Two Week Notice – The Next Chapter

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Apr 22, 11 Two Week Notice – The Next Chapter

Man, it has taken me all morning just to start this post.  I think it’s because the reality of it hasn’t quite set in yet combined with the fact that this is a bitter sweet post.  So let’s start with the sah-WEET!

While I have absolutely enjoyed creating and running The Social Latte and working with all of the social media and web development clients over the last several years, I have recently felt the desire to take the skills that I have learned throughout my entire career and apply them on a bigger scale.  And that is where Workday comes into play.

This week I accepted an offer from Workday which is located in Pleasanton, CA – just outside San Francisco.  Here is a little bit about the company:

Workday’s mission is to build the next generation of enterprise business services—Human Capital Management, Financial Management, and Payroll—and deliver the solutions on a Software as a Service (SaaS) model.

Founded by former PeopleSoft founder and CEO Dave Duffield with former PeopleSoft Vice Chairman and head of product strategy Aneel Bhusri in March 2005, Workday is offering an innovative and fresh approach for today’s global businesses.

I accepted a postion to be a Professional Services Engagement Manager – (no, I am not coordinating weddings :-) ).  I start May 9th and here is a little bit of what I will be doing.

The Professional Services Engagement Manager will be responsible for ensuring the successful implementation of the Workday solution on some of our largest projects. The Engagement Manager will drive the client implementation and will be involved in the development of several key project deliverables (e.g., charter, project/staffing plan, issue logs, etc.) and work with the Client project manager to resolve issues that stand in the way of project success. The Engagement Manager will also be responsible for managing to the agreed to budget and delivering the project profitably.

I am incredibly excited about the opportunity for a couple of reasons.  The first is the chance to work for this company as they have been voted one of the best places to work in the Bay Area 3 years running.  While visiting HQ for my interviews, I was very impressed by the people I met and am really looking forward to company culture and atmosphere.  I worked at PeopleSoft for 5 years in the late 90′s and the people and culture of that company created some of the best experiences of my career so I am looking forward to a similar experience.   Here are some recent articles about Workday.

Workday Offer Letter

Offer Letter Celebration

I am also very excited about the position itself.  While it is not social media or marketing related, I am excited to take all of my communication, management, software and people skills and put them on display everyday.  The position will be very rewarding and challenging at the same time and that is what keeps me going every day.  And because they are a relatively young and growing company, there will be all kinds of opportunity for advancement and new roles.  I think it’s the best of both worlds in that I will have the support of a solid company and also be expected to be entrepreneurial and solve problems to benefit customers.  SO EXCITED!

The sad part of the opportunity is that it requires me leaving the Valley Of The Sun.  Although my departure date from Phoenix is not finalized yet, my days in Phoenix are numbered.  I arrived in Tempe AZ in July of 2001 and have had an amazing decade that I wouldn’t trade for the world.  There are not words to express the thanks to everyone who has been a part of my life in AZ – now you have a new place to stay in San Francisco.

I will keep you updated on the status of my move and what that looks like.  The Social Latte will continue to brew new projects but this site will become more about me and what I am doing and less focused on business development – hence the recent design change.  There will also be several chances to catch me in person before I go.  The first one is tonight at #EVFN.  The second is Thursday April 28th in the morning at #EVTM in Gilbert and  my Birthday Party and I am sure there will be more so stay tuned :-) .

Once again, thanks and big love to all of you.  YOU BETTER COME VISIT!

  • Bgiles

    Congratulations Jack! I’ll try to stop by your party but it’s right in the middle of our 2-day training sessions for agencyside. Please keep in touch … Phoenix will truly miss you.
    Bret

  • http://www.thesociallatte.com Jack Smith

    Thanks so much Bret. So grateful for everything you, Sitewire and AgencySide have helped me with over the years. I’ll have to figure out how to get back for Bolo every year! :-)

  • http://socialmediadiyworkshop.com/ Charlene Kingston

    Congratulations, Jack! It looks like a great opportunity. They are lucky to have you!!

  • http://tdhurst.com tdhurst

    I promise to dress like a pirate at every opportunity in honor of you.

  • Tessietravels

    Congratulations Jack! So very excited for you! Also so very excited because I am in San Jose, CA close to Pleasanton so I can’t wait to see you!

  • http://www.thesociallatte.com Jack Smith

    ARRRRrrrrrrr you scurvy bilge rat Tyler! I be making ye walk the plank and personally introduce you to Davy Jones Locker after I take my Cat o’ nine tails to yer lilly livered hide!

