Coupa Colors: Unlocking Effective Communication and Self-Awareness at Coupa
In today's globalized world, it is increasingly common for teams to be composed of multi-generational individuals from different cultures and regions. While this leads to diversity of thought and innovation, it can also present challenges in communication and collaboration and it’s one of the reasons we use Coupa Colors.
By using Coupa Colors, Coupanians are categorized into four color energies: Blue, Red, Green, and Yellow. Each color represents a unique set of personality traits, preferences, and tendencies. That said, the aim is not to put someone in a box. While we typically have a default color energy preference we revert to naturally we are not just ‘one color’ and everyone has a blend of color energies and people can also flex into each of the color energies depending on the situation or person they are dealing with.
By understanding our own primary and secondary color energies and those of our colleagues we can improve communication, build stronger relationships, and foster a more compassionate and inclusive culture at Coupa.
Colleagues who lead with blue tend to be analytical and detail-oriented, preferring to work with data and facts. They are logical and organised and excel at implementing systems and processes. Those who lead with red are more assertive and action-oriented, they focus on results and drive to push things forward. They like to move fast and like to get things done! Team members leading with green are empathetic, relationship-oriented, valuing harmony, collaboration and teamwork while people who lead with yellow are generally enthusiastic and creative, valuing fun and spontaneity. They are big picture thinkers and are considered to be charismatic and sociable.
One benefit of using Coupa Colors is it helps our employees become more self-aware. By identifying our own color energy, we can gain insights into our strengths and development areas, as well as our communication style and preferences. This self-awareness can lead to improved self-management and more effective communication with others.
In addition, Coupa Colors can help individuals be more compassionate. By understanding the color energies of our colleagues and teammates, we can appreciate their unique perspectives and communication styles. This can reduce misunderstandings and conflict, leading to a more harmonious and productive environment.
Coupa Colors is especially useful in a multicultural and global environment like Coupa, where communication and cultural differences can pose challenges. By recognizing and valuing the different color energies of our colleagues from diverse backgrounds, we can build trust and respect, and foster a more inclusive and supportive workplace culture.
Here are some of the benefits we have found by using Coupa Colors:
- Self-awareness: We encourage employees to take a short Coupa Colors assessment and reflect on their own color energy and communication style. This can help them understand their strengths and areas for improvement, and develop strategies for more effective communication. They are encouraged to share their Coupa Colors on the internal directory and add it to their email signature.
- Builds a common language: Coupa Colors is pervasive across Coupa and is a common language for discussing personality traits and communication styles. This helps team members understand and appreciate each other's differences, and reduce misunderstandings and conflict.
- Foster compassion and inclusivity: We encourage employees to recognize and value the different color energies of their colleagues, and to appreciate the unique perspectives and communication styles each brings to the team.
- Team building: We use Coupa Colors as a tool for team building activities and workshops. This can help team members build trust and understanding, and develop strategies for more effective communication and collaboration.
Coupa Colors is a powerful tool for improving communication and self-awareness, especially in Coupa’s multicultural and global teams. By understanding our own color energy and those of others, we can build stronger relationships, reduce conflict, and foster a more compassionate and inclusive workplace culture.
There are many great benefits to working at Coupa, and one that truly makes a difference is our robust Volunteer Time Off. While many companies and organizations encourage employees to take time off to volunteer, offering at least 8 hours a year, Coupa provides a generous 40 hours - a whole week. This extended time allows our employees to make a significant impact in their communities, and many Coupanians across the globe are proud of the difference they are making. Here’s why they love this robust benefit and how they give back:
Coupa Engineering has reaped tremendous benefits from integrating automation into the testing strategy, resulting in reduced effort and timelines for delivering a higher-quality product. These advantages stem from Coupa's top-down transformation approach based on the “Three R” pillars of Reliability, Repeatability & Reusability, thereby increasing quality, productivity & cost optimization. The primary benefits of automation, including test reusability, expanded test coverage, and earlier feedback and bug detection, are driving engineers and organizations to shift away from manual efforts. Automation surpasses manual testing by simulating simultaneous users and requests on applications, including calls from various platforms and devices, which is nearly impossible to achieve manually. However, this transition is not an overnight task, as engineers need to overcome numerous challenges, from designing a strategy to acquiring the necessary knowledge, skillsets, and tools. Coupa’s Top-Down Transformation Approach Coupa Quality Engineering took this challenge and evolved a transformation approach based on the “Three R” pillars . As depicted below, with each transformation in our Top-Down Approach, we encapsulate benefits of the previous stage along with additional benefits derived from the transition stage, thereby making it a more and more effective and efficient approach to follow-on.
