The Cayuse community is thrilled to shine its Champion Spotlight on @Karen Watson, Project Manager in the Office of Research at LSU Health Shreveport. Keep reading below to get to know Karen better.
How do you interact with Cayuse products on a daily basis?
I am the project manager for implementation here in the research department so I have gotten to implement several Cayuse modules. Once implemented I get to stay involved in optimizing the use of it and making sure the workflows meet the needs of the organization.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I am addicted to my Pure Barre class and have done almost 350 classes in past 20 months. The workouts come in very handy because I am a foodie and enjoy cooking and entertaining friends. I also love to travel and food is a huge part of my adventures.
What do you see as the hottest trends in research today?
Collaboration seems to be the "word" these days. Everyone wants to get out of their "box" and join forces with someone. Whether that is departments in an institution or universities partnering. I think as sharing data has become easier, a natural path has opened up for collaboration.
What do you consider most promising in the era of big data?
I think the speed at which we can advance to a discovery increases as we are move further into the data realm. When we look at how much data we can gather and analyze in the same amount of time as 50 or even 20 years ago, it changes the opportunities we have with that data.
How can an organization stay relevant five years from now?
Communication.
- Want to keep your employees loyal and happy? Communicate effectively!
- Want to make sure your customer's needs are met? Communicate with them!
- Want to keep your pulse on the changing research landscape? Communicate with researchers. Communicate with professional organizations.
- And most importantly, something we tend to forget when we talk about communication: it is as much about listening well as it is speaking well.
What app would be hard for you to live without?
My account app that I use as my checkbook and expense tracker! It made managing my small business SO much easier and it only cost .99! Totally replaced my Quickbooks.
If you could meet any historical figure, who would you choose and why?
I would love to meet Queen Elizabeth II and chat with her about her leadership style and most importantly her mediation and diplomatic skills. Since she was more of a symbolic figurehead, she had to rely on influence rather than absolute power, yes she still managed to affect great change in the commonwealth and world.
Thank you, Karen, for being a Cayuse Champion and sharing your thoughts!