EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
September 21, 2023
Welcome to another employee spotlight edition! We aim to shine a well-deserved spotlight on the talented individuals who make our Mather team thrive. In this edition, we will introduce you to another dynamic member of our team whose commitment and contributions make a difference in our company. Join us as we get to know Alicia Queen, her role in Mather, her best memories and projects she’s currently working on. This fun interview will certainly give you a good idea of what a day in Mather looks like.
Happy reading!
Can you briefly tell us more about your role and responsibilities within Mather?
AQ: I am a Director on the Consulting Services team. I joined Mather in April 2023 (boomerang-ing back from 2016!) and my team is focused on client analytics and delivery for a variety of services including pricing analytics, optimizing the digital subscriber journey, media advertising yield, and others.
How would you describe the company culture and what do you enjoy most about it?
AQ: Our culture is highly collaborative and high performing. What I love most about it – and what brought me back! – is being surrounded by so many analytical people who want to work hard for our clients’ success and the success of news media overall. We are always experimenting, learning new approaches, and building up our expertise. We celebrate our accomplishments and we’re always hungry to be better!
What accomplishments or projects are you most proud of during your time here?
AQ: In the five months I have been here, we have deployed our latest product – content monetization, which uses machine learning to recommend articles that are best suited as subscriber-only – across dozens of sites we work with. This was a huge feat across many teams so I’m very proud of and impressed by this, and the initial results show huge ROI for the sites using it.
Can you share a memorable or funny moment from your time at the company?
AQ: I’ll share a funny story from 2015… this was pre-video conferencing days but we had weekly calls with clients all the time. I was presenting an analysis to a publisher at my desk, while my co-worker was doing push-ups on the side (don’t ask me why), and to my horror turns out MY CAMERA WAS ON THE ENTIRE TIME! The publisher said “it’s just nice to finally see what you guys look like” so we all got a good laugh out of it.
Outside of work, what are some of your hobbies and interests?
AQ: I love being outside, and I’m interested in sustainability, so last year my partner and I decided to sell our Atlanta house and build an off-grid cabin. We have ~30 acres of land that we have been hand-clearing so it’s hard work but really fulfilling. I also have four animals that are basically my children so I spend a lot of time and iPhone photo storage on them 😊
Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives you’re excited about?
AQ: Yes, we are kicking off a big project with an international news publication to assist in their global pricing strategy. We’re pulling together a cross-functional team of consultants, data scientists, and product specialists on this so I’m excited to be part of the project.
What is one thing about you that your colleagues might be surprised to learn?
AQ: I’m an introvert moonlighting as an extrovert. Despite my chatty demeanor, I love quiet time alone reading, walking outside, taking baths, meditating, etc.
What advice would you give to new employees just starting in your department or role?
AQ: To be successful on the Mather consulting team, you must think creatively and be willing to experiment. Technical skills will take you far but creative thinking and willingness to change are the keys to success here.
Alicia is a Director of Consulting Services at Mather Economics in Atlanta, USA. Feel free to reach out to her at: alicia@mathereconomics.com
Read our previous employee spotlights:
Russel Ramtahal – Senior Manager
Katie Ruane – Senior Manager Product
Nathan Hart – Manager Consulting Services
