Erin Senior Manager, Operations and Human Resources

What initially drew you to apply to work at Medallia?

I was referred to Medallia, which in 2002 was only a few people, by the CEO of a company I had worked with who knew Medallia’s president.

What other opportunities and fields were you considering?

At the time I was between jobs (and living on a boat in Sausalito!), because the startup I worked for had folded. I was looking for something in operations and facilities, or maybe HR. Medallia was in the right place at the right time for me.

Why did you ultimately choose Medallia?

I remember interviewing with the founders. They were telling me what they needed in the super-small office—a combination of admin and technical support, lots of answering emails from customers who were taking surveys. I said I didn’t feel I was qualified, but they didn’t want someone who had prior experience because on-the-job training would be better. I thought it was an interesting proposition, and at the time they paid me very well. We had just signed two large hospitality customers, so one of my first jobs was to get the first checks framed.

How has your experience measured up to your expectations? What surprised you or has surprised you over time?

A lot of things, but I think one of them is how much the founders care about their employees. We’ve created this culture that we’re maintaining as we grow. It’s continued to be teamwork, and you have so much freedom to explore and pave your own path. People from all different nationalities and backgrounds work together so well, and yet there are no clones, no two people the same. People have developed so many friendships. It’s a huge reason to come into work every day—the people you get to spend time with.

How does your experience at Medallia compare to your friends' experiences in other jobs?

They can’t believe how lucky I am. I don’t even think I can explain it. It’s like climbing Half Dome, taking a picture, and trying to show people how cool it is—they just don’t get it. I’m probably the only one of my friends who can truly say I love my job.

How would you describe your responsibilities at Medallia?

I’d say that the employee experience at Medallia is my main responsibility. If they’re happy, they’ve got the right tools to get their work done, and there’s plenty of good food in the kitchen and social events to attend for getting to know other Medallians, then I’m doing my job. I guess I also function as the company file cabinet and encyclopedia, since I’ve been here so long. I’m the institutional memory, the keeper of the keys.

One recent project was organizing our Wellness Challenge. I got inspired by seeing other coworkers come in early to work out—we have a great onsite gym here. I realized I needed to hold myself accountable for my own fitness and get to the gym regularly. And I thought, if I am going to do this for myself, why not for everybody? So that was the genesis of the idea. It just kind of went from there. We formed a Wellness Team, and we were able to use our own technology to send daily surveys to the participants to record whether they met their goals and commitments. We had nearly 50% of our employees actively participate in the challenge, and many of them ended up making lifestyle changes that they’re sticking to, even though the actual 10-week challenge is over. That’s awesome. I consider that a success, and I’m looking forward to helping coordinate regular challenges on an ongoing basis.

What was your job prior to Medallia?

I worked for the typical dotcom, where your background didn't have a big impact on your ability to get hired (I was a former zookeeper, no joke). I started out as an administrative assistant to the CEO, but moved over into HR on the benefits administration side shortly after starting.

What are some similarities/differences between your past and current roles?

The culture at my old company was very typical of the dotcom boom. We were run by cofounders who were young and visionary but had not run a business before. They did a great job raising a lot of capital but hadn't yet figured out how to make money with it before the company came crashing down during the dotcom bust. That's when I got to see the bad side of startups. I even got to lay myself off! It was a great learning experience. I didn’t realize how different startups could be until I worked at Medallia. It was eye-opening to move to a company that, because it was initially bootstrapped, had to be laser focused on making money. Profitability is in its DNA because that was its funding mechanism.

Since both companies were small startups when I joined, I was able to (and still do) wear many hats. It’s great to have exposure to various parts of the company, and it has allowed me to explore and contribute to a lot of different areas that interest me. A key difference would have to be the success of this company and the number of opportunities I’ve had over the years to learn new things and pave my own path. I’ve been a Medallian for over nine years, and I’ve had so many opportunities to learn and grow, that I can honestly say I’ve never been bored, and I’ve never gotten up in the morning and said, “I don’t want to go to work today.”

What is the best thing about working at Medallia?

I can’t think of just one thing. We have a lot of freedom to explore new ideas and are encouraged to think outside the box. You work hard here—this is no 9-to-5 job—but you're also assumed to have a life outside of work. No one questions you if you need to tend to personal or family situations. You're expected to go on nice vacations and take time off. And I can’t forget the people. It’s what makes this place so special.

How would you describe Medallia to your friends? What would you want them to know about Medallia?

Great people and culture. Everyone is so approachable. I’m sure people have bad days, but it’s rare that you ever approach anyone who isn’t happy to help you or at least point you in the right direction. We have happy hours every Friday that people really like. People even put themes together—we’re the only company I’ve heard of that has hosted a prom and elected a prom king and queen!