Steve Taylor, VP of Inclusion and Impact, shares his inspiring journey from program developer to human resources. “It’s been a tapestry of experiences,” he says. Read on. I started my career as a program developer, working closely with our customers. I had the opportunity to collaborate with various clients, including Coupa, which sparked my passion for customer interaction. I enjoyed what I did immensely; however, as time passed, I felt a shift in my journey calling me toward a new challenge—a pivot to the support side of our organization. The turning point in my career came unexpectedly. During a casual encounter, I met Susan Toyhama, our Chief Human Resources Officer, and we started conversing while preparing for an upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Day presentation. That conversation opened up new ideas and perspectives on what inclusion and diversity genuinely mean to me. My passion became clear: connecting with people, understanding different cultures, and championing their stories. Soon after, an opportunity arose for a Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) expert role. My curiosity was piqued, and rather than jumping in headfirst, I sought the counsel of my trusted circle—my wife, friends, family, and mentors. However, a conversation with a general, who has become a dear friend, ultimately shaped my decision. He encouraged me by saying, “This is the perfect job for you. You have a natural ability with people and communication. You can’t pass this opportunity up.” For three months, I weighed the decision, ultimately realizing that it was my duty—my requirement as a human—to help my brothers and sisters grow and learn. The only thing holding me back was the misconception that HR wasn’t for me. I had my doubts, but eventually, I understood that this role was about more than just policies and procedures; it was about connecting with individuals and making a difference in their lives. Although navigating this new terrain felt natural and unnatural at times, it was clear that my purpose aligns with the job: talking to people, listening to their stories, and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued. It is an honor and a privilege to have the platform to engage with diverse perspectives and to create a positive impact in our organization. Ultimately, my journey has taught me that embracing opportunity often requires stepping outside your comfort zone. My passion lies in the world of inclusion and impact, and I look forward to the road ahead, filled with meaningful conversations and lasting connections.
In the world of product development, success isn’t the result of one hero’s solo mission. It’s about assembling a team of specialists—each with unique superpowers—who unite to tackle challenges, defend against bugs, and deliver experiences that delight users. Think of it as forming your very own Avengers™ team, where Product Management (PM), Development, Quality Engineering (QE), and User Experience ........(UX) team up to save the day
What an incredible week we had! Thanks to the passion and dedication of our amazing Coupa family, we celebrated Global Impact Week like never before! With 13 countries participating and 38 local-led events, we exceeded last year’s participation with over 500 employees stepping up to make a positive change. We truly could not have done this without each and every one of you—thank you! Here are some of the highlights that made this week so special:
Q & A from our Sales Team
Most people at Coupa say they love this company because of the great culture and joy of working with “The Village,” a term referring to our global workforce. This year, we are double-clicking on what behaviors make that culture thrive by creating nine “Leadership Competencies,” or ways we want to interact with each other regardless of your title, background, team, or length of time at Coupa.
I am Maggie Mae Joy, Senior Director of Product Management, supporting our Source-to-Contract and Spend Analysis product teams. I’ve been at Coupa since August 2013, based in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. I started my career out of college as a consultant supporting the SAP implementation of a global automotive warranty system for one of the big three. Leveraging that consulting experience, I joined Coupa as a Solution Architect, supporting our customers and partners in implementing the Coupa platform before transitioning into a Product Management role. What I enjoy most about working at Coupa is the opportunity to use my time here as a professional and personal growth platform. Coming to Coupa with a background in systems implementation allowed me to hit the ground running in my first position as a Solution Architect. Those skills and a deep passion for improving the user experience helped me take my career in a different direction and join the product team. Through Coupa’s incredibly supportive culture, I found mentors & leadership training that enabled my development in product management. As I’ve transitioned between supporting different product areas over the past eight years, I’ve continued to be challenged to expand my knowledge, learn new skills, and connect with more of the Coupa community.
Hello everyone, My name is Alex Moon, AI Trainer, at AI Center of Excellence in Foster City. I’ve been at Coupa since September 2022. I started my career as a Korean Knowledge Graph Curator, curating Korean language data to train Siri model, then went onto Tesla’s Autopilot team, organizing and annotating 3D image data to train Autopilot Neural Net. As an AI Trainer, the team and I analyze and organize Coupa’s $6T anonymized data to provide spending and saving insight, supplier recommendation, supplier diversity and track emission to meet the ESG goal, and fraudulent charge detection (Spend Guard). We are also working on output testing for LLM implementation to build Coupa’s Chatbot, Coupa Navi and Contract Intelligence platform. What I love the most about Coupa is working with extremely smart PM, Data Scientists, and Engineers to develop Coupa’s AI and GenAI product. I also really enjoy Coupa’s flexibility in working schedule and location as a remote-first company, and Coupa’s diverse team makes me feel at home while having ownership and responsibility of training our AI models.
In 2021, I joined Coupa as a dual student pursuing my International Business Bachelor’s degree. In my application process, Coupa stood out as the best option for many reasons: its international presence, with offices spread across different countries; its workforce, which is composed of people from all over the world, creating an amazingly diverse and open work environment; and finally, I recognized in Coupa many opportunities for both professional and personal growth and learning. Upon joining the company, I discovered that my impressions were accurate, and the welcoming and friendly environment I had anticipated were in fact real. As part of the dual study program, I rotated through various departments within the organization, including sales, digital marketing, and HR. Each of them showed me a different perspective into Coupa’s operations; I learnt their processes and took on responsibilities myself, which allowed me to develop several skills. This valuable growth was made possible through the guidance and support of many talented colleagues, who trained me during my time in each department.