Announcing 2013 Transformation Grant Winners [SLIDESHOW]

LinkedIn is a truly inspiring place to work. That's in large part due to the people who work here who, in addition to their day-to-day jobs, strive to better themselves, their communities and the world. And I couldn't be more thrilled that LinkedIn supports some of their efforts via the Transformation Grant program.

Transformation is the most important tenet of our culture at LinkedIn. In 2011, we launched the Transformation Grant program to bring this tenet to life. Grants are annually awarded to LinkedIn employees in support of their efforts to transform themselves, their families, their communities, and/or the world. In 2012, grant winners embarked on life-changing trips that involved building schools, helping family members, teaching programs, etc. Truly inspiring stuff! Most inspiring though is that most of the grant winners were already embarking on these paths. The grants simply amplify their efforts.

I’m pleased to announce this year’s 12 Transformation Grant program winners.

These employees were chosen from more than 60 submissions received across functions and continents, and ranged from transforming families to putting small dents in major world issues – like education or hunger. Twenty-four finalists were selected from the 60 submissions to present to a panel of five judges. They each had roughly three minutes to give their elevator pitch and answer questions. I had the pleasure and challenge of being a judge and was inspired by how passionate the finalists were about their causes.

To all who applied, we’re proud to call you colleagues and friends. To those who won, congratulations and best of luck!