Meet Vivian Chen
Hi everyone my name is Vivian Chen – a business analyst based out of Plative’s Toronto Office. Currently, I’m working remotely from home in London, ON. Growing up in Guangzhou, China, I came to study in Canada as an international student. After receiving my undergraduate degree of Business Administration from Ivey Business School, I joined Plative as an ascend analyst in June 2023. My passion for technology originated from my experience volunteering in NGOs aimed to empower underprivileged youths and communities through technology. Witnessing how technology can positively change people’s lives, I decided to pursue a career in technology consulting where I can continue to unleash the power of technology for a broader audience.
Why I Chose Plative
There are many reasons I choose to work at Plative. The first being the professional development opportunities it offers. As a young professional coming fresh out of school, I wanted a solid foundation for my career. The first 3 months of the ascend program is made up of hard and soft skills training camp to set me up to be a successful consultant. Although I am interested in consulting at the moment, I still appreciate the flexibility in choosing different career pathways in the future. Fortunately, by coffee chatting with managers at Plative, I was reassured that there are various pathways I can pursue within Plative and how the company supports the shift.
What Does a Typical Day Look Like as an Ascend Analyst?
8:00-9:00 am
I usually wake up at 8:00 am and get ready for the day. After making myself some quick breakfast, I open my laptop at 9:00 am and start working.
9:00-9:30 am
First thing during the day would be to open my email and respond to any meetings/event invites being sent the day before. Then I would go on Slack and respond to any messages that my coworkers sent last night.
9:30-10:30 am
This would usually be my focus time for project work that I did not finish the day before. This could be to continue loading client data into the system or installing some bundles for clients.
10:30 – 11:30 am
Me and another Ascend Analyst would attend an open office hour conducted by our mentor to discuss any challenges/issues we faced during the week and decompress as a group. I would bring my questions to the call and it is beneficial to hear what other coworkers from different teams can share. There would also be a little show and tell session where we can demonstrate a piece of work we found interesting during the week to the group. I like to treat it as a social event to get to meet new people from Plative and learn more about their projects.
10:30 – 11:30 am
Me and another ascend analyst would attend an open office hour conducted by our mentor to discuss any challenges/issues we faced during the week and decompress as a group. I would bring my questions to the call and it is beneficial to hear what other coworkers from different teams can share. There would also be a little show and tell session where we can demonstrate a piece of work we found interesting during the week to the group. I like to treat it as a social event to get to meet new people from Plative and learn more about their projects.
11:30-12:30 am
This time is usually for client meetings. Depending on the day, the meeting can be a kick off call where the Plative team introduces ourselves to the client and sets expectations for the projects. It can also be a check-in call where consultants would answer any questions from the client. Or it could be a walkthrough call where the consultants present the final solution.
12:30-1:30 pm
If there is no meeting being scheduled, it is lunch time! When the weather is nice, I prefer sitting outside while having lunch and enjoying some fresh air.
1:30-2:00 pm
Coming back from lunch, I would have a 1:1 check-in session with my manager to review the progress on current projects and new projects that are coming down the pipeline. We would also discuss any blockers for my work and any support needed. Weekend plans and vacation plans are also on the agenda!
2:00 – 3:00 pm
The operation team has spent hours and hours on developing our own time log system and it is now finally done. But before going live for everyone, people from different teams need to test it out. And I volunteered to be one of the test users on my team. Me and two other managers from our team test out different features as a group and write down any feedback for the operation team.
3:00-4:00 pm
Another focus time for some more project work being assigned to me in the morning.
4:00 – 5:00 pm
As a technology consultant, obtaining different certifications are important to my professional development. I would usually end my work with some studying by watching training videos and doing some sample test questions.
After 5:00 pm
Now work is done! I usually have dinner with my roommates so we all get to decompress from the day. I also make sure to work out at the gym to take care of my body. A good movie to watch before night time is always refreshing. And now I’m finally ready for bed!
The Best Part
Maintain a healthy work-life balance. Given the nature of remote working, I save up daily commute time for time spent with friends and things that I enjoy doing. In addition, as a big traveler myself, I can travel and work from anywhere in the world.
What I’ve Learned So Far
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and raise concerns
As someone new to the company, it is the best time to learn and grow and everyone expects that. When you are unsure about something, always ask around and people will be more than happy to help. The sooner you ask those “stupid questions”, the faster you get ramped up on projects. If there are any concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to your managers. They are there to support you and help you to be successful.
Always try something new
Don’t get too comfortable only talking to people from the same team. Volunteering to help out in different projects or connecting with people from different positions will offer a broader perspective on how the company works and also the industry as a whole.
If you are interested in learning more about the Ascend program at Plative, get in touch!
