MeaningSphere was founded by Jeff Westphal, a seasoned entrepreneur, philanthropist, conservationist, and the author of a forthcoming book. Jeff is also the visionary behind several purpose-driven ventures, including MeaningSphere.
Before dedicating himself to the pursuit of meaning-based work, Jeff spent over three decades at Vertex, Inc., a leading provider of tax technology solutions. There, he served in various leadership roles, including President, CEO, and ultimately Chair of the Board. Under his leadership, Vertex experienced 10x growth and became a trusted partner to Fortune 500 companies like Apple and Starbucks. Jeff was instrumental in shaping Vertex’s collaborative, values-driven culture, recognized repeatedly with “Best Places to Work” honors. In 2020, Vertex went public on the Nasdaq, and Jeff retired from the Board in 2021 after 33 years of service.
Throughout his career, Jeff embarked on a parallel personal journey - one centered on discovering and cultivating deeper meaning in life and work. This exploration, combined with his professional experiences and community involvement, sparked a powerful vision: to help individuals and institutions embrace transformation rooted in intrinsic meaning.
Today, Jeff channels his passion into advancing that vision across three areas close to his heart: business, education & equity, and autism.