Every year in February, G2ers from around the world gather—virtually and in-person— for our annual Kickoff. It’s a multiple-day event for the global team to reflect on the past year and set the strategy and goals for the year ahead. The days are packed with meetings, workshops, and collaborative sessions but there are also moments of celebrations. One of the most anticipated moments of celebrations each year is the announcement of our PEAK Professionals of the Year.
Our PEAK Professionals of the Year award is actually the culmination of a 12-month long campaign. Every month at G2, we award 2 individuals who have driven meaningful business impact while fully embodying our PEAK values. These outstanding individuals, a total of 24 for the year, are nominated by their colleagues and monthly winners are selected by G2 Leadership. At the end of every fiscal year, the list of 24 winners is voted upon by the G2 Global team, with final votes cast by ELT to decide the top 3 winners..
The top three are announced and celebrated at Kickoff each year, but this year’s celebration was extra special because members of our APAC and EMEA teams were able to fly in for the event. It was the first time we had a truly global in-person Kickoff in G2’s history and because of that, all three of our PEAK Professionals of the Year for 2024— Aravind Raj, Charlie Albuery, and Nicole Cuillo—were present in Chicago to receive their awards!
Aravind, Charlie, and Nicole are all truly deserving winners who consistently delivered tangible impact for the business while also demonstrating PEAK values in their ways of working throughout the year. If you work in SaaS, you know this is no small feat given the competitiveness and rapid change of this industry. It requires truly agility, resilience, and ingenuity to succeed in SaaS.
That’s why in this celebration and spotlight of our three PEAK Professionals of the Year for 2024, we wanted to dive a little bit deeper into the secrets of their success. I asked each of them, “How do you maintain PEAK performance while navigating the fast pace and constant change of the SaaS industry?”
|
First Place
Aravind Raj |
“I find SaaS to be an exciting industry because it is so fast-paced and constantly pushes me to upskill to stay on top of my game. Over the past year and a half, especially with the rise of AI, I’ve realized that we should always be open to experimenting and innovating. It’s never too late to learn something new. It’s made me more intentional about questioning why we do what we do, and whether my work truly drives value for the business and our customers. When it comes to the workplace, I believe that if we’re honest, show mutual respect for our teammates, and treat others the way we want to be treated, it naturally creates an authentic and kind space so everyone can succeed.” |
|
Second Place
Charlie Albuery |
“Tech's just like a rollercoaster, it’s always moving fast. There's plenty of changes in direction and the main thing is to make sure you enjoy the ride. My biggest tip for maintaining PEAK performance in an environment this change-heavy is continually leaning into your team and your cross-functional partnerships. Over the past few years I've seen strategies, workflows, and targets come and go. But the one piece that’s constant is how much I've relied on my colleagues to help me perform and push me to grow. We always win together and we never lose alone.” |
|
Third Place
Nicole Cuillo |
“In the fast paced and changing SaaS industry, I stay at PEAK performance by combining structure, resourcefulness, and recovery. I time-block deep work, manage priorities through email and Asana, and lean into AI tools to sharpen messaging and speed up tasks. When I hit a wall, I’m quick to tap a teammate or dig through internal resources for answers. And just as important—I build in daily recovery with Pilates or a long walk. It helps me clear my energy from work to come back more focused and ready for what's next!" |
We are so proud of Aravind, Charlie, and Nicole for all they have accomplished and are grateful for their contributions to the business. Our industry can be challenging and taxing at times, but as our three PEAK Professionals of the Year show us— with the right mindsets it can also be exciting, rewarding, and you can come out on top.
