We are back again with our Employee Spotlight. For those of you new to this, we choose a EveryIT employee and ask them questions about their role in the company, as well as a few “just for fun” questions, so our readers get the chance to learn more about the incredible people who make up our team. This month, we are featuring our Operations Analyst, Xiaohua Shi.

Marketing: Hi, Xiaohua, we’re are excited to get to know you more. Can you tell us a little bit about your background and what you do for BCI?

Xiaohua: Hi! I’m happy to be here. I completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science at Purdue, and then received my Master’s Degree in Information Management from the University of Washington. My two primary responsibilities are the O.A. system and contract management. I help users with any questions they have for O.A., and in the meantime, I work with the I.T. department to improve the O.A. system. I am also responsible for contract management, update contract tracker, helping with contracts archived, and reporting new contracts signed weekly and monthly.

Marketing: It sounds like you have a full plate! What has been your favorite part of working at EveryIT so far?

Xiaohua: The best part is that EveryIT provides me a great platform to grow and build my career as a new grad. I work for both I.T. and BMO; my leaders are very supportive and taught me what I should do now and how I should deal with similar future problems.

Marketing: It’s fantastic to hear that our leaders are doing such a great job. There is no surprise there! It’s great that you feel you are being set up for success. Speaking of the future, where do you see yourself in ten years?

Xiaohua: I see myself as a thinker, creator, and leader in my career. I want to make my parents proud. I also would like to be a wife and mom. Family is significant to me.

Marketing: We’ve been working remotely for almost seven months now. Do you have any tips for staying productive while working from home?

Xiaohua: Have a cup of coffee every morning! I also like to wake up my cat every time he falls asleep next to my laptop. It annoys him, and he probably hates me for it.

Marketing: Coffee is 100% essential. And I’m sure cats everywhere are ready for their owners to go back to work. Alright, next question: If you could meet anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be?

Xiaohua: Hedy Lamarr. She was a Hollywood actress who was also an avid inventor and the person behind advances in communication technology in the 1940s that led to today’s Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth.

Marketing: Okay, we might steal that answer! (P.S. for anyone who else who is interested in learning more about the Hollywood Actress, check it out here.) Okay, Xiaohua, what are three words to describe you best, and why?

Xiaohua: Optimism, because I always think about the good side of things. Even when I experience bad things, I can quickly see the good behind it and quickly recover from lousy emotions. I’m also realistic. I never make unachievable goals. I’m also patient. I am willing to take as much time and effort as needed to achieve my goals, and I don’t give up in the middle.

Marketing: Those are all great qualities. Okay, last question – if you were famous for something, what would it be?

Xiaohua: Making dessert. I am a big fan of dessert, and I learned how to make desserts and shared them with my friend during the quarantine.

Marketing: Hopefully, when we get back to the office, you can share some of those desserts!

Thanks again to Xiaohua Shi for letting us get to know more about her! Be sure to tune in next month to learn more about a member of our great team!