  • http://www.thesociallatte.com Jack Smith

    Thanks Charlene! :-) See you at #EVTM next week?

  • Lacey Brown

    Congratulations Jack! Very sorry to see you leave, but I couldn’t be more excited for you and this new chapter of your life. :)

  • Shane

    REALLY excited for you, but REALLY bummed to see you go. Congrats on the move man. Looks like we got a new person’s couch to crash on in the bay area!

  • http://PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com Jay Thompson

    Congrats Jack, on your move to being a PSEM! You will be dearly missed around here. I usually get to the Bay area every year, and will *definitely* visit! I see in your photo you will be getting “Benefits”. You’ll have to explain that to me… ;)

  • http://www.thesociallatte.com Jack Smith

    Thanks Shane. Looking forward to hitting the Irish pubs in SF with ya!

  • http://www.thesociallatte.com Jack Smith

    Thanks Jay, tough decision to go, but in the end, too great an opportunity. And as to the benefits, I am still getting my head around that concept as well! :-) I’ll keep you posted! PS – dig the update to your site via PageLines. Sah-WEET!

  • http://www.thesociallatte.com Jack Smith

    Gonna miss you too LB! We’ll have to get coffee before I go. I am going to have to work out which years I come back for Bolo and which years I come back for Giles Super Bowl Party!

  • http://www.thesociallatte.com Jack Smith

    SO COOL!!! Looking forward to it Tess! I forgot that’s where you are! AWESOME!

  • http://matthewpetro.name Matthew Petro

    Dude, bummer you’re leaving us. But it sounds like a heckarad opportunity, so I’m super happy for you!

  • http://twitter.com/RailLife Nick Bastian

    dang, man… it’s hard to be happy about you leaving us but I know this is an awesome fit and a great opportunity for you. I’m VERY happy for you!
    Last week, I was having a discussion with a friend of ours about your job interviews, you know I knew you would get this one. I said that good friendships like ours are hard to come by and that, selfishly, I wish you were staying in AZ. :) . I will miss you, my family will miss you and the community will miss you. Yes, I know, I’ll visit and you’ll visit but the days of “hey, meet me for a beer in an hour” are gonna be few and far between.
    See ya soon, my friend…

  • Amy-McCoy

    Jack, so happy for you! Congratulations and I know you will be amazing! Love you!

  • Josh Yeager

    Flipping awesome! Congrats, Jack!!

  • http://www.tmcinteractive.com GRTaylor2

    Jack – congratulations on the new gig. Kristina and I wish you the best of luck and we’ll miss you in AZ.

  • Renae

    I am so sad to see you go…however I am sooooo excited that I now have a place to crash when I come to San Fran! =)

  • Shinge

    Congratulations JL……I’m so excited for you! I’ll be toasting to you and this new chapter in your life on Thurs. :-) CHEERS!!!!

  • Ray

    Hey congrats Jack! Btw, what’s ORKDA?

  • Chop

    Congrats Jack – SF is an easy commute to ORKDA

  • http://www.thesociallatte.com Jack Smith

    Aren’t you both just hilarious! How can you not know about ORDKA? That’s what the cool kids are calling it on the street!

  • http://www.thesociallatte.com Jack Smith

    Aren’t you both just hilarious! ORKDA is my lazy slang and is a result of my poor cropping skills. :-)

  • BonnieJeanne

    Congratulations! But, who will do the social media TAP groups now? Any recommendations:)

  • MJoyce

    Congratulations Jack, could not be happier for you! Born in SFO so you are bound to see me sometime. We can play tourist,walk the wharf and pay way too much for lunch….. can’t wait.

  • http://www.thesociallatte.com Jack Smith

    For sure! I’ll even buy lunch if that will get you there sooner! :-)

  • http://www.thesociallatte.com Jack Smith

    Hmmm.. I will have to think about that. I’ll find someone for you!

  • MBE

    Congratulations on the new job. There’s some good memories in that town…

  • http://www.thesociallatte.com Jack Smith

    Yes there are. It won’t be the same without you and the gang but you and the fam better come visit! :-)

  • MBE

    You don’t need to ask twice!

  • http://www.socialreflections.com Shailesh

    Congrats Jack. Very happy to see your so happy. I can’t make either events. So sorry to miss. But I do want to stay in touch. All the best to you and your new endeavor!

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