Connected

Endless, boundless, limitless; words to describe Chris Russo’s creativity. As our Content Marketing Manager, he proves every single day that the pen is mightier than the sword. He has inspired so many Thoughtworkers to share their voice and perspectives through our content, that we even created a secret-not-so-secret society for everyone he’s collaborated with known as the 4P (you’ll have to join the team to find out what it stands for!). Besides being a very avid reader, Chris enjoys spending time with his two boys and partner going on hikes, exploring new towns, and cooking up a storm in their kitchen trying new culinary styles.

What can you say about Karen Hinks, Client Service Manager here at Thoughtworks? A lot, quite frankly. She has the type of tenacity that makes you believe she can do anything and go anywhere and the type of loyalty that lets you know she'll always be right where you need her to be. Although her career has spanned industries and verticals, people have always been at the centre of what she does, and her ability to make anyone she speaks to feel like they are the only person in the world is partly why she excels. When she's not trying to sneak vegetables into her son's food, exploring her new home on the east coast, or wishing one of her favourite products (she has two; I told you there was a lot) was the Jetson character it resembles (can you guess what it is?), you'll find her walking her two-year-old beagle; either towards or away from a donair.

Life goes on, and if you’ve ever been to one of Stefanie’s events, you’d know that it always seems to go a little bit slower leading up to the next one. Whether cooking up new and exciting ways to elevate Thoughtworks events or baking up a batch of her habit-forming red velvet cupcakes, she has an undeniable knack for leaving people wanting more. This is likely since whether she’s orchestrating a Thoughtworks event in the hundreds or an intimate evening with a dozen partners, everyone in attendance feels like family. And when she’s not travelling the globe or roaming the city, you’ll likely find her occasionally glancing at her favourite product throughout the day. Can you guess what it is? This and more in this week’s edition of Thoughtworks Spotlight.

With a hair flip that no celebrity can match, Sheranga Balasuriya, Information Security Manager, heads the IT department at Connected. By making IT systems seamless, he ensures that every Connector is able to do their work with ease. When he’s not handling the management of data, he’s playing the guitar, reading, and gaming. But nothing makes his heart happier than capturing raw emotions through a camera, especially the shots he took from his trip to Iceland. Can you guess his favourite product as a tech and gaming enthusiast?

Honest, curious, and contemplative is how Ian Foster, Lead Product Strategist here at Connected would describe himself. We would also add kind to the list considering the positive impact he has had on his friends’ professional lives as a mentor. When he’s not working on product strategy, you’ll find him travelling to places like Spain and Colombia or playing hockey and soccer. Find out what Ian’s favourite product is and how it helps him on a daily basis!

As our Director of Growth, what does Emily Chan do to lead our growth functions to expand our brand awareness and drive our business forward? For those that know her - a better question is likely, what *doesn’t* she do? Alongside her team, Emily collaborates across teams to amplify the great work our smart, kind, reliable Connectors do with our impressive list of clients. Whether it’s pitching to prospects, launching campaigns, promoting content, or planning events - Emily and her team are constantly thinking about our Go-to-Market Strategy. She’s known for sharing her go-to restaurant recommendations and for her fun adventures abroad. Can you guess her favourite product that helps keep her work and personal life organized?

Few people embody Connected’s values better than Samantha Slinko, Manager of Business Strategy Operations and Internal Communications. A social silo surfer, loyal linguist, and resourceful representative, Samantha is constantly pushing the envelope of her craft, experimenting with fun and effective modes of collaboration and communication. And did we mention she looks fabulous while doing it? But that makes sense, especially when you consider what her favourite product is. Find out more in this week's Connector Spotlight.

You can find Corey Wu rock climbing at The Hub, improvising on his hollow body guitar, or playing board games; that is, when he’s not determining strategic plans for products or evaluating their performance. Curious, dedicated, and with a reputation for leaving a positive impact on those around him; Corey brings passion and thoughtful insight to everything he does - including this spotlight! Whether it’s in a boardroom or in a board game, discover the many layers of Corey Wu in this week's Connector Spotlight. Check out his Connector Spotlight to find out how Corey integrated his unmatched love for board games into the projects he worked on!

From 4-star kitchens to boardroom pitches; Joel Zien doesn’t just enjoy the heat - it’s where he does his best work. Better still, he’s experienced the career-defining moments to prove it. And as Managing Director of Growth and Client Experience, he’s on a mission to clear the path for clients and Connectors alike to achieve theirs. 

As our Talent Acquisition Specialist, Elli is a driving force behind the rapid expansion of our team. She shares her proudest achievement, even if she thinks it's a little cliché, we think you'll find it's wonderful.

Katyayni streamlines our Connected HR systems, processes, and policies. She is learner at heart and reminds us in her spotlight why it's important to embrace a love of learning!

Lydia is a hot-sauce enthusiast and bookworm. As our Managing Director of People and Client Operations, she leads strategizing and optimizing our company-wide systems and processes to help our teams effectively and efficiently scale and grow.

Gashin Ghazizadeh, a machine learning engineer who loves to try new recipes in the kitchen, watch Friends over and over again, and has a clever book she’d bring if she were stuck on a deserted island.

Engineer, Power Mom, Major Foodie. Get to know Katia Maeda.