Logan O’Neal’s Story of Growth: Personal & Professional Evolution
In the ever-evolving world of Clickstop, where change is the constant and progress is the anthem, there are people who embody a spirit of growth. One such person is Logan O’Neal. We sat down with her to chat about her Clickstop journey from 2016 until now, exploring the ups, the downs, the projects that have made a lasting impact, and her recent Rock Star Award in October.
The Journey to Self-Confidence
Becoming a two-time Rock Star didn’t happen overnight. Logan’s journey started with something many of us resonate with — impostor syndrome. Shyness and self-doubt posed hurdles that required not just workplace support but personal transformation. Clickstop’s culture played a crucial role. Over seven years, Logan absorbed the message from her managers that her opinions mattered, and the quality of her work was excellent, leading to a steady rise in confidence.
Through her personal and professional development, she embraced a mindset that acknowledges her personal value and expertise, living out Clickstop’s core traits of being courageous, communicative, and enthusiastic.
“It’s all growth in self-confidence,” reflects Keith Shaffer, a developer on Logan’s team. “She was fresh out of college, a star developer, but now I’ve watched her grow confident in pushing back, asking the right questions. She challenges others more and more, leading to additional responsibilities and leadership opportunities for her.”
Adapting to Challenges
As Logan mined her memories for pivotal moments in her career, a near catastrophe came to mind. The implosion of the Death Star – a server housing critical data for reporting – was unforgettable. After noticing the server was losing rows of data at a time, Logan and the team pivoted to not only avert a crisis but emerge with superior solutions. “There’s so much going on that you have to roll with the punches,” said Logan, “and still come up with the best possible solution.”
As she looks back now, she first noted that the project required her to pull her first and only all-nighter. And just as swiftly as she went back in time to recall the challenges, she quickly jumped into the present to reflect on how pivotal the solution is for where Clickstop is today and where we’re headed with data analysis in the future. In Logan’s mind, this critical event personified Clickstop’s resilience and agility, embodying the philosophy of fail fast, learn, and adapt.
Growth in the Midst of Change
Logan’s time at Clickstop also mirrors a critical chapter in her life, transitioning from 24 to 30, marked by professional victories and the influence of personal milestones like starting a family. Balancing this new personal and professional life has made Logan acutely aware of the value of time. This realization led to a boost in efficiency, a direct outcome of navigating the challenges of being a working parent and embodying Clickstop’s value of making time for fun and family.
One of the projects that led to Logan’s 2023 Rock Star Award happened after returning from maternity leave in the Summer of 2023. She took her new understanding of time and embraced the challenge of streamlining processes, achieving quicker turnarounds, and redefining what’s achievable.
“I’ve become much more efficient with where I put my time and energy,” Logan shares. “That’s contributed a lot to my growth since 2016.”
The Art of Innovation: Solutions Beyond Expectations
Logan’s role goes beyond being a developer. In the last couple of years, she’s stepped up to be the team leader for the Technology team’s developers. She’s evolved into a guide, steering her team and other Clickstop teams toward creative solutions. “Give people what they need, not what they’re asking for,” Logan advises.
This approach involves understanding processes fully, exploring diverse solutions, and often uncovering unconventional yet superior paths. It’s this work, plus her subtle yet unwavering optimism, that her peers rave about. While it can be easy to hear what someone needs and leap into action, Logan is keen on ensuring she gets to the root of each request so the team can execute the most effective, efficient, and impactful solution for all involved.
The Vision Ahead: A Catalyst for Change
Looking into the future, Logan sees herself as a catalyst for change, leveraging her strengths to solve complex problems. “The best feeling in the world is to relieve people of any stress, anything that’s tedious, any redundancies,” Logan expresses. “That’s what I love to do.” She aspires to be an expert in tools and development, a guiding force within the Technology team, and a mentor, contributing to Clickstop’s culture of continuous learning.
Logan’s journey at Clickstop is a tale of growth, resilience, and the transformative power of a supportive work culture. As she looks forward, her vision aligns with Clickstop’s culture of embracing challenges and shaping a future where opportunities are boundless. Because of that, we’d recommend you stay tuned. We might be updating you on her third Rock Star award in a few years.
But, let’s not rely solely on our assessment. We’ll leave it to the firsthand experience of Logan’s teammate, Lisa Mathews, to share what Logan’s innovative spirit is capable of in the future:
“Logan has great ideas for innovation and new, different approaches. When she has time to work on her innovative ideas, we’ll see great things because Logan’s enthusiasm isn’t just contagious; it’s a catalyst for creative thinking and pushing boundaries.”