Joy's People Spotlight

Each week our Communications department would post "People Spotlight" articles on our internal website. It's a great way to get to know our colleagues in ways you normally might not have the opportunity to do so. I know I've made some close friends because of it, and I think it's a great initiative I hope the Communications folks continue to do going forward.

They approached me a few weeks ago and asked me if I'd like to be on People Spotlight. I said yes and we've been working on it since. The article was posted this week, and it's a great little piece on me and my life, so thought I'd share, for those of you interested.

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10 Questions: Joy Liu

Business Process Analyst, IMT

What's the most interesting part of your job?

I get to meet people from all areas of the organization and learn about their work, their processes, what works, what doesn't work. I analyze potential options and recommend process changes or technology solutions that will help them meet their objective.

What is your educational background, and how does it relate to your role at the AER?

I consider myself a life long learner and an analyst at heart. In university, I completed degrees in music theory and international business. My first job exposed me to the world of immigration and sprouted my love for the law, so I also completed a legal assistant certificate from SAIT.

The analytical skills I gained through my music degree set the foundation for the reporting, data analytics, and visualization work that I do. The commerce degree gave me a good understanding of the strategy, structure, and workings of any business, and having the little bit of legal background propelled my ability to express and write with better accuracy and precision. I've since shifted into the information and data world, and have been taking more courses related to Tableau and Structured Query Language (SQL).

Taken at the Fairmont Ball Room where Joy was playing piano during an event.

What do you like best about the AER’s culture?

My group truly works as a team. We're all here to contribute and there's a real sense of passion for the work. I love the culture of everyone pulling their weight, no matter the task and regardless of their role. It really is a collaborative and supportive environment.

How does the work you do contribute to the AER’s vision?

My work contributes to improving the AER's information management practices as they relate to our legislative obligations. In addition, the metadata work we've embarked on is one of the ways we're making the AER's information and data context available and transparent to all staff. This will allow staff to determine whether the information or data they're using is fit for their intended purpose and, subsequently, further enhance and protect the AER's credibility.

Is there any advice you would give to a person who is starting out in your chosen career?

Be honest with yourself about what you like and don't like. Let go of any "shoulds." Be open to possibilities that might not have been what you initially aimed for. Appreciate everything.

What was it like living in the town/country you grew up in?

I grew up in Yu-Chi (which means fish pond), which is a school campus in the countryside of Taiwan. I remember running barefoot across the fields, chasing after snakes and lizards with the neighbour kids. Being and playing in nature every day is a precious experience that I will cherish forever and something I think we all need more of.

Sun Moon Lake near Joy's home town in Taiwan.

How would your best friend describe you?

"You can't fit Joy into any box; she builds her own box, and still operates outside of that box."

Tell us about the most amazing place you've ever visited:

Borobudur, Indonesia. It's a 9th-century Buddhist temple in central Java decorated with 2672 reliefs, or carved panels that look like flat sculptures, and 504 Buddha statues. The central dome is surrounded by 72 statues, each seated inside a perforated stupa–a mound-like dome. We joined the sunrise tour which started at 3:30 a.m. The sun had just started to rise by the time we climbed to the top, and it was the most awe-inspiring experience I've ever had.

Borobudur Temple in Central Java, Indonesia.

What are three things most people don’t know about you?

1. English is not my first language. In fact, I didn't come to Canada until I was 17. I've since immigrated and obtained my Canadian citizenship. My parents are still back home in Taiwan and we visit each other often.
   
2. I'm a certified yoga instructor. Wellness has become a big part of my focus and I'm aiming to complete more training this year in yin yoga and meditation. My mission is to encourage people to move more and ditch perfection, no matter their fitness level. A sort of "couch to mat" kind of approach.
   
3. Although my classical and world music training has taken me to most of my performances, my favourite music genres are hip hop, EDM, and jazz. I'm a rhythm junky and wrote my senior paper on the clave beat, common in Afro-Cuban music, and the effects of syncopation.

What advice would you give to yourself if you could travel back in time 10 years?

Slow down, stop worrying, enjoy the journey, and stop to smell the roses. Be unapologetically yourself and don't be concerned with people who don't accept you for who you are. Like Steve Jobs said, "your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."

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Connect with me through Instagram:
@joyliuyyc - Joy's photography collection
@joyliuyoga - Joy's yoga journey
@inasplitsecondtravel - Joy's travel adventures