Bill Oesterle, co-founder and CEO of Angie's List, was tired of sitting at his desk and feeling physically unproductive.
"A co-worker and I were talking about how much you waste just sitting at a desk all day," Oesterle says.
Angie's List CEO Bill Oesterle at his Walkstation.
That led to his latest office addition: a desk that doubles as a treadmill. For Oesterle, who's committed to fitness but has difficulty finding time to work out, it was the perfect solution.
As it turned out, one of his friends in the steel furniture business already marketed a treadmill desk — officially known as a Walkstation. This summer, Oesterle installed one in his office. Now, he gets in hours of walking every day while focusing on his computer. And according to guidelines from the Department of Health and Human Services, he can reap positive rewards. Just a few hours of moderate exercise every week can lower blood pressure and risk of heart disease and stroke.
The effect has already rubbed off on his assistant, Whitney Vogel, who sits on an exercise ball at her desk and works out in the company gym. "I originally got it because I didn't want to feel lazy, but it's surprisingly comfortable, and my core strength has improved," she says.
Oesterle hopes the treadmill desk is emblematic of Angie's List's innovative company culture. "It's my own investment in a better life," Oesterle says. "I hope the whole business is devoted to solving problems creatively."