Chip and Candra recently joined the CommerceLex Leadership Visit to Madison, Wisconsin. As a long-time sponsor and supporter of this annual trip, HRG values the unique opportunity to learn from peer cities and strengthen connections with business and civic leaders.
For this year’s visit, HRG was proud to sponsor the Workforce session featuring Epic Systems, a leading healthcare software company headquartered just outside of Madison in Verona, Wisconsin. The session, along with an in-depth tour of Epic’s expansive campus, left a lasting impression on the entire group.
Epic has been widely regarded for its impact on the medical technology landscape, but what stood out to us was their culture. The company’s commitment to creativity, employee-wellbeing, and purposeful work demonstrates many of the same values seen in our Best Places to Work program and in our day-to-day practices at HRG.
From whimsical and themed architecture to intentional workforce development, Epic is proof that when you invest in your people, innovation and success follows. In this post, we’re sharing a few highlights from the visit, and reflecting on how organizations can create a workplace that’s not just productive, but truly EPIC.
Who is Epic Systems?
Epic Systems Corporation is a privately held healthcare software company headquartered in Verona, Wisconsin. Founded in 1979 in a basement with just three part-time employees, Epic has grown into one of the most influential players in the health IT industry.
Epic is known for:
- End-to-end software suite that supports clinical, administrative, and financial functions in healthcare
- A strong emphasis on interoperability, data privacy, and AI innovation to improve diagnostics and operations
- Being employee-owned and developer-led with a culture that prioritizes long-term investment in R&D
The company specializes in electronic health records and healthcare software solutions that support medical institutions and is most known for creating the popular health app MyChart. According to data collected by Becker’s Hospital Review, Epic’s software manages the medical records of over 325 million patients, with its systems used by 78% of U.S. patients and over 3% of patients globally.
What Makes Epic So Great?
From visionary leadership to a culture of creativity and purpose, Epic has crafted an environment where innovation thrives and employees feel valued and empowered. Whether through its imaginative campus, commitment to sustainability, or investment in employee development, Epic Systems exemplifies what it means to build a workplace that inspires and endures. Here’s a closer look at what makes Epic so great, and what other organizations can learn from its success
Leadership
Judith (Judy) R. Faulkner founded Epic Systems in 1979 from a basement office with just $70,000 in startup capital and two part-time assistants. Her goal was to revolutionize healthcare through software that could securely and efficiently manage patient records. Described as a visionary, Faulkner has played a pivotal role in transforming how records are managed and shared across the healthcare industry. As of today, she is still at the helm as the CEO of the company, growing Epic into a multibillion-dollar enterprise. She has maintained a commitment to independence and quality, choosing to develop all software in-house and never take venture capital or acquisitions.
Culture
Epic prides itself on the culture it has cultivated in its business strategy. Employees are not just paid by the business to complete the work they are assigned, rather they are a part of what makes the company successful and are a contributing part of something much bigger than a paycheck. The company operates using a culture that signifies it as a place to excel, enjoy, explore, and embrace sustainability.
Epic’s key cultural values make an environment that includes and celebrates employees as they move throughout their careers. One of these values is ongoing learning for its employees. Employees are encouraged to explore and expand their knowledge through classes, workshops, presentations, and all other forms of professional development. They can also learn through the guidance and development of mentors through the company’s onboarding mentorship program. In the first few months, mentors encourage, support, and give advice to employees as they pursue new challenges.
In addition, Epic has a casual and cubicle-free campus, allowing employees to have their own offices or share with colleagues, which is supported collaboratively by their interconnected buildings. The company also provides employees with a chance to work internationally in different countries through their Epic International program. They value curiosity, ingenuity, leadership, and perseverance, and want their employees to take ownership over projects and find opportunities to grow.
Epic Systems also features a unique and symbolic tradition known as the Wall of Handprints (pictured above), which is located on its campus in Verona, Wisconsin. This wall is widely recognized as a rite of passage for employees who have worked with the company for 10 years. Each employee is invited to leave a painted handprint on the wall, symbolizing their personal contribution to Epic’s mission and their place in the company’s success. It’s a visual and lasting remainder that every individual plays a key role in building Epic’s legacy.
