Callie is a Partner Manager who collaborates with leading Shopify Plus agencies across North America and Australia. With 2.5 years at Recharge and a wealth of experience in various industries, she brings a unique perspective to her role.
Discover more about her journey, what motivates her, and her insights on what her culture has meant to her.
Can you tell me a bit about yourself and what you do at Recharge?
I’m a Partner Manager at Recharge and I get to work with the leading Shopify Plus agencies both here in North America and Australia.
I joined Recharge 2.5 years ago, and I absolutely love it here. Having worked for several companies across various industries, I can confidently say I’ve seen a lot. I’m incredibly grateful that my career journey has brought me to Recharge. For the first time ever, I can say with deep conviction that I’ve found a company that not only does amazing work but also truly values its employees.
Can you tell me a bit about how your cultural identity has or hasn’t impacted you in and outside of the workplace?
I have to say, I don’t consciously feel my cultural identity in my day-to-day life. While I’m very aware of my cultural upbringing, its impact is more like which college you attended or which state you grew up in. I don’t experience my cultural identity regularly, probably because I’m deeply immersed in the human experience, with all its flaws, challenges, beauty, and chaos.
However, I am profoundly grateful for the perspective, compassion, and empathy my cultural upbringing cultivated in me. Growing up as an Asian American in the 1980s and 90s, I often felt a bit on the outside. This outsider experience likely explains why it’s natural for me to accept differences, embrace uniqueness, and be welcoming.
What are some of your favorite traditions?
Traditions are something I struggle with. Growing up, I had many, but my brothers and I wanted so much to be different that we stopped participating in them. Still, I have tons of childhood memories of our traditions. In my Filipino household, it was a tradition for the whole family to stay up all night on New Year’s Eve. When the clock struck midnight, all the kids would jump up and down for a full minute—my mom said it would make us taller.
After that, we’d gather at the table for a feast that felt like a 10-ten or 11-course meal. The parents would spend all day cooking on New Year’s Eve. One of my fondest memories is of my grandma, mom, dad, and Aunt Dolores, all sitting at the dining table, each making their specialty dishes.
My grandma, whom we called Nanay, would make suman, a sweet sticky rice dessert wrapped and steamed in banana leaves. My mom would chop celery, carrots, and other vegetables for pancit and lumpia. Aunt Dolores made an amazing dessert called bibingka. I’m not sure what’s in it, but it’s baked and kind of fluffy with just the right amount of cream cheese. My dad would make ham with pineapples and a sweet syrup, maybe maple.
The dining table—the whole kitchen, really—would be a disaster! Carrot and celery pieces on the floor, lumpia wrappers being peeled apart, hands in ground beef, ingredients all over the place—it was madness and chaos from my perspective. But in the end, the food was incredible!
What’s one piece of advice that you would give somebody who’s new to the company or industry?
When I joined in 2021, I was new to the company and the industry (unless you count my experience with a Magento app and managing Magento stores back in 2012-2015), and I still feel new! Things move and change so quickly here, and I am constantly learning. This is a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment. My advice is to stay diligent, get comfortable with change, and show up ready to give 100% each day.
But remember, to give 100%, you need a clear, rested mind and a well-nourished body. Prioritize your well-being at least as much as you prioritize your work. And make sure to add one micro-joy to every single day, whether it’s a workday or not.
Learn more about working at Recharge
Our employee resource groups (ERGs) are critical to fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace. These groups provide employees from diverse backgrounds and communities the opportunity to come together, share stories/experiences, and amplify their voices at Recharge. You can learn more about working at Recharge on our Careers page.
