CakeOps Magic ✨🎂
One Strawberry Watermelon Cake for a birthday next week…
… Just one of the many cakes I’ve ordered in my role as Research Ops Coordinator at Atlassian.
When I joined Kate Towsey’s expanding Research Operations team a year ago, one of the roles I had the pleasure of taking over was the organization of ‘Cake Operations’ or ‘CakeOps,’ as our team lovingly calls it. CakeOps is a recognition of our teammates whether for a birthday, anniversary, or another special event. On some occasions, CakeOps may not be cake at all. Instead, it may be a condolence offering expressed privately through flowers.
A blackberry vanilla and lavender cake that is both vegan and gluten-free…
CakeOps is a fun job — you get to browse and pick yummy lookin’ cakes! Though don’t get me wrong, it’s an important job too. It has significance. CakeOps builds team camaraderie and is ultimately a form of team care. This is especially meaningful when our team is rapidly growing and largely split between four international locations. Celebrating each other around delicious cakes connects us.
CakeOps entails being aware of team happenings to ensure that you’re placing orders in advance. This includes looking after people remotely as well. You’ve also got to make sure that you’re cognizant of any dietary requirements and allergies. Or, if the event calls for it, confidentiality.
One caramel cheesecake for a 5-year work anniversary…
Recently, a teammate visiting from Sydney jokingly told me that amongst new team members, I was known as the person who mysteriously orders all the cakes. Not only that, but they’ve also designated a “cake table” and try to predict which cake I’ve ordered! This made me cackle with delight.
Red velvet cake for our intern’s last day on Friday…
A CakeOps magician never reveals his or her secrets on cake selection. The one thing I can tell you, though, is that CakeOps brings magic and excitement to our team. It brings more than just cake.
