In a data-heavy organization, having someone with the ability to translate complex information into compelling narratives is crucial. Callie O., a Lead Insights and Enablement Analyst at UKG, exemplifies this skill through her work. With over three years at UKG, Callie has not only honed her expertise in data storytelling but has also become a pivotal resource at UKG. In this Q&A, we explore her career journey, the challenges she tackles, and the aspects of her role that bring her the most joy.
Tell us about your career journey at UKG
I’m currently a Lead Insights and Enablement Analyst, and I’ve been at UKG since 2022. I started as a Senior Analyst and was promoted to a Lead Analyst in 2024. I hope to build a team of Enablement analysts for the Enterprise Systems organization to help bring storytelling and data insights to life for our data-heavy organization of data analysts, engineers, and scientists who bring great work and value to UKG.
Describe a typical day in your role
A typical day for me involves strategic branding of stories through PowerPoint and design that allow our work to shine. I am constantly looking at new ways to bring our data to life by creating templates, refining the story and messaging in our slides, and switching out text-heavy presentations with iconography. I also help create content for projects and programs within our teams that describe our work efficiently with FAQs, one-page infographics, how-to guides, and more.
What problems are you solving?
Currently, the problem I work to solve is the gap between our data organization and our non-data-facing U Krewers. I help to tell our story in a way that makes sense whether you understand our work or have never heard of it. I assist the team in telling our story efficiently while minimizing the extra “noise” by putting the audience at the center of the narrative.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is that my managers and leaders allow me to be creative and value my perspective every day. I feel motivated to bring my best self to work and encouraged to think outside the box to bring the value of our work to life. I greatly appreciate having leaders who take my feedback seriously and implement changes based on it.
What are you most proud of in your career at UKG?
I am most proud of being known as the PowerPoint Guru for my organization. I love seeing presentations I have worked on being presented in high-visibility meetings, and my peers recognize that the “brand” was influenced by my templates or by me. I am proud to have made an impact across my organization and with my peers, being a go-to resource for those needing a second set of eyes or to bounce ideas off of.
What three skills are essential to your role at UKG?
The three top skills essential for my role are keen attention to detail, having a data-oriented mindset, and being able to understand the WHY behind our work. Without these three elements, I would not be able to do my job effectively and make an impact within the team.
How has UKG helped you develop as an employee?
UKG has given me the ability to feel valued, not only as an employee but as a person. As a new parent in 2024, my whole world changed. My perspective as an employee shifted after becoming a parent; I found a new purpose in my child and the need for work-life balance. I feel empowered to bring my best self to work knowing that I have flexibility and that I am encouraged to take time away from work to be with my family.
Are you involved in any Employee Resource Groups (ERG)? If so, could you share how your participation has benefited you professionally?
Yes, I am! I haven’t been as active since being back on maternity leave, but I am a member of: FIRE Up, NEST, ADAPT, BUILD, Unidos, and RISE.
I was given a great opportunity within BUILD to collaborate with some members and present/facilitate a BUILDing Brilliant Presentation workshop. It was a fantastic way for me to get in front of a large audience and present savvy presentation skills for how to present to external (or internal) audiences, how to tell your story effectively, and how design can be impactful. This helped me professionally as I was able to work on an area of opportunity for me – public speaking, as well as collaborating with other BUILD members I otherwise wouldn’t interact with in my day-to-day.
I have also participated in FIRE Up mentoring circles in the past, which helped me professionally when dealing with imposter syndrome and bringing my best self to work. The mentor circle was another great opportunity to network across UKG with like-minded colleagues and discuss our next career moves. I would highly recommend participating in one of these mentor circles offered by an ERG if you haven’t already!
Where have you found inspiration and motivation?
I am driven to bring my best self to work every day. I am motivated to do great work because I feel “seen” by my peers, but I am also motivated to do great work because I truly feel like I have the best work benefits to enjoy my work and my personal life. With our benefits in the U.S. — like maternity leave, unlimited paid time off, and employer paid health insurance premiums — I feel like I can take time off and live a healthy lifestyle while also enjoying the little moments as I grow my family.
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