Reprint-GW25001AmbryGenetics

REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION

Congratulations to the winners of our inaugural Best Places to Work program!

GenomeWeb’s Best Places to Work honors workplaces within the life science research, diagnostics, and/or precision
medicine market who have created cultures that attract talent and develop employees.

This year’s winners, regardless of company size, exhibited some similar traits that helped them outrank their peers,
including flexibility and support for remote work, transparent communication, inclusive work environments, a commitment
to professional development, and a culture of collaboration.

Feb 10, 2025 | By GenomeWeb

100+ Employees

Ambry Genetics

• Headquarters: Aliso Viejo, CA
• US Employees: 810
• Industry/Focus: Clinical genetic testing and research
• Year founded: 1999

The leadership at Ambry Genetics has a saying: “feedback is a gift.” Twice a year, employees are surveyed about areas for improvement at the company, and the following year is dedicated to a major theme gathered from the survey, such as improved communication or increased recognition of achievements. “Titles get checked at the door,” said CEO Tom Schoenherr. “So, whether you're an entry-level individual who just started here a couple months ago, or you're the CEO, everyone has an equal voice.” This perspective on feedback is much of why Ambry was named a GenomeWeb Best Place to Work, he said.

Ambry, based in Aliso Viejo, CA, provides genetic testing for hereditary oncology, cardiology, neurology, and rare disease. Schoenherr said commitment to patients across the company is the other major factor in the company’s success as an employer. “I've never worked in a company with a culture that is this mission driven,” he said. “If you came to our headquarters and you met with all the different departments, you’d be able to feel and see what I'm describing here. It's the ribbon that goes through all of our departments.”

This patient-centric perspective is exemplified by Ambry's "Patients for Life" program, Schoenherr said, in which scientists and clinicians work to reclassify variants and update patients as new discoveries are made, ensuring they have the most up-to-date information about their conditions. Ambry is also committed to sharing variant data and supporting public data-sharing initiatives like ClinVar.

In their semi-annual surveys, employees are asked to describe Ambry’s culture as they see it. Collaboration and innovation are consistently named as primary qualities, Schoenherr said. “We're constantly bringing new, innovative products to market, and our whole company loves this, but our scientists in particular,” he said. “They want to be [on the] cutting edge. They want to work for a company that launches products like that.”

Ambry Genetics employees at the Orange County, CA, Walk to End Alzheimer's.

Diversity is another characteristic of Ambry that employees call out. “Diversity has to be deliberate,” Schoenherr said. “It's something that companies have to focus on.” Hiring managers at Ambry are encouraged to include candidates with diverse backgrounds in their applicant pool, and the talent acquisition team ensures that interview panels are diverse as well. Sixty percent of employees at all levels of the company are women, and 40 percent are people of color. At the director level and above, 50 percent are women and 28 percent are people of color. Employees can join a Women in Leadership event for leadership development opportunities and mentorship.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, departments other than the laboratory can implement a hybrid and/or remote program. Schoenherr said this has been good both for morale and productivity. To keep remote employees connected the company holds an “Ambry at Work” call every month to highlight new research, achievements, and patient stories.

Every employee has an individual development plan customized to their goals, and they are evaluated using metrics that are reassessed every six months. The company offers leadership development training for junior, mid-level, and senior managers, and analyzes employee training needs on an ongoing basis.

Ambry offers 12 paid holidays a year, flexible vacation days for salaried employees, with employees taking an average of 15 days a year, and parental leave benefit. The company offers HSA contributions, an employee assistance program, a workplace lactation program, and a 401(k) program.