Creating a Culture of Professional Growth and Opportunity

By Mike Scott For The Bulow Group, being a great place to work starts with a straightforward philosophy: take care of the people who take care of the clients. Founded in the Chicago area in 2013 by brothers Tom and Mike Bulow, the Tinley Park, Illinois-based commercial insurance brokerage has built its business around relationships, proactive risk management, and personalized service. The firm also has an affiliate office in Denver and partnerships across the country. The Bulow Group provides commercial insurance, risk management, consulting, and employee benefits services to businesses in a wide range of industries, from construction and manufacturing to technology and hospitality. Its approach combines insurance expertise with analytics, benchmarking, and consulting to help clients identify and reduce risk. That same proactive philosophy extends to its employees. “Recognition like this means a lot more to us because it comes directly from our team,” said CEO Mike Bulow. “We’ve been fortunate to receive recognition over the years, and we’re extremely proud of all of it, but having your own people say this is a great place to work is different.” The firm’s employee-focused culture includes a hybrid workplace, work-life balance, comprehensive benefits, and professional development. The Bulow Group recognizes the importance of regular internal and external training. Employees are eligible for tuition reimbursement and incentives for industry designations. The firm also encourages employees to participate in charitable causes and provides opportunities for mentorship and individualized career development. For Bulow, however, culture is not defined by a list of benefits. “We reinvest a significant amount back into our team every year, whether that’s our office, technology, benefits, flexibility, training, events, or just finding new ways to make TBG a better place to build a career,” Bulow said. “Some of those investments are big, and some are small, but they all matter.” One of the most visible examples is The Bulow Group’s state-of-the-art headquarters, which includes a full-sized gym, smoothie room, commercial kitchen, and a firm-branded pro shop. The company said the facility reflects its broader effort to create an environment that employees are proud to be part of. Flexibility and autonomy are equally important. The Bulow Group’s leadership emphasizes giving employees the tools and resources to succeed without micromanaging how they accomplish their work. The goal is to provide opportunities for employees to take ownership of their roles and careers while growing with the company. That philosophy mirrors the company’s client-facing “TBG Gold Standard,” which is built around treating clients’ businesses as its own. The model emphasizes responsive service, from everyday needs such as certificates of insurance, claims, and billing to longer-term risk management strategy. Bulow believes the best way to maintain that culture is to listen first and act second. “Listen to your people and then actually do something with what they tell you,” he said. “Some of the best things we’ve done have come from conversations with our employees and being willing to change something that maybe Tom and I thought was working fine.” As The Bulow Group continues to grow, maintaining that connection remains a priority. “Culture isn’t something you can manufacture,” Bulow said. “Your employees ultimately decide what your culture is.” For a brokerage focused on helping clients manage risk and plan for the future, that may be one of its most important investments possible. Topics Leadership