CDW
CDW Leadership & Management
Frequently Asked Questions
Managers at CDW are generally described as leading with support, collaboration, and a strong focus on employee growth.
- Clear communication and approachable leadership: Employee stories and reviews consistently point to managers who are visible, supportive, and willing to help. Employees describe leadership as approachable and collaborative, and CDW’s own culture language emphasizes trust, connection, and a welcoming environment where coworkers can thrive (leadership quotes; company culture quotes; Glassdoor reviews; Indeed reviews).
- Support tied to growth: At CDW, managers are expected to help employees develop, not just oversee work. Employee quotes from Rose Schember, Nam Ahuja, Kevin Denison, and Drew Bills highlight regular career conversations, coaching, mentorship, and leaders who help people stretch into new responsibilities (career growth quotes; leadership quotes).
- Ongoing feedback and listening: CDW reinforces manager support with a broader listening culture. Its ESG report says the company engages coworkers through focus groups, surveys, and learning opportunities, and launched the global WeListen@CDW survey in 2023 with 89% participation, positioning employee feedback as a key part of its high-performance culture.
- Coaching through real work: Managers at CDW appear to support employees through hands-on development tied to actual business challenges. The ESG report describes programs such as Emerging Leaders, where participants work across teams on real business issues, and Leadership Academy, where first-year managers complete a year-long learning journey with expert insights, collaboration with their direct leader, workshops, and on-demand learning.
- People-first leadership style: CDW’s leadership approach is closely tied to people development. Kevin Denison describes leadership fulfillment as watching people grow personally and professionally, while Drew Bills frames leadership around creating an environment where collaboration thrives and teams solve challenges together (leadership quotes). That people-first approach is also reflected in CDW’s coworker support model, which the ESG report says is designed to give employees the tools and support needed to create exceptional outcomes.
- Growth through mentorship and connection: Support at CDW extends beyond direct managers. The company highlights mentorship, BRGs, networking, and leadership development as part of how employees build careers. In 2023, more than 4,050 coworkers in North America participated in BRGs, up 15% year over year, and CDW hosted 100+ Better Together events, including networking sessions with leaders.
- External signals: External reviews reinforce a generally positive view of management quality at CDW, especially around support, visibility, flexibility, and willingness to help employees succeed.
Bottom line: Managers at CDW are seen as supportive, collaborative, and growth-oriented, with a leadership style that emphasizes communication, mentorship, feedback, and helping employees grow through meaningful work.
CDW's Candidate Tradeoffs
If you’re weighing whether CDW is the right fit, these are the core tradeoffs to consider.
- CDW emphasizes accessible, engaged managers who provide regular support and alignment, though that often includes more frequent check-ins and active collaboration.
CDW Employee Perspectives
CDW’s approach to leadership emphasizes developing people over time, with success measured not just by business outcomes but by how employees grow personally and professionally. This reflects a leadership culture focused on mentorship, long-term development, and creating opportunities for coworkers to progress into leadership roles themselves.
“To me, one of the biggest fulfillments I get out of my role as a leader is to watch people grow in their personal and professional lives. I have had the privilege of leading teams at CDW for over a decade and some of my first hires are now leaders themselves and flourishing in their own careers and lives.”

CDW’s approach to leadership emphasizes creating collaborative environments where teams can solve challenges together and deliver meaningful results. It reflects a culture where leaders are expected to enable teamwork, shared ownership, and collective success.
“Leadership allows me to create an environment where collaboration thrives, and seeing the results of our collective efforts, especially when we overcome challenges and deliver impactful solutions, brings a deep sense of accomplishment.”
CDW's Benefits
Defined policies promoting a professional, respectful workplace
Defined values and mission statements
Documented operating principles
Documented policies and procedures to protect employee privacy and data
Prioritizes mission-driven work in decision-making processes
Prioritizes real-world impact of work in decision-making processes
Promotes a people-first, social culture
Promotes a strong in-person office culture