From words to work: How Chimers bring our values to life

Every year, Chime’s Values Awards recognize team members who consistently demonstrate what it means to live our company values.

These awards aren’t handed down from the top, they’re driven by peer nominations. Chimers across the company put forward colleagues whose work stands out not just for what they achieve, but how they do it: with care, clarity, and a shared commitment to our values and our members.

This year’s recipients reflect what our values look like in practice—not as slogans, but as day-to-day decisions, team habits, and long-term ways of working. From cross-functional collaboration to regulatory execution to bold product bets, these reflections offer a snapshot of Chime’s culture in action.

We sat down with a few of this year's winners to hear about how they put Chime's values into practice. 

Winner Spotlights

Grace Hayes-Larson | Product Management

For Grace, being member-obsessed isn’t just about what Chime builds, it’s about how we make decisions.

"PMing is a lot of decision-making, and there are rarely ‘objectively right’ answers when it comes to member experience," she says. "I’ve never regretted a decision made in favor of our members, and I’ve never regretted advocating for them, even when the outcome lands differently. As long as we're having the right conversations and sharing the right context, then every decision and challenge moves us forward."

She brings that same clarity to collaboration. "Member obsession is the greatest shared goal across Chime—the mission is the motivation. It’s easy to find common ground and shared urgency when we’re prioritizing member needs."

Grace’s favorite career advice she received was given to her while she was working on a peach orchard. "The farmer I worked for thanked me for my work every day," she says. "I asked about why he thanked people he was paying, and his response was that everyone makes a choice every day to spend their time and energy here, and decides how to show up the next day. Thanking people for their effort demonstrates that you recognize and appreciate those choices."

Jonathan Kurup | Brand & Community

Jonathan starts every challenge with the same question: What’s best for our members? "That lens makes decisions clearer, pushes me to collaborate more, and helps us execute with authenticity," he says.

Jonathan’s proudest moments this year didn’t happen behind a screen—they took place out in the community. "Everytime I see members light up when they see Chime in their community, from financial education events or through a story we helped share," he says. "They are the driving force why we’re here and I’m always happy to hear how much they love Chime over other banking options."

His favorite career advice? "Lead with heart and be yourself. When you genuinely care about the people you serve, the impact—and the results—follow."

Danko Miocevic | Engineering 

For Danko, ownership means two things: knowing when to lead, and knowing when to bring others in.

"Being an owner doesn’t mean doing everything yourself, it means bringing the right people in at the right time and making space for their expertise," he explains. "Involving partners early always leads to better outcomes for our members. At the same time, ownership also means that even when many people contribute, someone still needs to make sure the work comes together smoothly. I try to take responsibility for that part: keeping things aligned, making sure risks are understood, and helping the project get across the finish line. It’s a team effort, but ownership is what keeps everything moving in the right direction."

His advice for putting this value into practice? Stepping beyond what you signed up for. 

"Ownership doesn’t end when you write the last line of code. It’s not just building something, but helping it succeed. When we take responsibility for the full lifecycle of what we build, we make things better not just for our teams, but for our members."

Jarred Kahan | Risk Management

Jarred’s most meaningful project this year was when he led an AI initiative within the Financial Crime Investigations team. "What made it truly meaningful was having a leader who trusted me when I said, "We can do this better," and supported the idea of building something that hadn’t been done before," he says. "Even more powerful was watching cross-functional teams come together around a shared goal, bringing deep expertise, curiosity, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. I’m incredibly proud of how the team approached every obstacle not as a blocker, but as an opportunity to improve the outcome. Seeing people lean into the unknown, do what they do best, and collaborate so naturally was inspiring. It reinforced for me that bold ideas become real when you have the right people, trust, and a culture that believes better is always possible."

That mindset—bold but grounded—also shapes how he approaches high-impact decisions.

