In this episode of Culture Uncovered, Jena Dunay sits down with Marisa Alexander-Daspit, Chief People Officer at Ibotta, to explore what it's like to build culture at a Denver-based tech company that's grown from a rebate app into a broader performance marketing network.
Marisa shares her seven-and-a-half-year journey at Ibotta, starting as Director of Talent Management before stepping into the CPO seat, and what convinced her the company's values genuinely matched what she experienced day to day. The conversation dives into Ibotta's deep investment in Denver as a community, why the company expanded its office footprint rather than downsizing, and how a hybrid, in-office culture is being intentionally rebuilt around collaboration and connection.
The episode also covers Ibotta's practical, employee-driven perks, its approach to career growth in a company that's matured past classic "startup" dynamics, and an honest look at the ongoing challenge of communicating through organizational change — especially amid growing anxiety around AI's impact on the workforce.
What You'll Learn
How Ibotta evolved from a consumer rebate app into a broader performance marketing network
Why Ibotta chose to expand its office footprint in Denver rather than downsize amid remote-work trends
How the company's I-B-O-T-T-A values show up in daily rhythms like a weekly company-wide standup
What kind of curiosity and problem-solving mindset helps someone thrive in Ibotta's "mature startup" stage
How Ibotta approaches change communication amid rising workforce anxiety around AI
What roles are actively hiring across tech, sales, and revenue operations
Company Highlights
Industry: Consumer technology and performance marketing (rebates and retail media)
Customer Base: Everyday consumers ("savers") and consumer packaged goods brands, reaching shoppers through platforms like Instacart, Walmart, and DoorDash
Company Stage: ~830 core employees, two-thirds based in Denver, with a matured "high-growth" (not early-startup) culture
Culture: Values-driven, curious, collaborative, and deeply rooted in its home city of Denver
Focus Areas: Community investment, hybrid collaboration, employee development, and navigating AI-driven change
Unique Perks & Programs
Annual Dinner Perk: A covered dinner out for the employee and someone important in their life, as a way to say thank you to both
Five-Year Travel Perk: A ~$2,000 grossed-up travel budget awarded at the five-year tenure mark, earmarked specifically for rest and recharge
Flexible Education Benefit: Covers tuition, conferences, or student loan payments (one or the other), supporting non-linear career growth
Coursera Access for All Employees: Ongoing upskilling opportunities, especially amid AI-related shifts
Summer Patio Sessions: Weekly Thursday happy hours hosted by employee resource groups in the new office space
Twice-Yearly Company-Wide All-Hands: In-person gatherings designed to connect remote and in-office employees
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