Grati-Sunday: Thank you, Splunk!

We all have one, and if we’re lucky, two #bilfs (books I’d like to finish) in our careers. While leaving Splunk felt like an unfinished chapter, in a #bilf…for now, I’m bookmarking an amazing chapter in a phenomenal book. The mountains have been calling, and I’m ready for a break to do a little bit of self-reflection, try something new, and learn a thing or two.?

GB, Karen, and Shreya…thank you for fostering and cultivating the BEST experience and highlight of my professional experience as a Talent Advisor/Partner. But special shoutout to Karen who took that leap of faith on a gal who simply showed potential! ;)

Karen, thank you for demonstrating what “great” looks like as a leader, mama bear, mama-ger (manager), and more importantly, friend. Thank you for empowering me to run my desk, and more importantly, allowing me to make mistakes, and learn from them.?

I vividly remember interviewing with you, on a same-day turnaround because I had other opps to action. “Versace on the Floor” (the explicit version) was blaring in the lobby of the Santana Row office. But that wasn’t the most memorable part of the interview for me…your energy and enthusiasm became the ultimate draw for me. You wanted to build a team that was going to be known to be THE best TA team (which you would eventually do). More importantly, the difficult, thoughtful questions that actually made me think. My charm and PPT preso wasn’t going to woo you over ??…you wanted to actually understand how technical I actually was. And I wasn’t ??. You had asked what the difference between backend and front end technologies. I admitted I wasn’t that technical, and simply told you what programming languages I knew were front end, and what were backend. It was unlike any other “valley” interview I had gone through…and it was quite the slice of humble pie. You appreciated me for being open and honest about what I knew and what I didn’t. From that very moment, I knew I’d be challenged not just by you, but the overall opportunity. You helped me flex muscles that needed strengthening, but you did so in a way that allowed me to learn and grow at a pace that was comfortable for me.

You didn’t throw me into the deep end of the pool, you led me to the steps of the entrance of the pool. You started me off in University Recruiting, but I didn’t fall in love with it. So you positioned me back into seasoned recruiting and had me lead recruiting for Tech Docs and Product/Eng PMO to get my feet wet because you knew I loved recruiting for roles that dabbled in the gray (half technical, half business). ?? My #DayOne teams became my fav teams! And I fell in love with them. Special thank you to CG, Jo, and Lan (+ your incredible teams) for many, many years of laughter and memories!

Kar ??, thank you for taking that chance on me…you never discouraged me from trying new things to attract talent (as ridiculous as my ideas were). You embraced my creativity, as unconventional as it was. When it came to my perfectionism, I specifically remember you telling me to release a post on LI because “if not now, when?”You were right. Now, I have NO problem releasing SFD’s and iterating as needed. #ApologizeLaterMethod?

Encouraging us to speak up and pursue passion were common in our weekly team meetings - thank you allowing me to lead the Candidate eXperience project with #TeamButtercup because you knew it was near and dear to my ??. I cannot wait to see parts of it get implemented and the impact it’ll make.?

You were my emotional support system through some of the most difficult years and situations I’ve ever faced in my career (and life) - thank you for allowing me to bring my most authentic, unconventional self to work every single day (zoom optional ??). You’ve seen me in my most vulnerable moments, and knew when to switch on your mama ?? hat; demonstrating high EQ, but also, just how much you genuinely cared. I'll never forget how you made me feel. ??

Last, but not least, thank you for encouraging me to chase my dreams…even if they were no longer #splunky dreams. That, to me, means the world. In my ??, I know we will work together again. Until then, I’ve got a #foreverfriend in you, and I look forward the many memories that we’ll create outside of work. ???

To my Splunkin’ amazing mentors past and present here at Splunk: Dean’a, William "Big Fancy", Landon “Snoop”, LV, SizeLOVE, Mikey, Shluey + some who have moved on - thank you ALL for helping me hone my craft. B-money B, Krystal, C, DC, and L, thank you for being some of my #wbff's ????.

Special shoutout to Dean'a "DC" - thank you allowing me to be part of your #squad, and for demonstrating what true partnership was, day in and day out! You always did so with head, heart, and hands — we locked arms when times got difficult and we powered through to get ourselves out of those dang troughs (with hope and hoe in hand). Up until the very last hour, you called to check up on me to make sure I was alright, and caught me in my most vulnerable moment (when I almost just about refunded myself), but you brought me back to my senses. Thank you for not allowing me to self-sabotage. I’m incredibly grateful that our paths converged when they did, and that we will forever be part of one another’s lives. You’re my sis from anotha miss, and our bonda es forevera. ?? ?? ?? #CSisters4Life?

Laura, Natty, Jules, and Aimeé - I cannot wait to see what you all accomplish, and I'm glad to have a front row seat. I’m just grateful to have had a couple of splunkin’ amazing years with you all. I hope your Splunk journeys turn out to be everything you want and more. Laura, you are my day one, and it has been an absolute honor mentoring you and I look forward to continuing to do so outside of Splunk.

OK, now I'm officially all cried out ??! Last question, how am I supposed to live without you?

Love you all from the bottom of my Splunky ??, CP