I’d like to think that my Kognitiv employment journey is not unlike anyone else’s: I came here with a mind brimming with Workday knowledge and a heart ready for some change. With the hope of growth and opportunity, I began working entirely from home for an employer located far outside my commute area. 

But as I look back on the last two years, I can come to appreciate that perhaps I’ve taken the less-paved path; being more in tune with what I’ve wanted than what someone else may consider to be the norm.

My journey began in a Business Consultant role, joining a functional team to get more heavily involved with Absence and Time Tracking configuration and support. I did that, among other things, including taking on some clients’ Benefits Open Enrollment for the 2022 plan year. I learned something new every day and constantly expanded my knowledge base.

As the cold Saskatchewan winter began, I was promoted to a Senior Business Consultant role. I easily met the objectives outlined in the job description and proved my work was worthy. At the same time, however, I was already getting restless for more. This isn’t something new for me: I often become satisfied with meeting a minimum objective, and then seek something else to do. Rather than continue excelling at one thing and becoming a so-called Expert, I wondered what else I could offer to Kognitiv.

When, during the December all-hands meeting, the CEO suggested to all staff that any internal employee interested in joining the Project Management team should let them know, I was intrigued. To an extent, I understood what a PM’s role was on a project and felt that I probably already possessed many appropriate traits and skills. So, I reached out to the team and applied!

Over the next 15 months, I spent some time supporting projects for Absence and Time Tracking but was mostly focused on leading an internal Advisory team and a client’s Finance team through their Workday Launch implementation. I learned a lot: about Finance, about working with Partner firms, 3rd party consultants, and project managers, and that I missed being in Workday every day. To put it simply, I had FOMO (fear of missing out) for things no longer part of my job description. Although I was able to use my past experiences as a functional HR user, Workday configurator, and project manager to the best of my ability, I found the work lacked satisfaction. 

I also found that Kognitiv just wanted its employees to do what they loved and were good at. It made no sense, on both a personal and professional level, to continue slogging through the parts I didn’t like with the hope I’d still get to do things I did like. So, I asked to make another change, which led me to the Implementation Advisory team where I am right now.

My current role takes aspects of all my prior Workday experience and expands on them, granting additional opportunities to continue learning and growing. I’ve been tasked with doing system configuration, offering implementation advice in the absence and time tracking modules, training client-side HR Partners, and developing connections and positive client relationships. I’ve also maintained my role as the Kog Blog Manager, as a Coach for the last two associate classes, and as a member of the growing Social Media Marketing Club. I recently presented at Kog Connect 2023 and continue to recruit like-minded Workday professionals to our company. I contribute in a variety of ways; wherever I feel I can add value!

Who knows how long the current feeling will last considering the trend of my professional career, but it really shouldn’t matter. I’m focusing on doing my best work right now, giving it my all, and seeing that my clients are happy and continue doing business with us, even after my team’s work is done. And I’ve yet to hear “boo” from my employer about my decisions.

What I’d like you to get out of this blog is that you can do anything you want at our company. A Kognitiv employee is intelligent, unique, and creative. If we’re unhappy, we’re honest about it. If we want more, we ask for it. There may be career paths laid out for every single Kogger, but they’re options rather than requirements. No one has ever said that it’s not okay to go from one team or role to another; leadership just wants us to use what we have to make ourselves – and the company – better.

If you’re looking for a place that lets you be you, maybe our water cooler is the one you should try drinking from!