Inside Flipside: The Will to Win Program

At Flipside, we’ve always taken pride in creating high quality products, but strong communication and a strong culture have become just as central to who we are. 

Our company is driven by the people behind it, and each success is shared amongst everyone at Flipside. Individuals who show up every day, bring innovative ideas to the table, and look for ways to make the workplace better for everyone. 

That mindset led to the creation of the Will to Win program. An initiative built by employees, for employees, with a shared goal of strengthening our culture and ensuring every voice is heard. 

How it started 

The Will to Win Program began in 2022, sparked by employees who recognized an opportunity to create meaningful change within the workplace. 

They envisioned an environment that supported equality across diverse backgrounds, religion, and dynamic needs. Most importantly, a workplace where every employee is heard. 

One of their first initiatives was the creation of dedicated lactation rooms: private and secure spaces designed to support working mothers.  

Once the wheel began turning, the small group quickly grew into a company-wide movement. With each step forward, the mission became clearer: to ensure every individual has a voice and a shared standard of respect across management, workers, vendors, and partners alike.  

Pillars of Will to Win 

The pillars of the Will to Win program were developed through multiple brainstorming sessions, bringing together the most important values from each department. Through this process, representatives aligned on five core values that resonated across the entire team: 

“We believe in working together to build a better company. Our values drive our behaviors and decisions and should clearly communicate the behaviors we expect from management, team members, and those who represent us (ex: vendors and partners). Our focus on Integrity, Quality, Teamwork, Diversity, and Continuous Improvement drives our everyday Will to Win” The team ‘s standards state. 

1. Integrity 

We do the right thing – even when no one is watching. We have an internal commitment to honesty, accountability, and trust. 

1. Quality 

We take pride in the products we create and stand behind them, which ensures customer satisfaction, profitability, and the future of our employees and our growth. 

1. Teamwork 

We believe that collaboration is a key to building the best products, teams, and brands. We enjoy working together to solve problems and know that our best work is not produced by individuals but by collaborating as a team. Our combined experiences and expertise allow us to trust and work with one another. 

1. Diversity 

We work to create a positive and inclusive culture that fosters open, honest, and  meaningful relationships while building a varied workplace welcoming to people of  all backgrounds. 

1. Continuous Improvement 

We relentlessly pursue continuous improvement and excellence in projects, products, processes, and services. Our success is defined by getting the right things done well and working to grow our knowledge when this is not possible. 

Expanding our team, strengthening our culture: 

Flipside entered a new phase of growth in 2023 with the expansion into the new headquarters in Blue Ash, Ohio. When the program was implemented in the new building, it was important to Phil Cohen, Founder & Board Chairman, to create an environment that encouraged open communication across all workspaces. He believes that when teams stay connected, productivity and engagement naturally improve. That same mindset reinforces the importance of leadership supporting initiatives like Will to Win, where recognition and communication go hand in hand. 

“Frequently, coworkers are more aware of the outstanding effort of their team members,” Phil notes, highlighting how a connected workplace helps ensure contributions don’t go unnoticed. 

Since its implementation, the Will to Win team has created lactation rooms at all Flipside locations, religious observation initiatives, disability inclusion, core values, and a monthly employee-sponsored recognition program. Alongside this growth, the Will to Win program has continued to evolve with the company. Each month, representatives from each department come together to share feedback, raise ideas, and collaborate on companywide goals, reinforcing a culture of continuous improvement and employee-driven success.