The 2U bookcase on the 12th floor by Chip’s open office. Image courtesy of 2U, Inc.
We recently had the opportunity to tour the new corporate HQ for 2U, Inc., an online digital education company, followed by a chat with Christopher “Chip” Paucek, CEO & Co-Founder of 2U, Inc. The move to the new facility, after nine years in their original location, not only celebrates the continuing success of the business but exemplifies the culture that contained therein.
Bob Fox: It was great to be able to have a tour of the building. The space is incredible! Can you tell us a bit about what 2U is all about?
2U CEO and Co-Founder Christopher “Chip” Paucek in front of the front stairwell. Image courtesy of 2U, Inc.
Chip Paucek: We partner with top universities to provide the world’s best digital education through master’s level graduate programs and short courses. Our platform provides a comprehensive fusion of technology, services, and data architecture to transform our clients, historically campus-based universities of the highest quality and rigor, into digital versions of themselves. Why should students need to pick up their lives, quit their jobs and move to attend a renowned university? With 2U’s solutions, they do not have to anymore.
These types of educational solutions were not available ten years ago when we started our business. Our journey over the past ten years has taken us from our first startup location (where we remained until February of last year) to this building which we have leased in its entirety. For a startup to stay in one space as the business grows is unusual. Even as we added more square footage and people, we did not significantly improve our workspace. Now, the new facility we have built matches the business we have built!
One of the most exciting parts about getting our own building is that we got naming rights to the space. That was cool. I never got hung up on it in the past. Being so busy getting to the next step, I don’t often stop to look back. But the first time I saw our logo on our building, I was overwhelmed. There’s something so special about seeing your company’s name up in lights for everyone to see.
How about the 2U culture? The vibe in the space is compelling but how would you describe it?
We see ourselves as the brand stewards for our university partners. We build and service the operational platforms to run their online programs. Think about the longevity of our partners, the oldest of which, Georgetown University, was founded in 1789. We appreciate the age and the history of those organizations and work to manage those brands with care. Our culture is built on that caring concept. People form permanent relationships with their universities. The bonds between a school and their community are huge. How does that relate to our culture? We market, produce and support those schools and communities on a worldwide basis. Our guiding principles are printed on the back of our security badges because we try and live those principles daily.
An example of one of 2U’s eight Guiding Principles on a workspace floor. Image courtesy of 2U, Inc.