"Living this value means seeing challenges as invitations, not constraints. It creates space for honesty, curiosity, and empathy. Being bold isn’t about taking reckless risks, it’s about having the confidence to be genuine, the humility to learn, and the commitment to build better solutions for our members.

Leah DiBenedetto | Associate, FP&A

For Leah, progress doesn’t happen in silos, and neither does trust. "The wins I’m most proud of this year came from simply listening and jumping in to help," she says. "That’s what builds trust, strengthens partnerships, and delivers real impact."

She sees "winning together" not as a team cheer, but as an operating model: one that’s grounded in initiative, care, and collaboration.

"Show up before you're asked. That’s how you earn trust—and how you keep momentum."

Faye Christoff | Manager, Disputes Experience

In a space as regulated as disputes, Faye has learned that "getting it right" matters more than getting it fast. "Respect the Rules has always been at the forefront of my work," she says. "This value pushes me to think creatively within the boundaries—not around them."

She points to her team’s SOP overhaul as a highlight of the year: they reworked more than 20 SOPs for clarity, consistency, and compliance.

"It was no small feat—we had to pivot multiple times, but the team stayed committed and collaborative. These changes set a stronger foundation for how we grow."

To Faye, respecting the rules doesn’t mean being rigid—it means being responsible. And that’s how progress lasts.

Meredith Dupont | Sr. Director, Marketing

For Meredith, compliance isn’t a blocker, it’s a team sport. "Bring partners in early, ask questions, and assume good intent," she says. "The rules become easier to navigate when everyone feels ownership of them—and you end up with smarter work because of it."

She’s known for asking tough questions—not to challenge for the sake of it, but to push the work forward.

"One of the best pieces of career advice I’ve received is to always ask why. Why do we do it this way? Why didn’t we consider another option? Asking thoughtful questions is a way to stay curious and challenge the status quo with positive intent."

That mindset—transparent, collaborative, and grounded—has made her a go-to partner across teams.

Kishan Kumar | Senior Software Engineer

Kishan’s proudest moment this year came through a critical, multi-team initiative launched in partnership with Risk, Product, and Chime’s bank partners.

"Everyone came together around a single goal," he says. "Seeing people show up with such care and urgency reminded me why I love being part of this company."

His mindset is simple and stems from his favorite piece of career advice: "The most valuable career advice I’ve received and one I strongly believe in is to take ownership of your work from start to finish. When you take full accountability, trust and growth tend to follow naturally."

For Kishan, living Chime’s values really guides how he shows up at work. "When something comes up, I try to fully own it and see it through, even when things get messy," he says. "I’m not afraid to take a bold step if it helps us move forward, but I always make sure I’m working closely with others because the best results come from winning together. I’m also mindful of the rules and guardrails we have in place. Most importantly, I always think about what’s best for our members, that helps me make decisions and stay grounded when things aren’t straightforward."

Layla Lu | Senior Data Analyst

For Layla, one of the most defining moments of the year came when her team tackled a time-sensitive project together—and delivered. "What stood out most was how it never felt like an obligation, but the whole thing felt like a true team moment," she says. Her team stayed in the office until midnight to deliver, driven not just by urgency but by mutual trust and energy. "The way we came together turned a demanding deadline into something genuinely fun and deeply collaborative. It’s a level of camaraderie I’ll carry with me throughout my career."

She credits that mindset—team-first, mission-aligned—to a long-term perspective on growth.

"A career is a marathon, not a sprint," she says. "It rewards patience, consistency, and resilience far more than short bursts of speed. When you focus on learning and doing the right work with intention, the rest—growth, recognition, and opportunities—tends to follow."

The Values Awards are more than a moment of recognition—they’re a reflection of how values become culture, and how culture scales through people.

To this year’s honorees: thank you for setting the standard, and to every Chimer who nominated a peer: thank you for noticing what matters. And to all those bringing our values to life every day—keep going. This is how we build trust, drive progress, and shape the future of Chime.