Interviewer: What is your name?
Amber: Amber Allen
Interviewer: What is your position at CSA?
Amber: Associate Director, Client Experience
Interviewer: What does that position entail?
Amber: I work directly with clients to learn and fully understand their goals and connect them with the teams and services that CSA offers. I collaborate closely with clients on ways that CSA’s services can provide solutions, and then I help the client and the internal teams through the bid process so we can come to a mutual understanding of the work and set the project up for success. I also reach out to clients to learn what projects they have coming up that we can put on our radar.
Interviewer: How did you become a part of CSA?
Amber: I had been working on the publisher side of the business for nearly a decade, but my company was restructuring and I was at a crossroads in my career. Right around the same time, Ingrid Benson reached out and told me about this new opportunity at CSA. Ingrid and I have worked together in different capacities for over 20 years and I’ve always valued her mentorship, so it seemed like a great fit.
Interviewer: What is the best part of your job?
Amber: I love hearing clients talk about their new projects and seeing all the innovation and passion they are bringing to education. Pairing projects with our great internal teams so they can add their creativity and expertise is very rewarding.
Interviewer: What do you wish people knew about your work at CSA?
Amber: I want clients to know that our alignment and curriculum development teams can be available to come on projects in a planning capacity. I think there can be a fear that a project should not start until every element is planned, but the CSA team is great at providing vision and direction and it can be a great way to collaborate and get the ball rolling earlier to help the schedule.
Interviewer: What do you wish schools focused on more in terms of education and why?
Amber: I wish that the elementary school level would offer more communication to parents about how they can facilitate their children’s learning through real-life skills and interaction at home. We get information about educational apps and such, but believe me, my children do not have any trouble scouting out opportunities for more tablet time. I spoke with a teacher once about a reading/writing concern and told her we had been trying apps and flashcards, and she told me to have my child help write thank you notes or transcribe my grocery list. I think helping parents understand how they can meet children where they are at in school and then holistically incorporate it into their life would be very helpful.
Interviewer: What are three interesting facts about you?
Amber: I love to travel. I once spent a month in China and also went skydiving in Australia. I have visited Iceland five times (because my husband is Icelandic) and my favorite city and preferred vacation spot is London.
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