When I think about OECM celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, it feels especially meaningful because I’m also approaching a major milestone of my own: this November will mark my 10th year with the organization. It’s been an absolute honor to have a front-row seat to this team’s incredible growth over the past decade.
My journey here started when I joined as a Contract Analyst, supporting the Strategic Sourcing and Supplier Relationship Management groups with a focus on the IT portfolio. Coming directly from the IT industry, the intricacies of supply chain management and public sector procurement were a new frontier for me. I leaned heavily on the team, and they graciously taught me everything I know today about public sector procurement, as well as vendor and project management.
Since those early days, I’ve had the chance to wear quite a few different hats. I moved from Contract Analyst to Contract Specialist to Senior Contract Analyst, then to Senior Business Intelligence Analyst and Manager of Business Intelligence, before transitioning into my current role as Senior Manager of Information and Systems Management. Because of this journey, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside almost every single team in the company. I learned something valuable from every group I collaborated with.
Looking back, what stands out most isn’t just the work itself, but the culture. OECM is a place that genuinely believes in nurturing its people and promoting from within. As a young professional and a first-generation immigrant, finding an environment that actively supported my growth was life-changing. It allowed me to find my true passion and build a career path I am incredibly proud of.
Even after almost a decade, I still start my day feeling genuinely lucky. It is rare to find such a wonderful, collaborative team and a leadership group that extends such a generous level of trust and flexibility into our day-to-day lives. I am deeply grateful to be a small part of OECM’s 20-year story, and I can’t wait to see what we achieve next.
