PeoplePartners debuts on Fortune 100, validates ‘no lock-in’ model
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — PeoplePartners has made its debut on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in Southeast Asia for 2025, a milestone the outsourcing firm says offers measurable proof that its unconventional, no lock-in business model can succeed in a sector long defined by rigid contracts and high attrition.
The recognition places PeoplePartners among the region’s top employers and comes alongside a 97% Great Place to Work rating.
According to certification data, 97% of PeoplePartners employees say it is a great place to work, compared with 65% at a typical company in the Philippines.
The company sees the figures as equally important as the rank itself, thereby supporting its assertion that continuous funding for culture enables the adaptability of client relationships without compromising the stability of the workforce.
Culture as the foundation of flexibility
Company leaders say the Fortune recognition reflects how culture underpins that flexibility.
“This recognition really reflects the trust, culture, and care our team bring to life every day here at work,” said Reuben Brennan, CEO of PeoplePartners.
“I want to have a big thank you to everyone, to PeoplePartners of being part of this journey and to helping shape the workplace,” Brennan added.
The company co-founder, Anthony Rice, has stated that the success was surprising and emphasized that the emphasis was on creating a sustainable institution rather than on receiving awards.
“I couldn’t be more impressed or more proud with both our internal team and the amazing top talent that we’ve been able to recruit and genuinely care for,” Rice said.
Employee experience tied to client trust
Leaders across people operations and commercial teams echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that employee experience directly translates into client outcomes.
Ann Garcia, head of people services, said the recognition reflects collective effort.
“Our focus has always been to make sure that every team member feels cared for, supported and heard,” Garcia said. “It’s what we’ve built together.”
From a hiring perspective, Mo Paragas, head of talent acquisition, said candidates often sense the culture immediately.
“Candidates often tell us they feel the culture from day one, and that’s because of the people behind it,” Paragas said.
Kay Iyer, head of sales, linked the award to customer partnerships.
“This recognition reflects not only on the experience of our PeoplePartners team, but also the trust and partnership we share with our clients,” Iyer said.
Andrea Toribio, head of marketing, added that it reflects “the passion, resilience and dedication of everyone that makes this place truly a special company to work for.”
Beyond a single company, PeoplePartners’ Fortune 100 debut adds to a broader shift in the outsourcing industry, where talent retention and employee engagement are increasingly viewed as strategic assets rather than costs.
PeoplePartners ensures clients stay in control while empowering teams to deliver transparent performance dashboards, values-based hiring aligned with client mission, flexible scaling without penalty, no lock-in contracts with zero upfront fees, and a 90-day replacement guarantee.
As BPO providers face tighter labor markets and more demanding clients, the company’s results suggest that people-first models may be moving from idealistic experiments to competitive necessities—reshaping how success is measured across the sector.
PeoplePartners is currently subscribed to the Outsource Accelerator (OA) Source Partner Program, a powerful tool that helps BPO firms with marketing, sales, and business intelligence.
