Protiviti Named to Fast Company Best Workplaces for Innovators 2026 List

Protiviti earns a 2026 Fast Company innovation workplace honor, supported by firmwide AI training, patent programs and client-focused experimentation.

Rhea-AI Summary

Protiviti (RHI) has been named to Fast Company's Best Workplaces for Innovators in North America 2026 list, highlighting its focus on employee-driven innovation and AI-enabled problem-solving.

The firm offers all employees innovation training, generative AI education, design thinking resources and access to internal innovation challenges and communities. It runs a global patent program and client-focused experimentation process, including a second U.S. patent for an AI and machine learning solution that automates data set matching to streamline high-volume questionnaire responses. More than 1,000 submissions were reviewed for the 2026 list, and Protiviti also appears on several 2026 Forbes employer and consulting rankings.

Key Figures

Prior list appearances: 3 straight years List submissions evaluated: More than 1,000 submissions

Prior list appearances

3 straight years

Fast Company Best Workplaces for Innovators list, 2022-2024

List submissions evaluated

More than 1,000 submissions

2026 Best Workplaces for Innovators list

Key Terms

generative ai, machine learning, patent program, design thinking

4 terms

generative ai technical

"generative AI training"

Generative AI is a type of computer technology that can create new content, like text, images, or music, on its own. It’s important because it can produce realistic and useful material quickly, which could change how we create art, write stories, or even develop new products. Think of it as a smart robot that can invent and produce things almost like a human.

machine learning technical

"an AI and machine learning solution"

Machine learning is a set of computer programs that learn patterns from large amounts of data and improve their predictions or decisions over time, like a recipe that gets better each time it’s adjusted based on taste tests. For investors it matters because these systems can speed up analysis, spot trends or risks humans might miss, automate routine work, and potentially create competitive advantages or cost savings that affect a company’s performance.

View in glossary

patent program regulatory

"Protiviti's global patent program advances practical innovations"

A patent program is a coordinated set of activities a company uses to create, obtain, manage and enforce patents — including researching inventions, filing applications, building a patent portfolio, licensing rights, and handling disputes. For investors it matters because a strong program can act like a legal ‘fence’ or toolbox that protects a company’s products and revenue streams, shapes competitive advantage, and affects valuation, licensing income potential, and litigation risk.

design thinking technical

"including design thinking, agile principles and experiential learning"

A human-centered problem-solving approach that blends empathy, creativity, and experimentation to design products, services, or processes that meet real user needs. Think of it like iterative prototyping and testing—sketching rough drafts, getting user feedback, and refining solutions—and it matters to investors because it can influence a company’s ability to innovate, win customers, reduce costly missteps, and adapt business models to changing demand.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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 Global consulting firm honored for embedding innovation, AI training and employee-driven problem-solving into the workplace experience

MENLO PARK, Calif., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Global consulting firm Protiviti has been named to Fast Company's Best Workplaces for Innovators in North America 2026 list, underscoring the firm's commitment to making innovation a practical, employee-driven part of how people learn, collaborate and deliver value for clients.

This recognition reflects Protiviti's investment in a workplace culture that helps employees turn promising ideas into scalable solutions, better ways of working and measurable business impact. Across the firm, employees have access to structured programs, innovation communities, advanced artificial intelligence tools, generative AI training, design thinking resources and opportunities to submit, test and advance new ideas.

Key elements of Protiviti's innovation culture include:

• Innovation training and AI enablement: All employees firmwide participate in a core innovation curriculum including design thinking, agile principles and experiential learning as well as generative AI training.
• Employee-led ideas: Team members submit use cases, join internal innovation challenges and contribute to global communities focused on improving business processes and client outcomes.
• Innovation ambassadors: Employee ambassadors support the exchange of ideas across geographies, roles and teams.
• Patent development: Protiviti's global patent program advances practical innovations focused on solving business challenges and rewards the colleagues who have earned the patents.
• Client-focused experimentation: The firm evaluates employee-submitted concepts and advances those with potential to improve processes, delivery and client value.

