In this conversation with Allocations team members, James Whelchel, Mary Helen Rowell, and Julia Telfer, they talk about facilitating connections and fun in remote work environments.

Today, you’ll hear about:

• The famous Trivia Series and some of the interesting trivia topics
• The various types of virtual events at Allocations
• The pros and cons of virtual events
• The infamous Allocations birthday ritual
• Other ways team members can connect
• Some interesting upcoming events

James is an Angel Investor and the Director of People Operations at Allocations. Prior to joining Allocations, James worked as an Accounting Lead and Finance Manager in a remote setting since the start of the pandemic.

Mary Helen is an Executive Assistant at Allocations. Prior to joining Allocations, she served in various roles in companies including MyEA.now, KAVAL Inc., and O.N.S. Clothing. Mary holds a BSc in Fashion and Merchandising from the University of South Carolina.

Julia is an Executive Assistant at Allocations. Julia holds a Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University - New Brunswick.

[00:54] The Trivia Series

[03:13] Mary’s favourite trivia topics

[04:14] Favourite virtual events

[07:45] Choosing external facilitators

[10:35] Large teams vs smaller team events

[11:20] Virtual escape games

[13:28] Do virtual events facilitate enough connection for teams to bond together?

[14:59] Interesting events coming up

[17:53] Allocations birthday ritual

[19:39] Other ways to connect with team members

[21:46] Q&A

[22:20] Event inclusivity for an international team

[24:27] How often should events take place?

[29:49] Making up for in-person experiences

[33:26] Words of wisdom

James’ LinkedIn

Mary Helen’s LinkedIn

Julia’s LinkedIn

Website

Website

LinkedIn (Allocations)

Twitter (Allocations)

Facebook (Allocations)

LinkedIn (Kendra Kinnison)

In this conversation with Allocations team members, Deja Tate, Bryana Kitchen, and Rachael Bickford, they talk about how companies design, implement, and support remote work tools.

Today, you’ll hear about: 

• Configuring Slack
• Building company culture
• Dealing with all the noise
• Using the User Groups feature
• Getting the team’s advice for companies using Slack

Deja is a Senior IT Admin Specialist at Allocations. Deja holds an Associate’s Degree in Computer Science Information Technology from Year Up.

Bryana is a Software Engineer at Allocations. Her passion for finding workflow efficiencies and human-centered solutions allows her to thrive in collaborative environments. Bryana holds a Degree in Psychology from Southern Adventist University, Office Management from Chattanooga State Community College, Business Management from Belhaven University, and a Certificate of Training in Full Stack JavaScript from Alchemy Code Lab.

Rachael is the Director of Communications at Allocations. 

[00:53] The principles that Deja thinks about when evaluating and configuring internal tools

[02:11] Configuring Slack

[04:16] Bryana as Chief Slack Trainer

[05:18] Building a company culture with Rachael

[09:52] Advice to companies using Slack

[13:14] Controlling and balancing the noise

[17:57] User Groups

[19:52] Notifications

[21:34] Advice for companies thinking about implementing Slack

[24:37] Q&A

[24:57] Drawing boundaries on Slack

[30:01] Reminding yourself to check other Slack channels

[34:01] Slack vs Teams

[36:49] Rules of the road on Slack

[41:54] Slack tips and tricks

Deja’s LinkedIn

Bryana’s LinkedIn

Rachael’s LinkedIn

Website

Website

LinkedIn (Allocations)

Twitter (Allocations)

Facebook (Allocations)

LinkedIn (Kendra Kinnison)

In this conversation with Rubén Muñoz Aguilera, Procurement Risk & Compliance Senior Manager - Global Procurement at Xylem, Inc, he talks about remote work and parenting. 

Today, you’ll hear about:

• Rubén’s experience shifting to remote work
• How he maintains a balance between remote working and being a parent
• His daily routines
• Prioritizing interactions with his daughter
• His passion for the Wim Hof Method and cold exposure
• His advice for anyone taking their first steps in the same direction

With over 17 years of experience, Rubén has been successful in leading all facets of procurement and supplier management operations. He has been recognized for his problem-solving abilities and strong leadership.

Rubén holds a Master’s Degree in Mining Engineering from the Polytechnical University of Madrid, a Master’s Degree in Project Management from Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Mines de Saint-Etienne, an MBA in International Business Administration from EOI Business School, and an Executive MBA from ESADE Business School.

[00:46] Shifting to remote work

[02:57] Finding balance

[04:01] Important elements of the morning routine

[07:27] Knowing when to stop

[09:17] Intentional key parental interactions

[10:19] Helpful insights

[13:29] Work and family sharing a space

[14:42] Things that Rubén tried out but didn’t continue doing

[17:03] The Wim Hof Method, cold exposure, and cold therapy

[21:20] Taking the first step towards balancing work and parenthood

[22:26] Starting with breathing exercises and cold exposure

[25:27] Q&A

[25:42] How the shift of going remote has impacted Ruben’s personal wellness

[28:07] Going back into the office after shifting to remote work

LinkedIn

Website

Website

LinkedIn (Allocations)

Twitter (Allocations)

Facebook (Allocations)

LinkedIn (Kendra Kinnison)