Photo: RetailWire
The head of Apple's retail business, Angela Ahrendts, is all about the company's culture. And it's that culture that Ms. Ahrendts is counting on to continue to separate Apple from all comers in the years ahead.
In an interview with Fast Company, Ms. Ahrendts talked about her trips to 40 different markets to meet with employees. She took that time to listen and learn. From there, she worked out how she could collaborate with and build trust with team members.
Whatever Ms. Ahrendts is doing, it must be working. Apple's retail business ended the year with its highest retention rate ever — 81 percent. She believes so many stay with Apple is because they have a connection with the company's culture.
According to Ms. Ahrendts, Apple was created "to change people's lives." It is that shared mission that is behind a service culture that has won the company legions of customers.
Ms. Ahrendts says she views associates in Apple's stores as executives who introduce the products the company creates to "the customer in a wonderful way."
Apple earned four out of five stars (based on 6,739 reviews) on Glassdoor as an employer. Eighty-two percent said they would recommend working at Apple to a friend and 95 percent approve of CEO Tim Cook.