Today’s Meet the Beehive Team blog features Katy O’Neill, who joined Beehive in 2019 as an intern and today is an account supervisor. Katy is endlessly curious and passionate about learning and figuring out “why?” Our team absolutely loves Katy’s organizational skills (especially in Asana), book recommendations, warmth, wit and funny anecdotes.

In her Q&A, Katy talks about her connection to Beehive’s purpose: using the power of communication to build better businesses for a better world and how it allows her to use her superpower of writing every day. We appreciate Katy’s drive, talent and passion for storytelling and are excited for you to get to know her better.

What do you look forward to at work each day?

I love that every day at Beehive is different because it keeps me in a growth mindset. Working on a variety of projects, with a variety of clients, in a variety of industries gives me the opportunity to constantly learn new information and use my creativity and problem-solving skills in different ways.

Jumping between projects and industries keeps me on my toes and helps me develop a wide range of skills and be a better communicator. I’m able to see things from different perspectives and build relationships with people from different backgrounds. I’m challenged to learn more, think differently and be strategic.

What is your current work/schedule arrangement? What does this flexibility mean for you and your life?

I flex my current schedule arrangement, so I work 7:30-5:00 pm Monday through Thursday and 8:00-12:00 pm on Friday.

When I first joined Beehive, this was our Summer Hour schedule Memorial Day through Labor Day. During the pandemic and working from home, I realized this schedule could especially benefit me in the winter. I’m not from Minnesota and the winters — and lack of daylight — are daunting. Having a Friday afternoon of daylight to run errands or get outside would’ve made a world of difference for me mentally. I brought this up to my supervisor and within a week the schedule flexibility was implemented year-round, and I haven’t had a non-flex week since.

It was amazing to have my feedback heard, understood and implemented so fast at Beehive. The flexibility allows me to work earlier in the morning when I’m most productive and also start my weekend early to prioritize my mental health. It’s great in the summer but it’s even better in the darkest days of winter!

In what ways do you feel connected to Beehive’s purpose and/or values?

Writing has been my passion for as long as I can remember, and I have always seen it as my superpower. Beehive’s purpose to use the power of communication to build better businesses for a better world really allows me to use my superpower. I love having the opportunity every day to help people tell their stories using communication. It’s so fulfilling to partner with purpose-driven people and organizations and leverage their strengths through storytelling.

What does it feel like to work in an environment that emphasizes appreciation?

Working in an environment that emphasizes appreciation is incredibly rewarding and fulfilling both personally and professionally. Not only does appreciation boost confidence and well-being it also creates moments to stop and celebrate wins of all sizes in day-to-day life. This appreciation culture has also kept us connected and helped us feel seen when we’re working remotely. We’re able to recognize each other’s accomplishments in a way that feels comfortable whether it be a simple note, a public shout-out or a gift.

Working at Beehive has also made appreciation a habit in my personal life. The sentence “I appreciate you” can go a long way and feels really good to communicate to loved ones. It’s also nice to know that even the smallest gesture, such as holding the door open, is seen and valued.

What advice would you give your younger self?

The advice I would give to my younger self is “be where you are,” meaning embrace today for what it is. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Younger Me spent a lot of time focused on the future — where I wanted to be and where I currently wasn’t. If I could go back, I’d spend more time focused on the here and now, soaking up what I can from the experiences and situations presented to me because I was there for a reason. There is only so much you can achieve by constantly looking forward. There is so much more to learn by seeing where you are, why you are here and what you can take away from it all.