‘It’s our people and our culture’: T-Mobile named No. 2 in large category of Top Workplaces

The culture and the people working at T-Mobile in New Mexico are what set the telecommunications company apart from its competitors, said Karen Viola, a senior director of customer care.

That culture has helped T-Mobile place as the No. 2 company in the 2025 Top Workplaces large category. It is the 13th year in a row T-Mobile has made the list. The company employs more than a thousand workers in New Mexico and offers benefits such as health insurance, a company-matched 401(k) and wellness programs.

One employee in a survey wrote that they love their job “because it allows me to make a real difference in people’s lives every day.” Another said, “The culture here is awesome.”

The following is an excerpt from an interview with Viola. It has been edited and condensed for clarity.

What sets T-Mobile apart from its competitors?

That’s an easy thing to answer — it’s our people and our culture. T-Mobile is a place where there is definitely a sense of belonging. Our employees are respected for their unique perspectives, and the way that our employees feel absolutely impacts the level of service we give to our customers in a big way. Our culture encourages everyone to be their true selves at work, and that fosters trust, collaboration, innovation. For us, it is really, really important for folks to feel that there’s a place that they belong.

What is T-Mobile’s culture?

Sometimes, (workers) are coming to us with very little work history or work background, and because of the comprehensive programs that we have and the way that we invest in their development, that gives them a real sense of purpose, where they can elevate themselves — not only professionally, but personally. Some of the stories for me that are most touching are because of our tuition program. I’ll tell you, I have numerous people who come to me and say that they’re the first person in their family that’s ever graduated from college. They talk about being an example to their children and those are the things that really for us are important.

How does T-Mobile recruit and retain staff in New Mexico?

We have an incredible group of recruiters. And so they will go to numerous job fairs. They engage with various organizations. And so it’s a very comprehensive plan that we have. But I think more importantly, we also do some on-site fairs — recruiting fairs for employees. We give people an opportunity to see what our environment is, because we also want to make sure that it’s a great fit for the employee and for us. But I think what’s so important is the environment. When they come to us and they walk around and they see and they feel the environment and the passion, and I think just the care people have for one another, that makes them want to work for us.

T-Mobile has been named a Top Workplace more than a dozen times. What does that mean to you?

I just have a tremendous amount of pride, and I feel like our employees make that happen. It’s just the strength and the unity of the employees that we have. We’re supporting ourselves, supporting our customers, doing the right thing, and if you see us in the environment, there’s an energy unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.