practical tools like the "readme" document for working effectively with new teammates.

The episode also covers how recognition itself functions as a cultural lever at Xoxoday, what kind of person thrives in their lean, remote-first U.S. team, and candid advice on standing out in a crowded job market.

What You'll Learn

• How Xoxoday's platform enables peer-to-peer recognition, not just top-down rewards
• The "four C's" of onboarding: communication, connection, compliance, and community
• How to use a personal and team "readme" to build trust and clarity on a new team
• Why culture must cascade from leadership and show up in everyday systems, not just stated values
• What kind of person thrives in a lean, hustle-driven, remote-first team
• Practical advice for candidates on standing out through targeted outreach, not generic applications

Company Highlights

• Industry: Employee rewards and recognition technology (HR tech)
• Customer Base: Global enterprise organizations, including some with 150,000+ employees, seeking to build inclusive, high-performing cultures
• Company Stage: 12-year-old company, ~400 employees globally, actively scaling its U.S. presence (currently ~12 U.S.-based employees)
• Culture: Agile, hustle-driven, globally distributed with distinct subcultures by geography and team
• Focus Areas: Recognition and rewards strategy, global culture-building, internal mobility, and remote team cohesion

Unique Perks & Programs

• Empuls Recognition Platform: Monthly point allotments employees can send to any peer, redeemable across a 150-country marketplace
• Cheers to Peers & Culture Champion Awards: Peer-nominated recognition tied directly to company values and individual KPIs
• Curated Holiday & Milestone Gifting: Region-specific rewards, including gold coin anniversary gifts and culturally relevant holiday gifting
• Memory Book: A collaborative, peer-contributed keepsake shared on each employee's work anniversary
• Fully Remote U.S. Team: Employees can be based in any state, with flexibility built around global time zones
• Internal Mobility: Demonstrated employee movement across departments (e.g., sales into marketing or event management)

To learn more about Xoxoday:

• Careers Page (they're hiring!)
• LinkedIn Page
• Anju's LinkedIn