IEX EXCHANGE is a U.S. stock exchange founded to build fairer markets. Known for its focus on transparency and investor protection, IEX pioneered technology innovations like the Speed Bump—a 350-microsecond delay designed to level the playing field for all investors. As a mission-driven company, IEX Exchange blends cutting-edge engineering with a commitment to integrity, helping create more equitable outcomes in the financial markets.
Financial Services | Headquartered in NYC, NY | Privately held | $US35 million in annual revenue | 200 employees
We've partnered for 4+ years on experiential strategy and planning; experience concept and design; engagement; culture and employer branding.
BELONGING THAT FUELS RESULTS
Since its founding, IEX has built a culture rooted in fairness, innovation, and inclusion. This commitment extends beyond the company’s industry-defining technology to the way it hires, develops, and supports its people.
When Andrea Ledford joined as the company’s first Chief People Officer, she and the People & Culture team began designing an integrated approach to talent and culture that put people at the center. The first major innovation in this journey was the creation of a performance management process that would do more than manage performance; it would fuel purpose, connection, and shared accountability across the company.
Enter Experience Willow. Together, we set out to co-create a solution that would embed belonging into the way performance was defined, managed, and experienced.
ANDREA LEDFORD
CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER ,
IEX GROUP
Experience Willow helped us turn performance into connection—creating clarity, accountability, and a stronger sense of belonging across IEX.
CHALLENGES TO OVERCOME
Clarity of purpose
Employees lacked visibility into how their work connected to IEX’s mission and goals. Without clear direction, it was hard to prioritize, stay aligned, or see the impact of their efforts—limiting engagement and confidence in the company’s path forward.
CROSS-TEAM Alignment
As IEX expanded, teams often worked in silos without a shared structure to connect their priorities. This led to duplication, misalignment, and missed opportunities to collaborate toward common goals.
accountability
Employees craved feedback, growth, and clear expectations—balanced with trust and support. Without a consistent framework, accountability felt uneven and development disconnected from daily work, making it harder to foster a culture of belonging.
DESIGNING FOR BELONGING
Using human-centered design and agile methodologies, Experience Willow partnered with IEX to design VAMOS, a dynamic performance management system that puts people and belonging at the center.
Named after the Spanish phrase for “Let’s go!”, VAMOS is more than a rallying cry—it’s a structured framework that connects business strategy to individual growth through five key elements:
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Vision
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Actions
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Measures
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Obstacles
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Standards
The VAMOS process begins at the company level (“Us”), cascades to teams (“We”), and ends with each employee’s personal plan (“Me”). This creates a direct line of sight from IEX’s strategic goals to every individual’s contributions—while encouraging employees to own their development, embrace feedback, and stay agile through quarterly check-ins.
Belonging, Performance & Progress—Delivered
The results in just the first alone were exceptional—both in terms of business performance and employee experience:
100%
company-wide participation
+11
point increase in employee engagement
+19
point increase in team trust and respect
+12
point increase in employees feeling safe discussing career aspirations
Most importantly, VAMOS became a catalyst for connection. Employees reported feeling more aligned, more valued, and more supported in their growth.
One employee shared:
“VAMOS was needed at IEX. It’s quickly driven better behaviors, more alignment, and much needed trust from top leadership to individual employees.
Today, VAMOS is a sustainable, evolving performance system that continues to grow with IEX’s business. It’s a model of what happens when performance is powered by purpose—and when companies invest in systems that create clarity, accountability, and belonging for every employee.
