A Message from Our CEO – April 2025

“Loneliness is not being alone. It’s being forgotten.”

- Charlie Brown

There he is—our lone protagonist in the Hopper-lit diner of corporate existence. Crisp suit, stiff collar, and not a soul to share the silence with. If you listen closely, you can hear the soft hum of fluorescent lights and the unspoken truth: work has gotten lonely.

New research confirms what many quietly feel—fewer people have close friends at work. Gallup reports that only two in ten employees say they have a best friend at the office, and the number is dropping. Remote work gets blamed, but let's not pretend this started with Zoom. The erosion began when hallway conversations were replaced by productivity apps, and vulnerability was pushed out by performance reviews.

We haven’t just streamlined the workplace. We’ve sterilized it. And in doing so, we’ve traded camaraderie for quiet—where friendship once sat, there’s just an empty booth.

Part of the problem is emotional, but a lot of it is economic. In a climate of constant layoffs, reorgs, and quarterly panic, people are hesitant to invest in something as fragile—and human—as friendship. Why form bonds if you’re just one budget cut away from a LinkedIn announcement? Going to work now feels less like coming home and more like checking into a hotel: temporary, transactional, and not worth unpacking your emotional baggage.

But leaders can change that. Especially for Gen Z—who crave authenticity, community, and purpose—intentional efforts go a long way. Start by creating space for non-transactional interaction. Carve out time in meetings for human check-ins, not just updates. Pair people up for projects based on interests, not just skills. Celebrate small wins publicly. Make inside jokes a team sport.

Model it yourself. Be just vulnerable enough to show that connection isn’t weakness—it’s culture.

You can’t manufacture a bestie. But you can make it safe—and even smart—to have one.

In the background, a young Bobby Dylan croons, 

“How does if feel? 

To be without a home, 

Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone”

Make. Work. Worthwhile. 

Warren