APCO is a global advisory and advocacy firm helping leading corporations, foundations and governments navigate a complex world and create lasting impact.
Founded in 1984, with one woman’s vision and bold action, APCO has grown into an independent, majority women-owned firm of almost 1,200 employees with work spanning 80 markets around the world.
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APCO is comprised of strategic advisers, consultants and creators, providing service and expertise in financial, competitive, political and societal issues.
By bringing diverse people and ideas together, and working beyond traditional boundaries, APCO builds the un/common ground upon which progress is made.
1299 Pennsylvania Avenue NW #300, Washington, D.C.
A hallmark of APCO is that our colleagues can define their own career experience. There are no barriers between offices because we believe in one APCO, our employees enjoy opportunities to collaborate and team up with colleagues around the world. Our global network and the transformative work that clients hire us to do are the main reasons people join us. It’s also why people return to us, and why some interns grew their careers into global leadership positions in various locations.
APCO exists to anticipate and solve important challenges and possibilities because we believe our client partnerships can affect meaningful change in the world. It’s why we get to work every morning—even when it’s hard. That’s been true for 40 years, through defining moments and adventures that have rooted APCO’s independence, capability and values of boldness, inclusivity, curiosity and empathy. Together, we work beyond traditional boundaries to build the un/common ground upon which progress is made. The APCO Gives Back program empowers employees to contribute to their communities through volunteering with support from APCO in time and financial resources.
Brad Staples serves as a model of APCO values by consistently embodying the principles of boldness, inclusivity, curiosity and empathy in his work. He strives for excellence in everything he does, continuously seeking bold new ways to improve and innovate. Brad’s commitment to inclusivity is evident in his approach to tasks, interactions with colleagues and clients and his commitment to delivering high-quality results in a collaborative, inclusive manner. Curiosity and empathy are core aspects of who he is as a person and how he approaches his work, as he actively seeks input from others, fosters teamwork and values diverse perspectives.
APCO deploys an annual Gallup survey to measure employee engagement and gain other data and insights to help us understand where to continue to improve. In the most recent survey, APCO scored in the highest percentile ranking for the statement, “at work, my opinions seem to count,” indicating high levels of collaboration and mutual respect across the firm. The data also indicated that APCO’s employees are committed to doing quality work and feel that someone at work cares about them.
Our diverse company of almost 1,200 employees work, every day as one team—confronting the daunting, ambiguous or fraught issues our clients are facing. We do that with tenacity, courage and wisdom, and with a spirit of cooperation and kindness. For 40 years, we have stayed true to our “glo-cal” roots and cultivated deep and trusted ties. Our commitment to one another and our clients is embodied in our values, which we live every day. We celebrate new ideas, welcome diverse viewpoints and push ourselves to think and behave differently; we believe our work and relationships are better for it.
Our best-in-class benefits include a generous PTO; health coverage; life, short- and long-term disability insurance; educational allowance; paid parental and compassionate leave. Our North America (NA) offices close for the week between Christmas and New Year, too, giving our team an extra week off. The culture is such that, when necessary, the highest levels of management take a personal interest in crafting scenarios to support individual employees when unexpected situations arise. We have an annual performance bonus structure in place for associate directors and above. . Junior and mid-level employees are eligible for ‘Spot Bonuses’ for extraordinary performance. Employees also receive ‘Milestone Anniversary Rewards’ that recognizes staff for their loyalty and efforts toward the organization.
