ALISON BANZIGER

During the recruitment process at xScion, potential hires may be asked about what benefits stood out at the other companies where they’ve interviewed. “We’re constantly asking for ideas when we meet folks,” CEO Alison Banziger says. These conversations, along with feedback from current employees, are a way for the tech company to stay ahead of trends and offer a new benefit or perk each year.

Company culture is more than a catchphrase at xScion, it’s deeply entwined in the company’s origins. After Banziger was laid off in the early 2000s from a tech startup — a company she describes as having an “amazing culture” — she lamented to her husband that she might never find another employer like that again. At his encouragement, she decided to co-found a company similarly focused on a strong culture, and xScion made Virginia Business’ Best Places to Work list seven years in a row.

Building strong, solid relationships with customers has also been a common theme at xScion for the past 20-plus years. The company has carved out a niche in regulatory technology —  or “regtech” — with a goal of offering the value of Big 5 consultants without the price tag and with added flexibility, Banziger says.

Before becoming an entrepreneur, she mostly worked in people-facing roles, and Banziger credits her days on the women’s track & field team at Mount St. Mary’s University for sparking her career trajectory. “I love the interaction with people and what you can learn from all walks of life.”

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