Campus
Epic’s campus is truly something to behold, featuring 37 interconnected office buildings spread across over 1,000 acres of land, making it one of the largest and most imaginative campuses in the United States. This massive area includes over 9 million square feet of workspace and expansive gardens, bike trails, and green spaces for employees. Employees are encouraged to be active on campus through getting involved in some of the 70+ clubs, participating in outdoor activities like biking or skating, and getting food from their award-winning culinary team. The campus also includes a remarkable five-story underground auditorium for large-scale internal events such as training, presentations, or information sessions from the CEO.
Beyond the size of the campus at Epic Systems, the company keeps the space interesting and encourages creativity through its themed architecture, featuring buildings inspired by castles, ships, and even wizardry. These themes stem from popular inspirations such as Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, nature, pop culture, space, and more. Some notable attractions are the Tangled castle, featuring Rapunzel’s hair famously hanging from the top (pictured left above) and the “Castaway” office building (pictured right above). The environment for work is fun, creative, and unbound from traditional corporate offices, creating a space for employees to enjoy where they work and find inspiration or relaxation from their surroundings.
Sustainability
Epic is committed to sustainable practices and growth. To reduce healthcare’s ecological footprint, they design software that helps customers operate in more sustainable ways such as reducing waste, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, and providing patients with options for care that require less travel. In addition, they use software to educate patients by informing them of sustainability and environmental risks, and help the community develop resilience and prepare for disasters through hosting services and continuity guidance.
Epic also practices sustainability on campus through operating with a “fifty-year decisions” guide to growth, looking for new ways to help the environment and community. The campus uses underground parking to create more green spaces and offers many forms of transportation, such as electric buses, bicycles, golf carts, and horses. In addition to this, most of the campus is powered using green sources, such as solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal heating and cooling. This reduces the carbon footprint and energy consumption of the buildings by a large margin compared to buildings of similar size. Finally, the company contributes even more to sustainable practices by investing in reclaimed and recycled materials for building, ethically and sustainably sourced food, committed horticulture, and the preservation of valuable land around campus.
What Can We Learn from Epic?
Epic offers a rich example of a strong workplace that cultivates higher satisfaction and increased productivity. It signifies how culture, design, and alignment can shape a workplace that attracts and retains top talent.
Workplace Design
Epic’s inviting and accommodating campus fosters an environment that some can only dream of, fueling creativity and collaboration and helping employees feel like they are a part of something bigger than a profit-driven corporation. The cubicle-free office spaces, themed buildings, activity rich extracurriculars, and massive meeting areas show that physical environments can act as investments for employee creativity, satisfaction, intrinsic motivation, and productivity. Design a workplace that is aligned with and symbolic of the values of the organization.
Employee Empowerment
Giving employees ownership over their work and instilling power in them from day one gives feelings of pride, resilience, and trust. Employees aren’t only given responsibilities without micromanagement; they’re given power over the meaningful work they do and are directly involved in realizing the goals of the organization.
Celebrating People
All employees are assets to a business and part of what drives success. Recognizing and celebrating these contributions creates a workforce that is proud of what they do and where they work. Epic’s culture shows that every employee leaves a mark, and that each person belongs where they are and has meaning in the business further than completing their daily tasks. Don’t just reward employees for completing their jobs, celebrate them and give them a sense of community to improve morale and retention.
Dedication to Sustainability
Organizations must recognize sustainability not just as a slogan, but as a value that is practiced at every level within the company. This value can be embedded into operations, not just marketing. Epic’s use of green energy and commitment to sustainability shows that companies can lead by example through real environmental contributions.
Bring the EPIC Experience to Your Organization
Epic Systems’ success story is a testament to the power of investing in people, purpose, and culture. At HRG, we believe every organization has the potential to build an inspiring, sustainable, and high-performing workplace regardless of the industry. If you’re ready to transform your organization’s culture, design a more engaging environment, or develop a talent strategy that aligns with your goals, our team is here to help. Contact us today to explore how HRG’s tailored solutions can help you create a workplace that’s not just productive, but truly epic.
