SuCo Spotlight September ’24 – Nikki Stratton
This month SuCo wants to spotlight a team member who is a true pillar for our team and has been a key driver for our growth over the years. Let’s give a round of applause to our very own Director of Offer Strategy, Nikki Stratton! It is not just the tenure that is impressive, but the scope of her contributions over these years that really make Nikki stand out. She began her journey with us as a Digital Media Designer, progressed to a QA Engineer, advanced to oversee QA, and now excels as our Director of Offer Strategy. Nikki blends creativity with critical thinking, consistently gives 110% effort, and leads with her heart for the company and her colleagues. She makes us a stronger organization and team every day! Take a minute to learn a little more about Nikki and what inspires her…
What are some key lessons you have learned along the way in your career?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned throughout my career, both as a college basketball coach and in my current role with SuCo, is to never let the word “can’t” infiltrate your mindset. Whenever I start to think I can’t do something, I remind myself of my grandfather’s story from Pearl Harbor. He crossed the burning space between two ships, under unimaginable conditions, during the chaos of the attack. That task was next to impossible, yet he still made the climb. His determination and courage remind me that there is always a way to accomplish a task, no matter how daunting it may seem.
In basketball, I’ve seen players overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges—whether it’s coming back from an injury or winning against a much stronger team. Just as in business, where we’re often tasked with finding solutions to complex problems under tight deadlines, saying “I can’t” does a disservice to yourself and your team. Even when it feels like one of the hardest things you’ll ever face, if you push forward, adapt, and believe in your ability to succeed, you can accomplish what you set out to do. Whether on the court or in the boardroom, that mindset of perseverance is what separates success from failure.
If you could switch jobs with anyone in the company for a day, whose role would you pick and why?
This is such a fun question! If I had to choose, I’d say Andrew Smith. He’s our lead architect for the software, and what he’s created is nothing short of perfection. Andrew has designed and implemented the entire infrastructure from the ground up, and it’s incredibly intricate. Every single element is meticulously thought out, every possible scenario worked through—from the most common use cases to obscure edge cases, corner cases, and even situations that don’t yet have names. Somehow, he’s anticipated them all. His attention to detail and foresight is mind-blowing.
One of his biggest accomplishments is spearheading our FCC updates, which are exceedingly complex. This isn’t just a small tweak here and there—it’s a massive, critical undertaking that keeps us compliant and running smoothly. The amount of thought, planning, and execution that goes into these changes is staggering, but Andrew handles it all with remarkable efficiency and precision.
Honestly, he’s the mastermind who makes everything in our world function seamlessly, and if I had the chance, I’d love to experience just one day with his “superhero” level of brilliance. He’s like our company’s Superman, quietly saving the day behind the scenes, and his sheer awesomeness is something I truly admire!
What’s your secret talent that no one at work knows about?
I can talk like Donald and Daffy Duck including Daffy’s famous suffering succotash quote. It takes a lot for me to break it out though because it uses so many facial muscles and my face gets really sore. I also end up laughing so much trying to keep it going, which doesn’t help either.
If you were an emoji, which one would you be and why?
If I could choose an emoji to represent me, it would definitely be a yellow submarine! The yellow sub symbolizes my love for The Beatles and their music, especially the iconic song “Yellow Submarine.” But beyond that, it also ties into my work with the USS Arizona nuclear submarine, which feels like the perfect metaphor for my life in emoji form. The connection I have with the US Navy and the ongoing legacy of the USS Arizona BB39 Battleship is something I hold incredibly close to my heart. It’s a constant reminder of my family’s history and the important work I do to ensure that legacy continues.
And a special shout-out to Bobby Zahova from our creative department! She designed a custom yellow submarine Slack emoji just for me, and I use it all the time. It’s fun, quirky, and feels like the perfect blend of my personal and professional worlds!
