Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Manley.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and immediately moved to Chicago excited to get to get to work. Chicago is a fantastic design city in every way, with its architecture, city planning, and businesses always pushing the boundaries, and I wanted to be a part of it. I owned my own design firm for years, which meant I had to learn all the facets of the business; I had to be the designer, the accountant, the marketing lead, the salesperson, and even the janitor! As a result, I have a very well-rounded view of how a business runs.
My company had partnered for years with Palantir.net, which had always resulted in a terrific collaboration. We would design websites, and Palantir would build them. When Palantir decided to expand its design practice, I was given the opportunity to join the team, allowing me to work with a lot of very smart people who were pushing the boundaries of what could be accomplished online. That was very exciting for me and still is.
I came to Palantir with over fifteen years of print and web design, production, organization, strategy, sales, and marketing experience. Because I also was more interested in working on the managerial side, I was able to tap into my other skillsets to eventually become the Sales and Marketing Manager. I am both ambassador and steward of the Palantir brand.
As ambassador, I partner with clients whose own work strengthens humanity. Whose projects continue to inspire and challenge our team with increasingly interesting and complex problems. Who understand that telling their story using compelling content and visuals creates the best communications tools. And who engage with us in a transparent and trusting manner so we can collaboratively create thoughtful online experiences that meet their goals while sharing their knowledge and good works around the world.
As a steward, I endeavor to keep our brand presence strong, cohesive and meaningful. I manage and direct our visuals, messaging, and all outreach tools. As each project is completed, I weave it into the ongoing thread of Palantir so we can tell our own story of how we are expanding both our skills and desire to simply be better.
I’m very lucky that I really enjoy my job. Our team is amazingly talented, and I feel fortunate every day that I get to support their efforts.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Overall my career’s been mostly smooth, but there were certainly bumps!
Before I started my own firm with my partner, I had been successfully freelancing for several years. I was rarely out of work and made a nice living. Since I had studied glass blowing for years in college, I would work four days a week freelancing, and blow glass on the fifth day. This meant I didn’t make as much money as I could have if I had worked a full week, but I got to fulfill that need to create something very tactile and see how I could progress as a fine artist as opposed to a commercial one. Plus playing with fire is just FUN.
When we started the firm, we never had enough good financial years in a row. We’d have one okay year, followed by an amazing year, followed by a bad year. There were a lot of factors going into that — including a recession, and one of our verticals starting to heavily outsource overseas, to name just two. So it was hard to keep the momentum steady, But I was able to create award-winning work, slowly build up a solid reputation and client list, pay the bills, and learn a lot.
Other bumps — literally — were the two kids I had along the way. I wasn’t able to take a real maternity leave, so I worked constantly. I remember going in to manage payroll taxes in the pouring rain when my first son was ten days old! There’s a common misconception that if you own your own business, you have all the flexibility in the world, and that isn’t necessarily the case: if you wear most of the hats, it’s hard to delegate that work to someone else, even with a baby on the way. We were simply too small to be able to delegate effectively when time off was needed. It’s one of the things I appreciate most about Palantir: we have a good support system with all the flexibility as needed in order to accommodate a good work-life balance.
I can’t say I regret any of the past choices I made since they got me to where I am now. I’d have much more money in my bank account and likely have traveled more if I had not blown glass, for example. But those experiences are priceless. The current struggle I’m having at work is getting the new version of the Palantir website launched. It’s always a challenge to be your own client!
Palantir.net – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Palantir makes the internet a better place by creating ambitious online experiences that are engaging, sustainable, accessible, and forward-thinking.
We think holistically and strategically about business needs to create thoughtful and well-considered projects from start to finish. It’s work that elevates your brand and gives you the confidence of staying a step ahead of the ever-evolving digital space.
We accomplish this using open source technologies, which in turn supports our values of transparency and community. Collaboration and sharing are fundamental to every aspect of our work. We believe we make our communities and clients stronger by contributing knowledge, skills, and effort to a communal resource that goes beyond the advantages of the software we use.
We also believe in a working culture that supports teamwork, empowerment, flexibility, integrity, diversity and inclusion, innovation, and feedback. Palantir not only has a female co-owner but is also more than 50% female, many of whom occupy technical and leadership roles, running counter to our industry’s norms. We also have a diverse staff with several minority groups represented.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
My own definition of success I borrowed from the writer Paulo Coelho: “What is success? It is being able to go to bed each night with your soul at peace.”
Contact Info:
- Address: 622 Davis Street
Suite 400 Evanston, IL 60201 - Website: https://www.palantir.net/
- Phone: 773.645.4100
- Email: info@palantir.net
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palantir.net/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/palantir
Image Credit:
Callie Lipkin, Sam Levitan, Steven Gross
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