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DevelopU Week 2024
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Simply put: We wouldn’t be an industry-leader without our people. It’s important to recognize the hard work and commitment of rock stars, which is why Epsilon launched our Magnitude recognition program in 2020. Magnitude is all about rewarding Epsilon employees who stand out for their hard work and commitment to our values. In this series, you’ll learn a bit more about some of our Annual Magnitude Winners.
We caught up with a few of our annual winners from the 2022 working year to gain some insight into their time here at Epsilon and their achievements.
Joshua Simons
Josh has been with Epsilon since early 2018, starting his career in Account Management, transitioning over to Product a few years ago. He currently is working as a Senior Product Manager on the Channels & Formats team in the Digital organization based in Chicago.
Can you tell us a little bit about the work and why you were recognized?
“Our team focuses on development of Epsilon Digital's Channels & Formats - Connected TV, Online Video, Audio, Native, Non-Standard Formats & more. I am lucky to be on such a great team and without the people around me, I never would have had the opportunity for this level of recognition. A big part of why I was recognized is the growth we have seen in Epsilon Digital’s channel adoption. Because I have a half a decade of experience at Epsilon, I have grown into someone that can help people navigate their way here and help facilitate getting things done.”
Who do you look up to for inspiration or mentorship?
“I have a lot of sources of inspiration & mentorship outside of work, but I want to thank a few people who have mentored and inspired me at Epsilon. My manager, Lindsay Woods, has taught me so much through her lessons and leading by example. I would not have been a Magnitude winner if I did not have Lindsay in my corner, helping me along but also giving me the autonomy to carry things out myself. In my first role at Epsilon, there was one person who really invested in me and helped me build out the confidence & the accountability that have made me work as I do today, and that person is Gloria Gonzalez. Gloria is wise beyond her years and taught me what true accountability in the workplace looks like. Her sagely advice & leadership pushed me up in the Account Management organization, and without her giving me my first SME role, I may have never landed in product. Thank you Lindsay & Gloria for inspiring and mentoring me!”
What piece of advice do you have for other colleagues (or soon to be colleagues!) about making an impact at Epsilon?
“I think having started at Epsilon at 25 and now being 30, I can remember how intimidating it was to approach colleagues with questions while simultaneously feeling that I was supposed to already have the answer, and that I might be looked down upon for not. The best thing I can advise current or future colleagues is to let go of that. Epsilon is a large, layered organization, sometimes it's not important to know the answer, but to know the journey you need to take to get the answer. Treat your colleagues like people, never let anyone feel like their questions are stupid questions, learn how to create respectful boundaries, and treat your colleagues how you want to be treated!”
Preeti Ravindran
Preeti has been a part of the Epsilon family for over 5 years now, with experience leading various initiatives, customer builds and subscription projects. Currently, she is working as a Senior Business Architect, part of PIE BSA Chapter based out of Epsilon India.
Can you tell us a little bit about the work and why you were recognized?
“If I had to categorize my win under one word, it would be ‘Firefighting’. I have always thrived in challenging environments and 2022 provided me ample opportunities to leverage this skill and make a difference. At the beginning of last year, I took on a significant role as a Business Architect for an investment client account, where I successfully co-led the essential BSA work. Shortly after, I was reassigned to a banking client where I embarked on an 18-week User Acceptance Testing (UAT) cycle working across US and Epsilon India time zones. Playing dual roles, and balancing my team's deliverables along with my own, I deftly led the UAT process and spearheaded a critical campaign, exceeding client expectations, saving the account time and money while fighting against timelines and resource challenges.
During this time, one of my mentors described me as 'a force to reckon with,' highlighting my ability to work with unwavering dedication during trying times. I was fortunate to have an outstanding leadership team that supported and guided me throughout this journey. Their mentorship, along with their embodiment of our company's core values and principles, inspired and motivated me to aim for excellence.”
Can you tell us about something you have accomplished recently?
“On a personal front, I have been actively seeking ways to enrich my experiences, cultivate positive habits (I highly recommend reading "Atomic Habits" by James Clear to start with), and give back to the community.
Fitness has become a top priority for me over the past few years, and I am pleased that I have consistently upheld this commitment. I have also been focused on acquiring new life skills, including financial literacy, and making time for my hobbies and interests.
Furthermore, I have taken the opportunity to sponsor children through an NGO dedicated to child welfare and I’m part of a few outreach programs focusing on mentorship outside of work, both of which have been incredibly fulfilling.”
What piece of advice do you have for other colleagues (or soon to be colleagues!) about making an impact at Epsilon?
"I have learned many things along the way, but the most important learning that I follow is that you will never know the outcome unless you ask. Don't be afraid to seek out new challenges or express your interest in specific opportunities. Asking shows that you’re ready and willing to grow and as for your fears, outwork them!"
Christopher Shepard
Chris has been working with the Automotive team for his entire 9-year tenure here. He is currently working as a Senior Director, Analytics team living in Denver, Colorado.
Can you tell us a little bit about the work and why you were recognized?
“We were challenged to provide clients with more reporting and insights. We worked through automating campaign readouts and the launch of a Tableau server-based reporting site known as Vision in order to deliver more frequent reporting for our clients. This effort has enabled us to do 15, 30, 45, and 60-day results dashboards as opposed to just a 60-day end of campaign readout, reducing the analysis time for a campaign from 1-2 weeks to 2-4 days. The use of the client facing Tableau server has expanded to include Service Retention reporting, reducing the level of effort for those monthly readouts from 2 weeks to 4 days.
There was a lot of effort upfront to automate these processes, create the dashboards, and stand up the servers but since launch we have saved countless hours thanks to the use of Vision. The use of Vision has since expanded to more of our Auto clients as well as been a part of RFP responses to win new business.”
Who do you look up to for inspiration or mentorship?
“My dad has certainly been a great mentor over the years. He has had a small business and has sacrificed a lot to make sure that people with his business have been able to keep their jobs throughout the pandemic under some difficult circumstances. He even delayed his own retirement to keep the business running and keep people employed.”
What are a few resources you would recommend to someone looking to grow in their career?
“YouTube is a great starting point for research on a new skill. There are a lot of great informational videos that can give you enough information about where to get started if you are looking to develop a new skill.
It is also important to stay up to speed on whatever industry you are supporting. For example, on Auto I am always keeping up with the latest news and reports. There are channels/accounts dedicated to industries on various social media sites (Twitter, YouTube, Instagram) that can provide you with the newest stories. Beyond that some industry specific publications can be helpful.
I view career growth as a 2-way street so it's always best to have conversations with your manager about how you can work to grow your skillset. They can usually let you know where you may have some growth opportunities if you can let them know where you want to take your career next.”
We are proud of the accomplishments made by our winners and hope their experiences inspire you to achieve greatness both personally and professionally. If you would like to read about the accomplishments of other Epsilon super stars, check out our Careers Page on the Blog
