Looking to better define success for Elev8 GovCon Honorees, Emerald One shares how, as a WOSB partner with diverse perspective, it is prepared to embrace aggressive growth at VA and beyond; how the example of a 1200% revenue increase for one partner demonstrates its dedication to creating real, measurable results and making a lasting, positive impact; and how creating space for individuals preserves culture through growth.
Elements of Brilliance
Being a good partner directly reflects our Elements of Brilliance™ methodology, starting with leadership. When we founded the company, we made a commitment to “work with the people we want to work with,” and we stay true to that. We seek out clients and partners who are actively engaged in the work they’re doing and share our dedication, curiosity, and drive to make a positive impact. By focusing on trust and consistent, open communication, each partnership becomes a true collaboration where we bring our best every day to help our partners and clients achieve their goals.
We’re more than a partner—we’re an active part of the journey. For us, partnership isn’t a checkbox; it’s a daily commitment to collaboration built on trust and transparency. We work hard, stay engaged, and add value to every project, because when our clients and partners succeed, so do we.
A Cornerstone of Trust
Trust is the cornerstone of Emerald One’s culture and is essential to our decision to remain intentionally small. To scale efficiently and work seamlessly, we need to trust each other and build trust with our clients. This commitment to trust begins in our hiring process: at least two of our three founders interview each candidate to ensure they not only have the technical skills but can align with our values of knowledge, free-thinking, honesty, quality, diversity, and inclusion.
Without a foundation of trust, teamwork on complex projects would break down, with everyone playing each other’s positions or assuming others are covering critical responsibilities. Trust enables us to confidently assign roles and responsibilities, allowing each team member to make independent decisions aligned with our clients’ goals. This empowers them to represent us effectively, develop their skills, and contribute to our company’s direction and growth.
For us, trust is a two-way street—leadership trusts employees to perform at their best, and employees trust leadership to cultivate a positive culture as we grow. This allows us to build a collaborative environment where diverse thoughts and approaches are valued, and where each person feels supported to bring fresh perspectives to our clients.
Connection and Community
Our journey has been unique from the start. We launched Emerald One in January 2020, and that period taught us—and the rest of the world—countless lessons about connection and communication in a fully remote environment.
As a fully remote team, our company isn’t defined by four walls. It’s defined by the people we’ve hired and what they bring to the table. We’ve been able to bring on so many unique, passionate individuals who use their talents to make Emerald One a place where they can grow and thrive. We place a strong emphasis on transparency, community, and a connected virtual environment, using platforms like Kumospace to enable real-time collaboration and make remote work feel engaging and dynamic.
We extend that transparency to our monthly Brilliance Sessions and weekly Brew Breaks, where team members can share their progress, celebrate successes, and continually learn from one another. Every once in a while, we’re lucky to take those interactions offline for group volunteering to deepen those bonds and reinforce our commitment to social responsibility.
Preserving Values Through Growth
We embed our culture into everything we do—from onboarding new team members to consistent leadership engagement—ensuring that every team member feels connected to our core values from day one. We practice what we preach, aligning our team with the same values we emphasize to our clients and partners.
As we grow, we adapt to meet our team’s evolving needs while preserving those values. Leadership actively models these values by staying accessible and fostering open dialogue that allows our culture to evolve authentically through feedback and collaboration. We focus on delivering and performing as a cohesive team.
We value each person’s unique strengths and encourage diverse ideas, creating an environment where everyone can be their authentic selves. By intentionally staying small and tightly connected, we cultivate a strong, inclusive, and adaptable culture. Our team’s success depends on every individual’s well-being and growth, and we’re as committed to each other’s personal and professional development as we are to meeting our company’s goals.
Instead of trying to fit people into rigid molds, we create space for team members to bring their unique skills, talents, and passions to enhance our collective creativity and impact. Regular learning sessions, open discussions, and honest feedback help us grow as individuals and as a team. This commitment to the whole person reinforces our culture as we expand, ensuring we remain true to our mission and each other.
A WOSB Partner with Diverse Perspective
Trust, transparency, and empathy shape every interaction we have with clients and partners, enabling us to build strong, lasting relationships. We immerse ourselves in our clients’ challenges to gain a deep understanding of their needs and put their desired outcomes first, allowing us to adapt our methods to each unique situation.
We’re committed to maximizing value through strategic digital transformation and are constantly seeking innovative ways to achieve desired outcomes, even when it requires challenging the status quo. As an active and engaged partner, we work hard to uphold our partners’ quality standards and look for opportunities to elevate and celebrate the great work they’re doing. Our track record, including a 1200% revenue increase for one partner, demonstrates our dedication to creating real, measurable results and making a lasting, positive impact.
As a woman-owned and minority-owned small business, we’re an attractive partner for companies looking to work with teams with diverse perspectives. We work best with clients and partners who share our commitment to collaboration, innovation, and engagement and are eager to co-create transformative solutions. Our ideal partner is forward-thinking, open to new ideas, and driven to make a real impact.
A Look to the Future
We’re ready to embrace bold, aggressive growth while ensuring that growth meets our clients’ and partners’ needs.
We’re proud of our existing footprint in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and are continually looking to expand our services to the Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration. Outside of VA, we’re actively seeking work in the Department of Commerce, NASA, and the Department of Health and Human Services. In addition to these agency targets, we’re looking at select opportunities based on our capabilities that allow us to broaden our client base.
Growth for the sake of growing larger isn’t really growth—we intend to be strategic and purposeful in the efforts we pursue to help our clients reach their full potential and assist our partners in delivering effective, innovative solutions. We sincerely appreciate all our clients and partners who are taking this journey with us, and we’re looking forward to a brilliant future ahead.
Changing the Status Quo
As a woman- and minority-owned business, we’re excited to connect with partners who value diversity and inclusion as much as we do. Founding Emerald One during the COVID-19 pandemic taught us the power of resilience, empathy, and adaptability—qualities we bring to every project.
We’re more than consultants—we’re a team of passionate individuals dedicated to leaving a positive mark in every engagement. Our ability to innovate and adapt sets us apart—not just in terms of technology but in how we approach culture, relationships, and social impact. As we grow, our commitment to creating meaningful change and fostering an inclusive environment remains central to who we are. As a fully virtual team, we take pride in our close-knit, engaging work environment, using real-time collaboration tools and regular team events to bring our team together.
We don’t settle for “the way things have always been done;” instead, we constantly challenge the status quo, driven by curiosity and a desire to find better ways to serve our clients. Our focus on innovation and excellence ensures that we meet each client’s unique needs and deliver customized solutions to create lasting value. We look forward to building transformative partnerships in the years ahead.
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