F5 is one of the most important tech companies you’ve probably never heard of, even though you interact with its technology every day. When you book a plane ticket on an airline app, login to your banking app to check your balance, or order takeout for dinner, chances are F5 software and hardware facilitated and protected those transactions. The top 15 banks in the world are F5 customers, as are the 10 largest telecommunications companies, and the top 10 retailers. From social media to banking, to entertainment and more, if a business is reaching its customers through apps, F5 likely plays a critical role.

“At F5 we’re on a mission to build a better digital world,” says CEO François Locoh-Donou. “For us, a better digital world is one where all these great things happen, but without the dangers and distortions bad people try to put into the digital world.”

F5’s proprietary technology and the unique space it occupies in the B2B tech landscape played a key role in attracting Locoh-Donou, then an 18-year industry veteran, to the CEO seat back in 2017. “I was fascinated by the technology the company had built; it is the crown jewel of F5. This software sits between users and applications and makes sure that the application is always secure, always available, always working… No other company around the world has been able to replicate this technology.”

In addition to the proprietary tech advantages, Locoh-Donou notes that another draw for him was the people behind F5. Also, he’s not afraid to say diversity still matters, which is no small thing in the U.S. in 2025.

“I credit my predecessor, John McAdam, who was the CEO for 15 years, with building a culture that was very collaborative,” says Locoh-Donou. “Where people genuinely help others thrive. Where people are humble and generous: a true human culture.”

That human culture has attracted top talent like EVP and General Counsel Angelique Okeke. “Here, integrity isn’t a corporate buzzword, it’s real and lived every day,” Okeke points out. “In fact, F5’s culture is codified and summed up with one simple phrase, ‘First and foremost, we do the right thing.’ A year in [to my time at F5], I can say that what drew me here is what will continue to keep me here. F5ers are generous, curious, humble, respectful, and empathetic. It’s rare to find a company that has both great products and great culture, but F5 has that sought after mix.”

When Locoh-Donou came in as CEO eight years ago, he saw the potential in the culture that was already in place and built on that foundation. “We have doubled down on some of the things that make the culture the culture,” he says. “We hire leaders who really exemplify and amplify the culture because of their own generosity and humility and inclusiveness… of wanting to bring others from all horizons. Diversity and inclusion has become a hallmark of the culture of F5.”

At F5, inclusion goes beyond representation. It’s wired into how the company builds, solves, and leads. “Our people-first culture is a core tenet of our innovation strategy, not just an HR slogan,” says Chief Innovation Officer Kunal Anand. “We start by hiring exceptional people who care deeply about their craft and create an environment where radical collaboration is the norm. This deliberately cultivated diversity of thought is our best tool for pressure-testing ideas to ensure we make the right decisions for the company and our customers. This translates directly into a deep empathy for our users, allowing us to rapidly diagnose their problems and design effective solutions.”

The importance of an inclusive, human culture and true diversity lands in a very personal place for Locoh-Donou, who hails from Togo, West Africa. As one of the Black CEOs leading Fortune 1000 companies, he is, in effect, a unicorn, a fact that inspired his upcoming visit to AfroTech. “At a time when all of these companies are walking away from DEI and I see a lot of young Black people wondering if they belong in the [technology] industry, I want to remind them that their voice is really important and share some of my learnings from the past 25 years.”

In the end, Locoh-Donou and his F5ers believe that a culture of inclusion is key for today’s tech companies. “How do you create an environment where intelligent and educated people are so passionate about your company that they are going to give everything to be successful? Where they’re taking risks to improve things and to build what’s new… Where they bring their full selves to the company and say, ‘I know from my own personal background that we can do this better…,’” he says. “You can only have that if you create an environment in your organization where everybody feels that they belong. That they have a shot at being successful. I believe that’s how you win.”

With powerful technology and an even more powerful company culture, each F5er is looking towards the future with confidence and optimism.

For Anand, he’s excited about how AI will re-shape the business. “One of our boldest moves was establishing an AI Center of Excellence, mobilizing top internal talent to build our own models and capabilities,” he says. “This ensures we are not just consumers of AI, but architects of how it will be applied to application security and delivery.”

Okeke is inspired by the path paved by F5’s leadership: “François [Locoh-Donou] leads with courage, clarity, and humility—a rare combination. He sets bold goals without losing sight of the people driving them forward. What makes me most optimistic is that under his leadership, F5 doesn’t just embrace change—we define it. Whether we’re evolving the category of application delivery and security or reimagining how a tech company can lead with humanity, there’s a deep belief here that innovation and kindness are not mutually exclusive.”

Locoh-Donou credits part of F5’s continued success on embracing the next generation with open arms. “When I speak with our interns or new grads who are coming in, they don’t have the biases my generation has,” he says. “They’re very quick to adopt new technology, specifically AI. I’m optimistic about their humanity and their ability to adopt technology very quickly. As they have more of a role in the industry, I believe they will deliver good things.”

There are no dystopian Terminator-type futures in the minds of F5ers. They have replaced such imaginings with a culture that believes that, when it comes to technology, together they can help the good guys win.

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