Reflecting on the Beauty of The Action Company

My first Tableau Conference was a great success. And so much fun!

There’s a lot to write about—and I will in the coming weeks! From meeting Tableau Godfathers and Godmothers, to my first trip to California (#futureSoCalgirl?), to deep conversations about Agentforce and Tableau’s future, it was a whirlwind.

But before I get into all that, I wanted to take a breath, and: 1) Tell you about the coolest company in the world, and 2) Talk about how thankful I am to have these people in my life.

Everyone, meet The Action Company.

When I first started interning at Action, I quickly realized that this was not your typical data consulting firm. As with all companies, I thought there’d be the typical onboarding training: boilerplate company etiquette–respect, integrity, etc. And then, after reviewing all of that, off to work we go!

But with Action, it’s different. This is a company literally built and sustained by an agreed-upon ethos, with clear mission statements, values, and principles that aren’t set aside after onboarding — they’re mentioned and used in our work every single day.

Now, I can imagine you saying “Autumn, every company has this type of training. It’s kind of the law.”

Yall, I’m serious! This is different.

The work culture and values that Action has created are so beautiful that I want to carry them elsewhere in my life! And that sure feels different than the typical “I can’t wait to get home from work.” Action is special in inspiring ways.

Every team meeting always includes a focus on one of the Action values, such as compassion, transparency, integrity, fun. The way we communicate with each other is intentional, purposeful, and structured so that no one can misunderstand the other. There’s a strong sense of community and belonging that we foster. We always encourage each other and never put each other down. And, what about the disagreements that inevitably occur?

“We think disagreements are okay, and never reflect a person’s worth.” Straight from the Action Ethos page.

How amazing and refreshing is that?

I truly realized how special this company was after the way they demonstrated their kindness to me during the Tableau Conference. For example:

1. This was the first time I met Johannah Villa in person. Immediately, she started introducing me to people I’ve never met, taking me to new places, buying me a drink, offering any Tableau training and advice she could give me. She made me feel so welcome and connected to the Tableau Conference group when I was nervous to start talking to people.

2. Jonathan Drummey walked me down to get my badge early Tuesday morning. Because he’s so humble, I had no idea how famous he is in the Tableau Community until people started coming up to him. He’s basically a rock star, a Godfather of Tableau. And yet, he spoke to me equally in all areas of technical expertise, and then kindly explained things that I didn’t understand.

3. Jeremy Paytas is so much fun to be around. He always brings joy, enthusiasm, and light to everything he does. Whether it’s talking about Ohio football, the great legend of Jameis Winston, fun merch ideas, or anything about vinyl records, he’s guaranteed to make you smile and feel better. Also, if you like our merchandise, talk to him about it!

4. Keith Helfrich, Action’s founder and “Chief Tidiness Officer,” is the wisest person I know. If he wasn’t in data consulting, I would go to him for life consulting. Not only has he created this beautiful, holistic company, but he has such great perspectives on work and life which he shared through conversations at the conference. His kindness, encouragement, and fearless leadership set the tone for the whole company. Action wouldn’t be the special creation it is today without his thoughtful and tireless leadership.

5. Talking with Josh Greenwalt during the Conference made me realize how talented the people I work with truly are. From filming videos to creating animations to photography, Josh does it all, and all of it extremely well. Josh also has a very cool YouTube channel, RetraCast, where he talks about retro cars, gaming PCs, and anything else vintage. I learned so much about videography just through the conversations we had at the conference.

6. I would not have been at TC25 without Shaun Davis. In fact, I would not be at Action without him. He took a chance on me when I barely had experience and has taught me so much. At every meeting, work call, and conference, he has been a patient and respectful mentor, always encouraging me and helping wherever he can. The knowledge he shares is so valuable, and I wouldn’t be reflecting on this conference without him today.

It is real honor to work alongside these amazing Actionauts. They are incredible, empathetic humans who genuinely want to make the world a better place, and this company is a reflection of that. Action does not only capture the idea of a healthier work culture, but a vision for a better world. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to experience working at Action!