Sequoia

If you were at The Grove Conference NYC last week, you felt it – the energy, the conversations, and the momentum! Thank you to our clients, speakers, and team members for making The Grove Conference NYC such a meaningful day. We gathered at Convene Hudson Yards to talk about the challenges and opportunities facing people leaders today — from rising healthcare costs to the role of trust and belonging in the workplace. Our keynote speaker, Jon Levy, brought a fresh perspective on how connection and community can impact performance and culture, which sparked thoughtful conversations throughout the rest of the day. From our main stage client panel with Kim Nguyen at Alloy and Ciara O'Sullivan at Bilt, to breakout sessions and all the organic conversations that followed, the event gave us a chance to learn from each other and reconnect. We’re grateful to everyone who joined us and helped shape the experience. Until next time, New York! #GroveConference2025 #SequoiaGrove #ClientCommunity #TotalCompensation #PeopleFirstLeadership

If you’re leading people strategy in 2025, you already know the old playbook doesn’t work anymore. ▪️ AI is reshaping teams and redefining roles faster than most companies can keep up. ▪️ Healthcare costs are climbing — with smaller companies feeling the pressure most. ▪️ Return-to-office mandates are back, changing how we think about flexibility and compensation. Each of these shifts is tough on its own. Together, they’re forcing companies to completely rethink how they invest in their people. We’re seeing this play out across nearly 2,000 investor-backed companies, and the data tells a clear story: the smartest leaders aren’t solving these challenges in silos. They’re connecting the dots between compensation, benefits, and workforce strategy to stay competitive and control costs. Our latest blog breaks down what’s changing — and how companies are responding. From early equity refreshes in AI firms to flexible benefits and simplified leave policies, the strategies are evolving fast. All of it is backed by insights from Sequoia’s 2025 Total Compensation and Benefits Benchmark Report, which captures trends from over 150,000 employees across high-growth companies. If your people spend strategy still looks like it did in 2023, it’s time to take a fresh look. 👉 Read the blog: https://bit.ly/4o2UoU6 📊 Download the full report: https://bit.ly/4nxEmSa #CompensationStrategy #BenefitsLeadership #HRStrategy #SequoiaInsights

Healthy relationships are foundational to wellbeing. In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October), Sequoia is partnering with CORA - Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse - to offer a free, anonymous webinar open to all. During the webinar, we’ll explore: - What healthy relationships look like - How to recognize red flags - Safety planning tips - Ways to get help — or support someone who needs it 🗓 October 17, 2025 🕚 11:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM ET 👉 Register here: https://bit.ly/3KxFxCC Looking for more resources? Access DV prevention tools: https://bit.ly/4pT2tfE Support CORA’s mission with a donation:: https://bit.ly/486jwVk #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth #HealthyRelationships #RelationshipAbuseAwareness

The 2025 Sequoia Compensation & Equity Survey is now open. This annual benchmarking survey helps people-driven companies make smarter decisions about pay, equity, and incentive design. 🔗 Sign up here to participate and unlock exclusive access to our Compensation & Equity reports: https://bit.ly/4mV46XS The report includes: • Long-term and short-term incentive plan designs • Salary and pay practices • Sales compensation practices • Merit and promotional increases • Severance policies 📊 Early participants also receive our Trends Report, which includes fresh insights about how companies are adjusting compensation and equity strategies — and what to watch in the year ahead. 🗓️ Deadlines • October 3 → Participate by this date to receive the full report + trends report • October 17 → Participate by this date to receive the full report only If you have any questions, please drop a comment or reach out to your Sequoia team. #Compensation #TotalRewards #Insights

Executive compensation can be a growth lever or a growth killer. We’ve highlighted some of the most common mistakes we see fast-growing companies make with exec comp — and why they matter. Flip through the slides to see what to avoid. For more executive compensation tips, download The Investor-Backed Guide to Executive Compensation: https://bit.ly/47ufzJI #ExecutiveCompensation #InvestorBacked #SequoiaInsight #TotalCompensation

In recognition of #SuicidePreventionMonth (September), Sequoia kicked off a series of community walks and webinars in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Thanks to all who joined our first walk in San Francisco, bringing healing and awareness to our community. We invite you and your team to join us in taking action for #SuicidePreventionMonth. Here’s how: ➡️ Take one action from this helpful guide to raise awareness and provide free mental health resources to your team: https://bit.ly/4lTDMg1 ➡️ Share what your company did on LinkedIn using the hashtag #mentalhealthmatters25 (required), by October 31, and Sequoia will donate $500 to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention on your company’s behalf. #mentalhealthmatters25 #AFSP #OutoftheDarkness #OOTDWalks #SequoiaImpact

Health insurance is one of the most important decisions a growing company can make — and one of the hardest to get right. For small businesses and startups, the options can feel complex and costly. But with the right strategy, benefits can become a competitive advantage. In this popular blog post, Sequoia breaks down the key health insurance options available to emerging companies, including how to: ▪️ Balance cost and coverage ▪️ Navigate employee preferences and demographics ▪️ Scale your benefits strategy as your team grows Whether you're building your first plan or rethinking your current approach, this guide is a must-read for founders, HR leaders, and finance teams. Read the full post: https://bit.ly/4noMyV4 #SmallBusinessBenefits #StartupHR #TotalCompensation #HealthInsurance #FutureOfWork

Final call to join us at The Grove Conference in NYC — this Thursday, September 25! If you're a Sequoia client and haven’t registered yet, now’s the time. Designed for those shaping the future of work, The Grove Conference delivers the insights and community needed to lead with clarity and confidence. ✨ Keynote Spotlight: Jon Levy — behavioral scientist, NYT bestselling author, and founder of The Influencers Dinner — will share powerful insights on trust, connection, and belonging. His work helps leaders rethink how they engage people across culture, leadership, and growth. What else to expect: ▪️ Visionary speakers and expert-led roundtables ▪️ Sessions on AI, compensation, benefits, compliance and global pay transparency ▪️ A community of forward-thinking leaders shaping the future of work 📩 Reach out to your Sequoia contact for your invite and agenda. We’d love to see you there. #TheGroveConference2025 #HRLeadership #FinanceLeadership #FutureOfWork

Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15) is a meaningful time to honor the rich histories, vibrant cultures, and lasting contributions of people with roots in Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, and Spain. September 15 marks the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua—with Mexico and Chile following on September 16 and 18, respectively. Let's use this month to celebrate, learn from, and uplift the diverse traditions and voices of Hispanic and Latino communities. It’s also a moment to reflect on the values of family, resilience, hard work, and community — principles that continue to inspire and connect us. #HispanicHeritageMonth #SequoiaCommunity #SequoiaCulture 

Growth-stage executives are expanding their definition of success beyond the IPO. In Sequoia’s latest blog, Kyle Holm explores a powerful shift in founder mindset: M&A is no longer a fallback — it’s a strategic choice. As IPO windows remain closed and liquidity pressures mount, leaders are reframing what success looks like. Integration with a larger platform or partnering with private equity can unlock scale, impact, and continuity, without waiting for the bell to ring. Kyle breaks down the forces driving this shift, and explains why M&A is emerging as a proactive path to liquidity and growth. As executives rethink their strategies, compensation and benefits become more than retention tools; they're levers for alignment and long-term value. Explore the full post to learn how your people strategy can support your next chapter: https://bit.ly/46J8iVt #FounderStrategy #MergersAndAcquisitions #PrivateEquity #CompensationStrategy #GrowthStage