Case Study: City of Santa Monica builds resilient, thriving employees with BetterUp

City of Santa Monica helps employees at all levels thrive in change

The City of Santa Monica partnered with BetterUp to help employees at all levels thrive through constant change and rising public-service demands. As a large, high-visibility city serving residents and millions of visitors, it needed a way to build leadership, accountability, and resilience across a diverse workforce—not just among managers. BetterUp provided 1:1 Dedicated Coaching and BetterUp Care to support employee well-being and leadership development.

BetterUp began with a pilot of personalized 1:1 coaching, then expanded to more employees through additional coaching rounds, group coaching, and BetterUp Care. The impact was strong: coached employees reported a 44% increase in emotional thriving, a 28% increase in cognitive thriving, a 40% increase in motivating others, and a 29% increase in self-efficacy, along with a 22% increase in growth mindset. According to the City of Santa Monica, BetterUp helped employees feel more empowered and better equipped to handle personal and professional challenges, contributing to a more positive workplace culture.

City of Santa Monica

Mark Brower

Deputy Director of Human Resources