How Culture Became the Heart of Sequoia Living

When the world shifted during the pandemic, so did Sequoia Living. Five years ago, while navigating the unknowns of unprecedented times, something unexpected and powerful began to take root across our communities—a renewed commitment to collaboration, compassion, and growth.

We didn’t expect lockdown to start the transformation of our culture. But that’s exactly what happened.

Sequoia Living’s CEO and President, Sara McVey, shared in a recent episode of  Bridge the Gap: The Senior Living Podcast that our journey toward a stronger culture began not with a top-down initiative but a simple need: to stay connected.

“With seven locations, we started meeting daily to solve problems together,” she said. “That level of communication and unity was new—and it was transformative.”

The experience sparked a deeper realization: to grow as an organization, we needed to be intentional about how we show up for one another every day.

Sequoia Living partnered first with Gallup, and later with Drive—a firm that understands the unique dynamics of the senior living field. Drive helped us make the work of identifying and embracing an organization-wide culture accessible to every team member, from caregivers and dining staff to facilities and administration.

We asked our staff what values they wanted to see reflected in the organization. An overwhelming 91% of our team participated in the survey—an extraordinarily high level of engagement from any perspective. The results became the foundation of our cultural compass:

• Accountability

• Caring

• Teamwork

These three values guide everything we do. 

They’re not flashy or abstract. They’re real, lived values, shaped by the people who call Sequoia Living their home and workplace.

Alongside these values, a new rallying cry emerged: Never Stop Growing.

Rooted in the symbolism of the resilient Sequoia tree, this mantra reflects our belief in continuous personal and collective growth. Sequoias are known for their strength, longevity, and interconnected root systems—an ideal metaphor for a community that thrives together.

“Never Stop Growing isn’t just about expansion,” Sara explains. “It’s about evolving—becoming better at being better.”

It also reflects our commitment to breaking from the status quo, re-evaluating what matters, and challenging assumptions.

As we leaned into this cultural transformation, something remarkable happened:
We had our best year ever.

We created a more engaged, mission-driven workforce by shifting our focus away from metrics and toward meaning, celebrating staff milestones, supporting continuing education, and recognizing everyday excellence.

The change wasn’t just felt internally. It was noticed by the families, residents, and partners we serve.

Today, culture committees meet regularly across our communities. The board of directors has revisited its own policies and practices to align with this movement. The leadership team continues to prioritize listening, humility, and shared ownership.

“Culture work holds up a mirror,” Sara says. “It asks us to reflect, to adapt, and to show up differently—for ourselves and for each other.”

That mirror is now part of who we are. 

And at Sequoia Living, we know the journey of culture is never truly finished. Because here, we Never Stop Growing.