The “Go-Live” of My Career

Today marks a significant milestone for my employer, Alcoa. You see, today is our Go-Live, the day we release the HR software we’ve been configuring for the past year [Workday] to the entire organization. There will be celebrations in our operating locations across the globe, honoring the contributions of the people that contributed to the project while holding down a “regular job” and drumming up interest and enthusiasm for the new tool we’re releasing to the public.

This is no small feat. Our company, a stalwart of the Fortune 500 with a proud, 130-year history, is complex. We have in excess of 15,000 employees and contractors in 14 countries with countless unions, collective bargaining agreements, pay scales, positions, reason codes, cost centers… you name it. Oh, and 85 integrations with other internal and external systems that rely on HR data. What this team has achieved – in a very condensed timeframe – is nothing short of astounding. This is the culmination of literally thousands of person-hours of difficult, complicated and stressful work, all unwaveringly focused on delivering the best possible user experience to our workers, while meeting endless sets of requirements (corporate-, business unit-, location- and GDPR-specific, among many others).

These facts alone would be enough to warrant taking a moment to pause, reflect and express gratitude. But I am even more humbled to share what this means to me, personally.

Before I joined Alcoa, I was an equity partner in a “boutique” consultancy (this is a nice way of saying we didn’t grow to achieve astounding revenues). It was a wonderful learning experience that I do not regret in the least, but when Alcoa expressed interest, I elected to seize the opportunity. That was nearly three years ago. Since that time, I commuted for 10 months (with a pregnant wife, no less), we moved our [20% larger] family to Pittsburgh, we bought a house and, perhaps most significantly, I accepted a position with Alcoa that would change my life. On June 5th, 2017, I was entrusted with the responsibility of leading a project whose scale I don’t think any of us fully comprehended when we began. I knew it would be challenging, but man… this year was TOUGH.

As an aside, I’ve been averaging about 5 hours of sleep per night, usually taking calls at least a few times per week at night to connect with colleagues in Australia, and rising early to get a jump start on the day and make it home in time to see my kids, lend a hand with homework and bedtime, and help out around the house. I’ve lived in a perpetual state of exhaustion.

And yet, I cannot help but appreciate just how lucky I’ve been. First, I lived to tell the tale (!) and that is worth mentioning; it’s a blessing to be alive at all, let alone to be endowed with the faculties to contribute meaningfully to a larger cause and be compensated for . Second, I’ve gained an unbelievable amount of knowledge; not just about the Workday product and our global processes, but about myself and other people with whom I’ve been blessed to collaborate. So many of the lessons I’ve been taught by my parents, grandparents and professional mentors have been reinforced and brought to life in stunning clarity: the value of hard work, the importance of respect, the power of curiosity and a desire to learn… I could go on. Third, I could not have imagined being in this position a few years ago. It’s not that I lack in self-confidence; I just try not to assume or expect the things that are important to me in my career, and when they happen it is an affirmation of the path that I’m on and a miracle of small decisions and adjustments over the past nearly two decades. And last, I am moved by the selflessness and spirit of camaraderie that has pervaded this project. No man is an island. It takes a village. Well, in this case, it’s taken a massive, global team.

At the risk of leaving someone out, I am going to attempt to name names. So... from the bottom of my heart (and off the top of my head):

My steering committee has been actively engaged throughout this process. Their support and reinforcement of our guiding principles, in particular, is the key to worldwide adoption of the new technology, processes and behaviors. I, and the finished product, have benefitted from their counsel, criticism and creative solutions. Thank you, Leigh Ann, Tania, Marcelo, Bob, Donna, Ian, Marie, Peter, Tammi, Shannon, Brian, Vania, Laurie and their emissaries, Lindsey, Narelle, Ale and Amanda. Your display of leadership has set a great example – and a high bar – for me.

My track leads assumed a heavy burden and performed admirably, especially given that they took on the task without respite from the usual, day-to-day responsibilities of their positions. I am amazed by the energy and dedication of this special group of people. Thank you, Theresa, Stephen, Lara, Ariel, Nicole, Tibor, Jim, Eugenio, Carmel, Tammi (yes, you appear on this list twice), Joe, Jacquie, Luciana and Alexa.

The entire project team has been deeply committed to the success of this project and they have contributed in ways big and small. Their input and suggestions formed the foundation for the entire system and their ability to learn new concepts rapidly, reach compromise, or at least disagree and commit was inspiring to witness. Thank you Shelley, Pat, Danielle, Nick, Susan, Libby, Narelle B, Karen, Melanie, Juliana, Mayara, Rogerio, Rose, Carlos, Marcos, Melina, Mariano, Marco, Stephane, Luc, Nancy, Johanne, Christian, Josianne, Stale, Bernt, Gudny, Edda, Pilar, Pili, Maribel, Violeta, Borja, Esther, Jesus, Marianna, Szabi, Gabi, Agnes, Tamas, Zsolt, Katelyn, Emmanuelle, Jan, Jackie, Lori, Helen, Kate, Mike N, Mike McC, Shelley, Natalia, Randy, Melissa, Jair, Jessica, Dacia, Teresa, Stephanie, Tati, Aryanna, Chelsea, Mark, Laci, Fabricio and Guillaume. And a special shout-out to exemplary “accessories to the project,” Lindsey, Lori C, Amanda S and Tenley. Advance apologies as I’ve surely missed someone (at this point, my brain is mush).

A few consultants on this project, in particular, really distinguished themselves: Derreck Brown (HCM Architect Extraordinaire), Sam Schreer (Conversion and general data wizard), Cailun McCarty (Talent), Jessica Gordon (Absence) and Chris Kuseck (US Payroll). For future customers, if you see these names on your project charter, know you are in good hands. Thank you for going above & beyond and really delivering for us when it mattered most!

My manager, Laurie Roy, deserves special mention. One could honestly not ask for a better boss. She is extraordinarily kind, supportive, wise, clever, genuine and passionate and I am beyond fortunate to have her in my corner. Thank you so much for checking my work, providing feedback to improve my performance, talking me off the ledge, reminding me to eat (and sleep), picking up the slack when project issues demanded all of my attention and just being all-around terrific.

And last but not least, I have to thank my wife. If it wasn’t obvious, while this year has been intense for me, she has had to adjust to a [still relatively] new city, work a nearly-full-time job, manage most of the daily domestic affairs and keep our four active kids stimulated and out of trouble! I could not dream of a more loyal or sympathetic partner, and I literally could not have put in the hours and energy required of this role without her backing. Thank you for enabling me to pursue my dream without sacrificing the other important things in our life together. I love you!!