Another Successful Semi-Annual Palooza on the Books
February 14, 2025 | Company News
February 14, 2024 – Last week, Forward Financing hosted its semi-annual Forward Palooza, where employees from across the United States and the Dominican Republic gathered in Boston for two days of team-building, company updates, celebrating a successful 2024, and looking ahead to 2025.
As a remote-first organization that offers employees the flexibility to work and live where they want, Forward understands that meaningful connections are pivotal to a thriving workplace. That’s why they go the extra mile to create opportunities for the team to come together.
Over the course of two days, Forward hosted its inaugural Headliner event at the New England Aquarium’s Simmons Theater. This internal company all-hands gathering marked the unveiling of a new strategy, set of goals for the year, and a refreshed mission statement, reinforcing the company’s commitment to providing small businesses with the working capital they need to succeed.
The team also spent time connecting cross-functionally with colleagues they don’t often work with and giving back to the community—a core pillar of the organization—by assembling winter care kits for the residents of the Pine Street Inn, a Boston-based nonprofit dedicated to ending homelessness.
Palooza also gave employees the chance to engage directly with senior leadership, including newly appointed President & CEO Jason Mullins.
Forward takes pride in fostering a people-first culture, creating an environment that nurtures and empowers their team. This approach builds a cohesive, high-performing workforce, which drives exceptional results. In turn, these results enable Forward to deliver an outstanding experience to their customers, furthering their mission. This cycle of support and success strengthens both the team and the customer experience, continuously reinforcing their commitment to their mission.
“As a company, we’re committed to taking care of our people because we know that when they feel supported, they’re able to better serve our customers,” says Forward’s Chief People Officer, Shannon Braley. “Employee experience is a top priority, and Palooza is the perfect opportunity for our team to immerse themselves in our unique culture and build excitement for the year ahead.”
The event wrapped up with a fire-and-ice themed celebration at the Cyclorama, where the team raised a glass to another successful year.
About Forward Financing
Forward Financing is a financial technology company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts with an operational hub in Santiago, Dominican Republic that provides fast, flexible capital to US small businesses that have been long underserved by traditional financing options. By simplifying the requirements, streamlining the process, and using advanced proprietary technology, Forward is often able to deliver approvals within hours and funds that same day — giving more businesses the financial opportunity they need to thrive. Plus, with their dedicated teams and award-winning service, customers get personalized support when they need it most.
Since 2012, Forward has expanded access to capital by providing over $3.2 billion in funding to more than 67,000 small businesses. The company is A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau with an Excellent / 4.7 stars rating on Trustpilot.com. Forward is also recognized as a Best Place to Work by Built In Boston, certified as a Great Place to Work®, and is committed to helping their people and the small businesses they serve to achieve their full potential.