The Best Core Values for Any Industry

At the center of every company are the core values that drive day-to-day activities. The core values of a company aim to guide the actions and behaviors of employees and executives alike.

Core values are more than just words on a wall. They’re the backbone of a company, the common thread that holds everyone together, uniting them with shared expectations and values.

The companies on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list have mastered living, breathing, and embodying their core values daily. Here’s a look at 10 of the best core values for companies from the 2025 Fortune Best Companies to Work for winners.  

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion are two of the most important core values businesses can have. Large corporations and small businesses alike must make sure all employees feel respected, valued, and welcome. Companies that prioritize inclusion and respect diversity offer equal opportunities to all and create a safe work environment for their diverse workforce.

Customer Commitment

Customer commitment drives company value and ensures customers will keep returning to your company for all of their needs. This loyalty will contribute to stable revenue and reduced switching behavior. Customers committed to your company or organization will be less likely to be swayed by competition. 

Teamwork

Teamwork can come in many forms. Companies that value teamwork work to effectively meet a goal. Organizations are more likely to succeed within teams rather than individually. Thus, a career founded on teamwork is personally and professionally beneficial.

Importance of Family

Now more than ever, men and women are balancing their careers with their family life. Working for a company that holds family as an important core value means that this work-life balance is respected. They understand the importance of family and are dedicated to maintaining this core value.

Corporate Responsibility

Corporate responsibility means corporations have a responsibility to the individuals and groups that their business affects. Like a social responsibility, the value of corporate responsibility means that a company will work towards the greater good of its employees and customers.

Self Improvement

Although one of many core values, self-improvement often gets overlooked. However, the importance of personal and professional growth cannot be understated. Companies that value self-improvement see greater employee engagement and lower turnover rates. A career should be founded on opportunities, growth, and passion. The core value of self-improvement is vital to an individual’s growth and development as an employee and as a human being.

Pursue Excellence

Any company that does not value the pursuit of excellence is setting itself up for failure. The pursuit of excellence, no matter the cost, is so important in the success of a business. Companies that value excellence are driven and excited by their efforts. This passion bleeds into the attitudes and success of employees.

Care for the Community

Within the past decade, the desire for environmentally friendly practices and procedures has grown exponentially. Whether this is through direct efforts or philanthropic pursuits, companies have taken steps to address this need. Caring for the community surrounding a business is an important core value.

Professional Development

The opportunity to participate in personal and professional development activities is very beneficial for growth. People should look for a career that offers developmental programs or educational seminars. Employees who are allowed to grow are more likely to be successful in their field.

Honesty

The core value of honesty is important for companies that are dedicated to establishing trust. Working for a company that values honesty means that you can trust that the work you are doing is founded on integrity. The importance of a trusting relationship between the company and customers cannot be understated.

Top 10 Core Values for Healthcare Companies

Core values set the foundation for a company’s culture and purpose. In the healthcare industry, a strong sense of personal and professional values is essential to success. Many healthcare professionals enter the healthcare industry to live out their core values. So, what are the core values of Arizona’s leading healthcare companies? Below, we have compiled the top 10 core values for healthcare companies in Arizona.

These core values are the driving force behind the actions and attitudes of healthcare companies. Furthermore, the top 10 core values of healthcare companies listed below further corporate success and cement an employee’s connection to their employer.  

Dignity Health Arizona: Dignity

Though this core value is embedded in their name, Dignity Health is dedicated to honoring the inherent dignity of each individual. Employees are encouraged to treat others with dignity and honor the uniqueness of each person they work with. This includes co-workers and patients alike. A company that values dignity encourages employees to be proud of the work they do.

Phoenix Children’s Hospital: Impact

It takes a strong level of compassion and dedication to work in pediatric care. Healthcare companies that cater to children must employ caring, driven individuals with the ability to make a lasting impact on a child and their family. At the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, leaving a positive impact on patients makes families feel comfortable and hopeful about the care their child is receiving.

Pinnacle Transplant Technologies: Personal Development

The healthcare industry is constantly changing. Thus, companies like Pinnacle Transplant Technologies are dedicated to helping their employees keep up. To do so, Pinnacle encourages employees to continue to learn and grow professionally and personally. Additionally, Pinnacle gives associates the tools to succeed and develop.

Translational Genomics Research Institute: Empowerment

Empowering both employees and patients is vital for success in the healthcare industry. Giving people a platform to be their best reaps positive results. Empowered employees are more engaged and excited about what they do. Empowering patients allocates a sense of control that is often lost in the healthcare industry, making patients feel more comfortable.

United Healthcare: Commitment to Clients

The healthcare industry is founded on client interactions. Without clients, these companies would fail to exist, so a strong commitment to these interactions is essential to the success of healthcare companies. Of this list of the top 10 core values for healthcare companies in Arizona, a commitment to clients is arguably the most important value. Industry professionals must be committed to a client’s needs and wants. Commitment to clients creates repeat customers and furthers brand awareness.

Mutual of Omaha: Family

Some of the most successful healthcare companies place family as one of their highest core values. For example, Mutual of Omaha is dedicated to supporting the families of their customers and employees alike. It is shown that a company that values family values the structural, functional, and behavioral attributes that make each family unique.

Mayo Clinic: Healing

As with any healthcare company, healing is a foundational value. A commitment to healing means that the company is dedicated to more than just a patient’s treatment plan. Rather, the company is dedicated to a patient’s overall health and well-being. Healthcare providers like the Mayo Clinic are driven to provide hope and healing to every patient.

Medtronic: Integrity

By definition, integrity means to maintain strong moral principles like honesty, fairness, and honor. Healthcare companies must establish trust between the company and its customers. To do so, companies like Medtronic are committed to the pursuit of integrity in all situations. A company founded on integrity values the importance of unconditional honesty, no matter what.

Humana: Diversity

The healthcare industry works with, arguably, the most diverse customer base in the world. Healthcare companies must be highly diverse to match and meet the needs of their clientele. Humana is an example of a company that successfully implements the value of diversity. For example, employees are encouraged to take pride in the things that make them unique. Workplace diversity makes employees feel respected and proud of the place they work.

Aetna: Excellence

The pursuit of excellence should be valued by companies in every industry. At Aetna, the value of excellence is a priority. Healthcare employees must be dedicated to providing high-quality care. The services you provide are a direct reflection of your core values, and the demand for excellence creates a standard of work that employees must adhere to.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to align your company’s image with your core values, reach out to BestCompaniesAZ. We specialize in employer branding and consulting and would love to help you become a values-oriented, award-winning employer.

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