A mixed bag of tech challenges? Jackie is up for the task.

Throughout the month of March, we will be exploring the people and projects who drive Cox technology forward in our Behind the Code technology series. Read below to learn how Cox is creating tomorrow’s tech solutions, today.

Leapfrogging through many projects while staying true to herself
Some say that career ladders at Cox are really more like career jungle-gyms, and Senior Technology Service Manager Jackie Callender has certainly found that to be the case. The path of this information technology service management (ITSM) leader has not been linear – rather, it has spanned many focus areas and business units, shaping her into a flexible leader.

“I started working with technology straight out of college, with a degree in Japanese language and literature, mind you; I had other plans,” Jackie laughed. “And for good reason, I have stuck with technology because of the joy, the challenge, and the satisfaction that it has brought to my life.”

Jackie has the unique career experience of working in technology for three Cox divisions – Cox Enterprises, Cox Media Group, and Cox Automotive – within just five years.

She began at Cox Enterprises’ Customer Support Center, providing management to Help Desk support teams. Next, she transferred to Cox Media Group, where she worked with leadership to help define and enforce ITSM processes and serve as a liaison to the Customer Support Center. She also worked to update processes related to change management, major incident management, problem management, and release and deployment management.

In late 2018, Jackie pursued a position on the automotive side of Cox.

“A position opened at Cox Automotive that would allow me to continue growing in ITSM and focus on change management,” Jackie said. “I had to pursue that opportunity.”

Behind the code and making an impact
Jackie is approaching her six-year anniversary with Cox, and she said that she loves her job as much as she did when she first began.

“Fast-forward to today and here I am, a change manager at Cox Automotive, supporting all Cox Auto business units, literally learning something new about our company, our industry, our products, or our support every single day. It keeps me on my toes!”

“Every tech project is meaningful to the business,” Jackie said. “Each one has a weight that it carries, and we should all be proud of each project we successfully complete.”

Not just a team – a family
Jackie and her work family are proof that tech gurus make plenty of time for fun and socializing.

“Technology is not a department full of introverts like many think,” she said. “We are people who are focused on our work, yes, and so at times we seem quiet; but we love fun, we love chatter, we love cracking jokes on each other, and hearing about our families’ latest accomplishments.”

Throughout her tech journey, Jackie has witnessed firsthand how the people at Cox make work culture truly special.

“My work families have all been amazing people that enjoy working hard and having fun while we do it, while also embracing each other’s differences and quirks – like letting me bust a move on the floor without any warning, or sing randomly while I run a Change Advisory Board meeting,” she said. “Every team I have worked with has had great people that I have enjoyed seeing every day.”

Interested in learning more about the people who make innovation happen at Cox? Check out the rest of our Behind the Code series here, and follow along on social using #BehindTheCode. Ready to explore a career here? Search for a new role today.