Women in Technology: Kayeng Thao

Team Standley is dedicated to showcasing the incredible women who hold technology-related roles within our company. As we kick off our Women in Technology series, we had the privilege of speaking with Kayeng Thao, a talented Business Analyst at Standley Systems. Kayeng's journey into the tech industry began after graduating from Northeastern State University in 2019 with a degree in International Business. Her career path led her to companies like McLane Company and Crayola before finding her place at Standley Systems in Oklahoma City.

After joining Standley Systems in 2022, Kayeng initially focused on project management but quickly recognized the need for Power BI dashboards within the organization. With determination and skill, she delved into mastering the system and has since developed over twenty dynamic Power BI dashboards for various teams and departments. Kayeng's role now involves not only building these insightful dashboards but also assisting with business processes, requirements, and order processing to enhance overall efficiency within the company. Kayeng says she loves her job as a business analyst because she gets to do project management and go through processes while still working with data to help Standley achieve their mission of "One Trip" and continuous improvement.

When asked how she got into the technology industry, Kayeng says that she didn’t know what she wanted to do right after graduating. She just wanted to get her foot in the door at a good company and build her career. Kayeng realized she enjoyed working with data during her time at Crayola, presenting data as a Data Analyst, and decided to pursue a career in data analysis and project management. Kayeng enjoys working with data bases and data to showcase the companies she has worked for, especially when leading them on decision making based on that data.

In addition to her International Business degree, Kayeng holds a Data Analytics Certification from Google and is continuously expanding her knowledge in the field. She stays up-to-date with technology trends and news by actively engaging with resources like Google and YouTube, underscoring her commitment to professional development and growth in the ever-evolving tech industry.

When asked what the most rewarding part of her job is, Kayeng says that she loves problem solving and finding an answer to the question being asked. Even though sometimes it can take her hours to find one small programming error but when she does, she is proud of herself for figuring it out. Kayeng also finds creating dashboards, presenting them, and having people utilize those dashboards to make things more efficient very rewarding.  

Kayeng identifies the hardest part of her job as the brain work she has to put into all the individual dashboards she creates and figuring out each individual aspect. She is given raw data and has to sift through to find answers to specific questions. She says a lot of people don’t see or understand the process she has to go through to find a single answer. It could be an hour, or it take a couple of weeks depending on the path she has to take to get the answer.

When asked about role models in the tech industry, Kayeng admires the expertise and knowledge of Carla Edwards, a standout member of Team Standley. Inspired by Carla's leadership and proficiency, Kayeng recognizes the value of having experienced mentors to guide and inspire others in the field.

For women aspiring to pursue a career in technology, Kayeng offers valuable advice: be fearless, embrace challenges, and always seek solutions. With a passion for improvement, a love for problem-solving, and a strong analytical mindset, Kayeng believes that the tech industry is a perfect fit for those who are driven to make a difference and excel in their field.

The contributions and expertise that Kayeng brings to Team Standley are truly invaluable. Stay tuned as we continue to highlight the remarkable women who play integral roles in shaping Team Standley and the technology industry.