Chatbooks

Real life isn’t picture-perfect—but your career and company culture can be real, empowering, and connected.

In this episode of Culture Uncovered, we meet Madison Bohannon, VP of People at Chatbooks—a brand that turns your everyday photos into meaningful keepsakes. 

Madison shares how this family-centered company supports working parents, builds radical candor into its feedback culture, and why transparency (and therapy!) go a long way in employee well-being.

You’ll learn:
– Why Chatbooks encourages you to bring your whole self to work
– What “mandatory time off” looks like in a healthy workplace
– How internal growth can start from a support role
– The mindset they look for in every new hire

🌱 Some Chatbooks highlights:

📆 Founded: 2014 (11 years ago)
 👥 Team size: 150 employees
 📍 HQ: Utah, but team spans 20 U.S. states
 ✈️ Company offsites for connection
 🧠 Perks:

• Unlimited therapy for employees + dependents
• Mandatory time off each season (plus winter shutdown)
• Flexible, family-first culture
• Transparent compensation + biannual performance conversations
• Internal promotions and learning budgets

To learn more about Chatbooks:

• Download the Chatbooks App — use code PODCAST 15
• Chatbooks Careers Page
• Chatbooks on LinkedIn
• Madison Bohannon on LinkedIn 

Transcript

Jena Dunay: Hello, friends, and welcome back to another episode of Culture Uncovered! I have an awesome guest for you today, Madison Bohannon from Chatbooks! If you're not familiar with Chatbooks, they're doing incredible work helping people hold on to their most cherished memories. But as you’ll hear, what’s just as impressive is the culture they’ve built. I got the chance to sit down with Madison to talk all about their mission, their people, and the intentional choices behind how they show up as a company. So let’s dive in!

Jena Dunay: Madison, I’m so excited to have you on the podcast! First off, tell us, what is Chatbooks, and what do you all do?

Madison Bohannon: Thanks, Jena! I'm so excited to be here. So Chatbooks is a photo book company. We make it super easy to get the photos off your phone and into your hands. Our flagship product is a photo book subscription. It connects to your phone or Instagram, and every time you add 60 photos, it automatically prints and ships a book to your door.

Madison Bohannon: It’s for busy parents, busy families, anyone who wants to preserve memories without spending hours designing a book. You don't have to curate or organize everything. We make it simple and meaningful.

Jena Dunay: I love that! As a mom, I’m like, where has this been all my life!

Madison Bohannon: Yes! That’s exactly what we hear from people. The product is really about helping families hold on to what matters most without the stress.

Jena Dunay: Okay, so give us a quick peek behind the curtain. How big is the team at Chatbooks, and how do you all work together?

Madison Bohannon: We’re around 100 people. Our headquarters is in Utah, but we’re hybrid. Some people work from the office, and others are remote. We’ve been flexible for a while now, especially post-COVID. It’s a mix of in-person collaboration and remote connection.

Jena Dunay: And what’s your role there?

Madison Bohannon: I’m the People Experience Manager. I sit on the people team, and I focus on internal culture, events, onboarding, DEI, and anything that touches employee engagement. It’s a dream role for someone who loves connecting with people and thinking creatively.

Jena Dunay: I love that title, People Experience Manager! That alone tells me you’re thinking about people as whole humans, not just workers. So how would you describe the Chatbooks culture?

Madison Bohannon: The biggest word I’d use is “intentional.” We care deeply about how people feel when they come to work here. One of our values is “Real is the new perfect,” and that really shows up in our culture. People are encouraged to be themselves, to be honest and vulnerable, and to show up as whole humans.

Madison Bohannon: We’re also very family-friendly. The company was founded by parents, and that influence runs deep. There’s an understanding that life happens and that your family matters. We try to support that however we can.

Jena Dunay: That’s amazing! So give us some examples. What are some cultural rituals or programs that really bring your values to life?

Madison Bohannon: One of my favorites is something we call “Grati-Tuesday.” Every Tuesday, we post a gratitude prompt on Slack and invite people to respond. It’s small, but it creates space for reflection and connection. We also do a lot of fun internal events like holiday parties, service projects, and even a company-wide talent show!

Madison Bohannon: And then we have a strong onboarding process. We want people to feel like they belong from day one. We do welcome lunches, buddy programs, and a 30-day check-in process to make sure new hires are adjusting well.

Jena Dunay: Okay, I want to come work for you! This all sounds so thoughtful. What kind of person tends to thrive at Chatbooks?

Madison Bohannon: People who are self-motivated, collaborative, and mission-driven. We’re still a relatively small company, so everyone wears a lot of hats. Flexibility and a good sense of humor go a long way here!

Jena Dunay: And who might not thrive?

Madison Bohannon: If you need a lot of structure or hierarchy, this might be a tough fit. We’re pretty flat as an organization. There’s freedom, but also accountability. You need to be comfortable with some ambiguity and willing to jump in where needed.

Jena Dunay: I appreciate the honesty! Okay, last couple of questions. What are some ways Chatbooks is investing in your people this year?

Madison Bohannon: We’re focused on growth and development. We just rolled out a new career framework to help people see pathways for growth, even in a smaller org. We’ve also launched internal mentorship opportunities and learning stipends.

Madison Bohannon: We’re also investing in leadership development. As our team grows, we want to make sure our managers are equipped to lead well and support their people.

Jena Dunay: So good! And for listeners who are now obsessed and want to work at Chatbooks, are you hiring?

Madison Bohannon: We are! All our roles are listed on chatbooks.com. We’re always looking for amazing people, especially those who resonate with our mission and values.

Jena Dunay: Madison, thank you so much for joining me today. You’ve shared such thoughtful, inspiring insight, and I know our listeners are going to love this episode!

Madison Bohannon: Thank you! This was so fun!