Tell me about your job and what your main responsibilities are
I am the operational lead for the Design Win program, managing the Salesforce tracking, forecasting, reporting, and sales compensation for our strategic chip design opportunities. My job is to use my operational expertise to make sure our tools and processes are driving efficiency for our sales teams as well as enabling us to transform raw opportunity data into actionable insights for our senior leadership.
How did you get into this job? What did you study at university? Why did this particular career interest you?
I studied Spanish Language & Literature at university, so I have gone down a very different path than expected! I had intended to become a lawyer but decided to take a year to teach English in Spain before beginning law school. I enjoyed my time in Spain so much that I stayed and eventually moved to Cambridge, UK, where I took a job in Sales Support to pay the bills and unexpectedly fell in love with it. I have been progressing through various Sales Operations roles ever since, and I landed at Arm four years ago.
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
I am happiest when I am solving a problem, and my job gives me opportunities to do that every day! I enjoy working cross-functionally with many people across Arm, and I get a lot of satisfaction out of consolidating input from various groups to figure out the best way to transform a complicated problem statement into a straightforward solution.
What made you decide to work for Arm?
I initially applied to Arm because I had heard from friends in Cambridge that they offered exceptional benefits and work culture. Once I started learning more about the business model, Arm just made sense to me: bringing together talented engineers to focus on designing the best possible IP, and licensing it to anyone who wants to use it. It was obvious in my interviews that Arm was full of smart people who really cared about the company, and I knew I wanted to join them.
What’s the best thing about working for Arm?
Without question, the people are the best thing about working for Arm. I feel lucky to work with people who are smart, passionate, and engaged, but always respectful of their colleagues. Even if we disagree on the specific approach, there is always mutual respect and a desire to do the best thing for Arm at the core as we debate the best way forward.
How has Arm enabled you to learn and develop?
I joined Arm as a Sales Operations Administrator four years ago and have since been promoted through four more roles, all of which gave me new skills: opportunity management and reporting in Salesforce, data visualization in Power BI and Tableau, sales forecasting, project management, executive-level communications. Every time I have told a manager that I felt I had more to give, I have been given a chance to prove it. I have also been fortunate to learn from great leaders and develop my own leadership skills by being on both sides of our mentorship program.
What are the people like at Arm?
I have worked alongside colleagues in person from the Cambridge, Austin, and San Jose offices, as well as virtually with colleagues in France, India, Norway, and beyond. I’ve found everyone at Arm to be friendly, passionate about their work, and eager to learn (and to teach).
What kind of benefits do you get working at Arm? Is there a relocation package? Is the holiday allowance good? Have you had a sabbatical? Parental leave? Bonus? Healthcare?
Arm’s benefits have supported me through two very exciting times in my life: an international relocation from the UK to Austin, where they made the transition painless by providing flights and four weeks of furnished accommodation in Austin, and the birth of my son in 2020. In addition to exceptional healthcare that made the out-of-pocket hospital bills negligible, I was able to enjoy 6.5 months of fully paid parental leave at home with my baby. I will always be grateful to Arm for the gift of this time getting to know my son!
What excites you about working with cutting-edge technology?
The biggest reason that I’m excited to open my laptop every day is knowing how many people Arm’s technology touches. From smartphones to supercomputers to satellites, Arm is everywhere, and our technology is making a difference.
What’s your best memory during your career at Arm?
I have fond memories of my first Global Commercial Conference (GCC) in Miami in 2018. I got the chance to meet many of my colleagues in person for the first time, as well as start to understand the full impact our work in Sales has on Arm through keynotes from our CEO and other senior leaders. We also had a social event on an impressive superyacht, which broke down during the cruise—but it was still a great time!
What is the culture like at Arm in Austin?
The culture at Arm Austin is relaxed and open. We dress casually and you’ll often see colleagues meeting up on the basketball courts or walking trails at the back of the building. There are also several Employee Resource Groups where you can get involved in planning events and get to know like-minded colleagues. I’m personally involved with the Austin Women’s Network and the Austin Pride Network.
What made you want to live and work in Austin?
When I transferred to the US, I was given the option to choose between Arm’s Austin or San Jose offices. Austin appealed to me because of its reputation for great people and great food, as well as the relatively lower cost of living. I moved here without even visiting first, so I feel lucky that I really do love it!
How have Arm supporting you during the COVID-19 pandemic?
We were one of the first companies in Austin to move to a fully work-from-home model in March 2020 and we have been encouraged to stay home, stay safe, and take all the time we need to take care of our families throughout the pandemic. There’s never been any pressure to return to the office and we have been encouraged to take breaks and time off, including several Days of Care (company-wide days off to fully disconnect).
What would you say to someone who was looking for a new job in your field, why should they come to Arm and not a competitor in Austin?
Arm is a company that cares about you as a person (and demonstrates this through exceptional benefits), has strong leadership with a clear vision for the future, and is pivotal in enabling technology that makes the world a more connected place.
What would you say to someone who was looking for a new job but lived in another area of the US, what’s great about moving to Austin?
Austin has a huge variety of activities to offer: restaurants, breweries, live music, and beautiful greenbelt and parks. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of lush natural areas inside and near Austin when I moved here, and the weather means you can get out and enjoy them for most of the year.
What advice would you give someone who is joining Arm in Austin?
My biggest advice is to embrace the culture. Take the time to get to know your colleagues while you learn from them and get involved in the groups or social events that line up with your interests. Also, no matter what anyone tells you, know that Torchy’s has the best tacos!
