Why this finalist deserves to win Best Tech Manager:
Cree Flory joined us very early, when we were less than 15 people or so, as an Integrations Engineer.
Cree worked tirelessly to meet exceedingly high expectations, with some of the most sensitive clients, in the most sensitive industry. Available as needed to meet our clients’ and our own needs for integration, she defined the responsibilities and level of rigor we would come to expect of her role. It was only later that she would demonstrate the same level of excellence as a manager.
Proving herself as an individual contributor, but also leader in its truest sense, she sought the role and team she manages today.
Assuming her role as Integrations Manager, Cree has only continued to demonstrate success. She is exceedingly thoughtful of the employees under her charge and their development. As an example of how she goes above and beyond, not only does she hold standard 1:1s with her reports but she proactively pushes for them to schedule periodic check-ins with senior leadership while coaching them on how best to derive value from such meetings.
Her own team sums it up best:
“She's pushed me to do things that I'm not great at or thrilled about to strengthen my weaknesses [...] She has mine and [others’] long term careers in mind even though she'll probably have to train [our replacements], so that's pretty selfless.”
“She is excellent at delegating work; clear and concise [...] always has a moment to spare to help if anyone is stuck on anything [...] looks after our personal and professional interests [...] knows how to play to each of our strengths [...] makes an enjoyable work environment, balancing professionalism and humor”
“She works incredibly hard, and the only time she works harder is if it’s for one of us”
Over the most recent summer, Cree volunteered responsibility for a summer intern. She provided mentorship and guidance as the intern had not just a rewarding experience overall but successfully completed a project, and presented it to the company, determining valuable tolerances the teams would later use.
As it pertains to the rest of the engineering organization, Cree was a loud voice reminding us to hold our second hackathon, clearly recognizing the value it brought to the company at large. The event was a resounding success. Cree demonstrated such leadership, not just executing, but soliciting the right people to support her endeavor both inside of engineering as well as out. She is a recurring voice at staff meetings looking out for her team and others, thinking about what we in engineering leadership should be doing to further their progress and how we can make them better.
Additionally are Cree’s demonstrations of operational excellence. For example, she not only strives to maintain clarity of process, team, and vision, but communicates it to her team clearly enough that they are able to execute successfully to that vision.
Lastly, there is Cree’s work outside the office, regularly volunteering to meet with middle school and high school girls to share about her path to a career in tech after pursuing a BS in Software Engineering. The most memorable engagement was her Robotics class, through Tech Savvy, which is a daylong science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) career conference designed to attract girls in sixth-ninth grade to these fields and to inform families about STEM education and careers.
Cree Flory is an exceptional technical manager.
