Few startups enter the market with as much momentum as Lumos.
In May, the company burst out of stealth with a funding round of more than $30 million that was led by one of Silicon Valley’s premier venture capital firms, Andreesen Horowitz, also known as a16z. Since then the company has added some big names to its client list, including Vox Media and BuzzFeed. Lumos hit the ground running in large part because its technology helps solve a real problem that all large companies face: shadow IT.
This term is used to describe the technology employees use without company approval, or “in the shadows.” While the name sounds sinister the intent is often anything but: Think about all of the times you’ve created a new account or downloaded an app in an effort to work more efficiently.
Good intentions aside, an app used without the approval of an IT team is one that hasn’t been properly secured. Shadow IT also includes granting software licenses without any approval structure in place. Unvetted and unsecured software can lead to data breaches, and unused licenses cost companies money. When the source of these costs originate in the shadows they can be incredibly difficult to control.
Lumos’s solution to shadow IT is the “internal AppStore,” a platform employees can use to request access to software and where IT can manage those requests. In addition to managing access, IT can also get a complete overview of the software their company is subscribed to and the unused licenses it’s on the hook for.
While that may seem like an intuitive solution to the problem of shadow IT, according to Erin Geiger, who works in content strategy at Lumos, tech is not what will ultimately enable Lumos to top its competition. No, Geiger said the company’s edge comes down to its culture, which embraces the whole person employees bring to work.
“I truly know that I am seen as a whole person with a life, interests and passions, which are celebrated as things that help me perform my best and fuel my A game rather than detract from it,” Geiger told Built In. “Where else can you work where the CEO asks to see videos of your kid’s marching band competition and is actually genuinely interested?”
Lumos is currently hiring, and we recently spoke with Geiger to learn more about the company’s culture and how it makes a tangible impact on her work.
What unique element of Lumos’s culture makes it a rocketship that will ultimately blitz all its competition?
So many companies market an incredible culture or an opportunity to make a sizable impact on the organization’s trajectory — but it’s all talk. Once you sign that offer letter you quickly realize you’ve fallen for the ol’ bait and switch. With Lumos, it’s completely different. I feel valued not only as an employee but as a person. I truly know that I am seen as a whole person with a life, interests and passions, which are celebrated as things that help me perform my best and fuel my a-game rather than detract from it.
Where else can you work where the CEO asks to see videos of your kid’s marching band competition and is actually genuinely interested? I feel like I am part of the team and am invested in the progress of our platform. The flat organizational structure has me feeling empowered to voice my thoughts and ideas, to be intentional, present and to take up space rather than shrink away.
The flat organizational structure has me feeling empowered to voice my thoughts and ideas, to be intentional, present and to take up space rather than shrink away.”
What’s the coolest project you’ve worked on recently, and what did you enjoy most about it?
I’ve felt zero limiting factors working on projects at Lumos. Everything seems up for grabs — in an organized way, of course — and if you have an interest in it, a place on a project can usually be made for you. One of the most exciting projects I’m working on is our next video series. The content is under wraps for now, but what I enjoy most is that I get to co-lead and help spearhead this project from conception to go-to-market. My expertise, recommendations and ultimate decisions are respected and the environment is collaborative and creative with great people. We work smart and have fun while doing it.
