Glint

Glint, acquired by LinkedIn in 2018, is a technology-driven employee engagement and survey platform originally founded by Silicon Valley executives Jim Barnett and Goutham Kurra.

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Provides employee feedback and engagement tools that help organizations measure and improve workplace culture.

Glint, acquired by LinkedIn in 2018, is a technology-driven employee engagement and survey platform originally founded by Silicon Valley executives Jim Barnett and Goutham Kurra. The company emerged as a leader in the employee feedback space by offering scalable, enterprise-grade survey tools with advanced analytics and integration capabilities. Glint's platform is designed to replace traditional annual engagement surveys with continuous listening tools, leveraging natural language processing and AI to analyze employee sentiment.

The company gained traction as legacy players like Kenexa (acquired by IBM) struggled, positioning Glint as a modern alternative for large enterprises. Post-acquisition, Glint became part of Microsoft's LinkedIn ecosystem, integrating with LinkedIn Learning to provide managers with actionable insights tied to development resources. The platform is now bundled within Microsoft Viva, requiring Microsoft 365 licensing, which has drawn criticism from non-Microsoft shops. While financials are not publicly disclosed post-acquisition, Glint's technology remains central to Microsoft's employee experience offerings, though its standalone identity has diminished within the broader Viva suite.

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Who buys this

  • Large enterprises standardized on Microsoft 365
  • HR teams needing enterprise-grade survey tools
  • Companies transitioning from annual to continuous employee listening
  • Organizations prioritizing manager effectiveness programs
  • Microsoft ecosystem buyers seeking integrated employee experience tools

Strengths and what to watch

Strengths

  • Deep integration with Microsoft 365, Teams, and Outlook for seamless workflow
  • AI-powered comment analysis that automatically groups open-text feedback themes
  • Manager nudges that push actionable recommendations directly into Teams

Watch for

  • Limited customization options for organizations with unique engagement frameworks
  • Dependency on Microsoft 365 limits adoption by non-Microsoft shops
  • Reporting capabilities may lack depth for advanced people analytics teams

Key Information

Founded
2013
Headquarters
Redwood City

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Glint and what does it do?

Glint is an employee engagement platform that helps organizations measure and improve workplace culture through continuous feedback tools. Acquired by LinkedIn in 2018, it uses AI and natural language processing to analyze employee sentiment, replacing traditional annual surveys with real-time insights. (42 words)

How does Glint integrate with Microsoft products?

Glint is now bundled within Microsoft Viva and requires Microsoft 365 licensing. It integrates with Teams, Outlook, and LinkedIn Learning, pushing manager recommendations directly into workflows. This tight ecosystem benefits Microsoft-centric organizations but limits adoption by non-Microsoft shops. (45 words)

What types of companies use Glint?

Glint primarily serves large enterprises using Microsoft 365, HR teams needing enterprise survey tools, and organizations shifting from annual to continuous employee listening. Its ideal customers prioritize manager effectiveness and seek integrated employee experience solutions within the Microsoft ecosystem. (44 words)

How does Glint's AI analyze employee feedback?

Glint uses natural language processing to automatically group themes from open-text employee comments. Its AI identifies sentiment patterns and surfaces key insights, helping managers address concerns proactively through actionable recommendations delivered in Microsoft Teams. (42 words)

What are the main limitations of Glint?

Glint offers limited customization for unique engagement frameworks and requires Microsoft 365, excluding non-Microsoft organizations. Advanced people analytics teams may find reporting capabilities insufficient. These constraints make it less flexible than some standalone employee feedback platforms. (45 words)

How does Glint compare to traditional HR tools like Kenexa?

Glint positioned itself as a modern alternative to legacy tools like IBM's Kenexa by offering continuous listening versus annual surveys. Its AI-driven analytics and Microsoft integration differentiate it, though customization limitations may deter some enterprises with complex existing frameworks. (47 words)

Sources

  1. eletive.com — Glint's Microsoft 365 dependency and customization limitations
  2. joshbersin.com — Glint's acquisition by LinkedIn and integration with LinkedIn Learning
  3. www.bloomberg.com — Context on tech sector layoffs affecting HR tech providers
  4. www.bloomberg.com — Broader tech industry context including HR tech sector