‘I Love My Job’: A Culture Like a ‘Warm and Inviting Cup of Tea’ Where I Can Be My Authentic Self

Welcome to I Love My Job, the series where we hear from women who really love their jobs. In this edition, we sat down with Farihah Syed, the Manager of Network Strategy at Peapod Digital Labs (PDL).

When asked what it is like to work at Peapod Digital Labs, Syed says that the culture is like “a warm and inviting cup of tea.” Peapod Digital Labs is “one of the only companies that I've worked for in my career where I have felt welcomed to be my authentic self, who I am as an individual and a Woman of Color,” elaborates Syed. “We strive to promote inclusivity and diversity, and we're welcoming of all.”

In the video below, Syed shares more about why she loves working at Peapod Digital Labs. We also provide lightly edited highlights from the video discussion in the following article.

In case you have trouble watching this video, please click here to watch it on YouTube.

Can you tell us about your career journey at Peapod Digital Labs?

I have been with PDL for about four-and-a-half years. My journey with the company started around 2019. I've seen my department grow from the very beginning to what it has flourished to today.

What do you find most exciting about your work at Peapod Digital Labs?

We take copious amounts of data, run it through a network optimization engine, and then break down that data to analyze demand trends, network opportunities, and share those findings with our sister companies (aka our brands). We can then collaborate on strategy, how to move forward, and where we're seeing a significant uptick in market growth. 

What is your favorite thing about Peapod Digital Labs? 

The people who I work with. I can honestly say that I work with some of the most amazing talent on the planet, and that's not an exaggeration. 

We are a welcoming bunch, where everyone is from different walks of life, ethnicities, cultures, and countries. It's a melting pot, and I'm constantly learning something new every day.

How does Peapod Digital Labs support you in managing your work-life balance? 

Peapod Digital Labs enables me to be both a working mom and a mom when I'm off duty. My work week is flexible. Four out of five days I'm working from home, and there’s one Anchor Day where I’m in the office networking and collaborating with individuals in person.

I love the opportunity that I, as a working mom, am able to juggle pickups and dropoffs while still jumping online when I need to handle whatever task comes my way on my own time. There's no fixed schedule — which I love. 

I'm also really excited that I'm able to go on maternity leave shortly. I know that my team of the last four-and-a-half years is going to take care of everything in my absence. And I feel super privileged and grateful for having such a wonderful team.

Fairygodboss is proud to work with Peapod Digital Labs. Find a job there today!

Check out other posts in the ‘I Love My Job’ series:

• ‘I Love My Job’: I Grew From a Management Trainee to a Branch Rental Manager in a Supportive Culture

• ‘I Love My Job’: How I’m Building an Open & Inclusive Culture as a Head of Talent Management and DEI

• ‘I Love My Job’: Collaborative and Flexible Work Full of Great People and Growth Opportunities

• ‘I Love My Job’: Exciting AI Work, 4 Unique Benefits, a ‘Refreshingly Different’ Culture, and More!

• ‘I Love My Job’: Exploring a Culture That Has Helped Me Grow — Professionally and Personally