Shane Cruz is the Chief Technology Officer at GoHealth, an MIT grad, and the President of the Association of Web-Based Health Insurance Brokers. He joined GoHealth in 2004, and helped develop technology that tens of millions of health insurance shoppers use each year.
Here’s his take on GoHealth and working in Chicago’s thriving tech community.
What do you enjoy about working at GoHealth?
GoHealth strikes the perfect balance between small and large company atmospheres. We have the feel and agility of a startup, but the stability of a much larger organization. We are also working towards a great cause: to help improve healthcare in the United States.
How would you describe GoHealth’s culture?
GoHealth provides a culture that allows people to experience new things, grow their abilities and feel valued. Our environment drives rapid personal and professional growth that is hard to match elsewhere. People can learn more from their experience in one year at GoHealth than they can in several years at other companies.
At GoHealth, we measure the success of our employees based on performance and results – not the number of hours they spend at their desk. Our team embraces that work hard/play hard mentality, which is why we’ve been able to offer an unlimited vacation policy and continue to grow our business.
What do you look for when hiring tech talent?
We look for people who are passionate about everything they do and thrive in a fast-paced environment. We believe intellectual curiosity, strong problem solving skills and teamwork are far more valuable than skills with any specific technology.
What is it like to work in River North?
Working in River North is fantastic. The location is accessible and close to some of the city’s best restaurants, residences, and entertainment. There’s a different vibe here compared to the loop. The energy draws like-minded individuals to the area and creates a strong sense of community.
Some have described River North as the next Silicon Valley. With the increasing amount of businesses moving into the area, do you feel like you’re a part of something special?
River North’s tech community has incredible momentum and it is exciting to be a part of it. The startup scene is unique because even though the companies in River North are well-funded, there is not an abundance of over-funded companies. This leads to environments that cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit and understand the value of bootstrapping and enable people to find a way to get things done when there is not a seemingly endless amount of money.