One example is Protiviti's second U.S. patent, "Systems and Methods for Automated Data Set Matching Services," an AI and machine learning solution designed to streamline high-volume questionnaire response processes. The patented technology helps reduce manual effort, improve consistency and allow teams to focus their efforts on higher-value review and client-focused work. 

"We are honored and excited to return to the Fast Company list as one of the Best Workplaces for Innovators in North America after three straight years on the list from 2022-2024.  At Protiviti, innovation is one of our core values and is integral to facilitating how we help our clients solve increasingly complex business problems," said Cory Gunderson, Protiviti's chief operating officer and executive vice president, global solutions. "Our clients need creative solutions leveraging today's technology that create confidence and drive momentum. By encouraging our people to think differently and providing the support to translate ideas into better ways of working, we strengthen how we deliver for our clients while providing exciting growth opportunities for our employees."

"We want innovation to feel accessible, purposeful and relevant to every employee, regardless of role, level or geography," said Ashley Cuevas, Protiviti's global innovation leader. "That means creating space for people to ask sharper questions, experiment with purpose and bring forward ideas that improve the way we work. When employees feel equipped to contribute, innovation becomes more than a program. It becomes a shared behavior that helps us create smarter solutions and better client experiences."

More than 1,000 submissions for the 2026 Best Workplaces for Innovators list were evaluated by a team of Fast Company editors and reporters. Finalists were then reviewed by a panel of judges comprised of editors, business leaders and other innovators to determine rankings.

In 2026, Protiviti also has been named to Forbes' America's Best Midsize Employers, America's Best Employers for Women and World's Best Management Consulting Firms lists.

About Protiviti

Protiviti (www.protiviti.com) is a global consulting firm that helps clients transform and protect their businesses, and respond to planned and unexpected events. Through a network of more than 90 offices in over 25 countries, Protiviti and its independent and locally owned member firms deliver deep expertise and tailored capabilities across technology, artificial intelligence, data, operations, finance, legal, compliance, HR, marketing, digital, risk, and internal audit — enabling organizations to accelerate innovation, navigate risks and safeguard what matters most.

Named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list since 2015, Protiviti Inc. has served more than 80% of Fortune 100 and nearly 80% of Fortune 500 companies. The firm also works with government agencies and smaller, growing companies, including those looking to go public. Protiviti Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Half (NYSE: RHI).

 

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SOURCE Protiviti

FAQ

What workplace innovation programs does Protiviti provide to employees?

Protiviti provides a core innovation curriculum for all employees covering design thinking, agile principles, experiential learning and generative AI training. Employees can submit use cases, join internal innovation challenges, participate in global innovation communities, and receive support from innovation ambassadors who help share ideas across geographies, roles and teams.

How does Protiviti turn employee ideas into client-focused solutions?

The firm evaluates employee-submitted concepts and advances those with potential to improve processes, delivery and client value. A global patent program supports development of practical innovations and rewards colleagues whose ideas become patented solutions aimed at solving business challenges.

What is an example of Protiviti’s patented innovation?

One example is Protiviti’s second U.S. patent, titled “Systems and Methods for Automated Data Set Matching Services.” It is an AI and machine learning solution designed to streamline high-volume questionnaire response processes by reducing manual effort, improving consistency and allowing teams to focus on higher-value review and client-focused work.

How were companies selected for Fast Company’s 2026 Best Workplaces for Innovators list?

For the 2026 Best Workplaces for Innovators list, more than 1,000 submissions were evaluated by a team of Fast Company editors and reporters. Finalists were then reviewed by a panel of judges that included editors, business leaders and other innovators to determine the rankings.

What other 2026 employer recognitions has Protiviti received?

In 2026, Protiviti has also been named to Forbes’ America’s Best Midsize Employers, America’s Best Employers for Women and World’s Best Management Consulting Firms lists.