6sense is a fast-growing company with incredible employees all over the world. Our Employee Spotlight series introduces you to the people behind the technology that’s revolutionizing B2B revenue creation.
Jacqueline Schlinger is a 6sense data analyst based in California. But she’s so much more than that: She’s also a sister, a dog mom, a volunteer and mentor, a food connoisseur, a world traveler, an avid music lover who has attended more than 100 concerts, and a self-taught DJ.
We recently spoke with Jacqueline about her role at 6sense, her journey here, her natural curiosity, and what she’s passionate about at work and at home.
6sense: Tell us about your role and how it’s evolved.
Jacqueline: I’m currently a Data Analyst II supporting a brand-new team under our Data Analytics and Insights organization. I help bring strategic projects to fruition. My current focus is helping to create a new corporate standard for how our business users access data internally.
My role has evolved a lot since I first joined 6sense two years ago. I initially started as a general analyst, helping to support a few of our key product features. One of my very first projects was helping our Sales Intelligence and Alerts team stand up dashboards to track user adoption and engagement.
Soon after, I was staffed to support the Integrations team where I helped provide critical insights across our growing Integrations ecosystem and even helped build the data structure that powers our Standardized File Exports offering!
How did you find your current niche at 6sense?
My niche came from being unafraid to take on tough projects. I embrace challenges as learning experiences and growth opportunities. I always try to approach each project or analysis with the future in mind and with the mindset of “can we do better?”
Tell us about your education and career background. What led you to data analytics?
I started my journey with an internship at a large FinTech company working within their Business Operations and Logistics department. My internship projects involved analyzing and reporting on operational and last-mile delivery performance. I also helped create a business case for a new shipping program by evaluating potential ROI and performing competitor analyses.
I fell in love with analyzing data and knew I wanted to continue my journey within the analytics space.
Then I joined a wine tech company, Vivino, where I helped uncover meaningful insights into the customer journey. I discovered a new love for wine and was excited to further develop my analytics chops.
I worked across their Operations and Customer Experience departments, where I owned team reporting in our BI tool, Looker, and helped to identify opportunities to strengthen the overall customer experience.
I picked up a knack for creating actionable and well-designed dashboards to help the team make critical business decisions. This opportunity helped me build my foundation as an analyst and showed me that data is truly applicable everywhere — even in the wine industry!
What attracted you to 6sense?
The product captured my attention. I’d never heard of anything similar that used AI and data to help revenue teams. Once I got to know more about the product and the challenges it solves, I realized it was even cooler than I thought. I knew I wanted to be a part of the company.
Tell us a bit more about your journey here.
I loved my interview process. Each person I spoke with was genuine and I could tell very quickly that this company was building something special. I’m so happy I decided to go along for the ride!
What makes you feel valued in your current role today?
I have awesome and truly empathetic managers who not only push me out of my comfort zone, but also constantly find ways to champion my success. I get to work on exciting, impactful projects that allow me to strengthen my skills and reach my professional goals. I also love being able to work cross-functionally and learn different parts of the business.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
I love working with my team. They have such unique strengths and are such smart and driven individuals. I’m grateful to work with many people who I can also call friends. Team dynamic is so important when working for a company, and I’m truly lucky to have such an amazing group of people to learn from and WIN with as a team
What are you passionate about outside of work?
Music! Neo-soul and R&B have a special place in my heart. I also love traveling (like my recent trip to Barcelona), trying different cuisine around the world (sushi is my favorite), and having adventures and new experiences.
Do you do any volunteer work or mentoring?
Yes! I have volunteered with Women in STEM, Hire Black Initiative, and Play Like a Girl. I love giving back and inspiring the next generation. I love working with children and getting them inspired to work in tech. We need more women leaders, especially women of color.
Speaking of mentoring, who have been your greatest mentors, supporters, and strongest influences?
I’ve had a few unofficial mentors throughout my career. I’ve been especially privileged to learn and grow under Ken Golonka, our Director of Analytics & Insights over the last two years. He has undoubtedly become one of my biggest champions, and is what I aspire to be as a leader one day.
I’ve learned a lot from his guidance, business sense, and simply how he approaches tough problems. He’s always there to listen, teach, and help me reach my goals.
I would also consider my grandma, Roseanne, to be someone who has positively influenced my life in many ways. She is never afraid to speak her mind (she will be the first to tell you how it is, and is never one to sugarcoat!), and will always find a way to see the good in everyone. She constantly inspires me to lead with kindness and curiosity to understand beyond the surface level.
And if that isn’t inspiring enough, she also went back to school and received her Master’s degree at the age of 50! She truly embodies the fact that learning IS a lifelong process and I hope to continue learning every single day, just like she does.
What kind of challenges have you faced getting where you are today professionally?
Imposter syndrome is real. When I graduated from college, I didn’t feel there was a place for me in Tech and I wasn’t sure if I could succeed in this industry. Luckily, I had amazing mentors and family to guide me and build me up. I still struggle with imposter syndrome at times, but I try to overcome it by reminding myself to aim for progress, not perfection.
Where do you see your future headed, and how is 6sense preparing you for it?
I never want to stop learning, and want to continue to make an impact, and I know 6sense provides many opportunities for that. There are also opportunities for advancement and leadership.
What advice would you give someone thinking about pursuing a career in data analytics?
Just do it! Be scared, and do it anyway. Do things that make you uncomfortable and pull you outside your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to fail. But also, don’t forget to celebrate the wins. I tell my mentees to make a “Hype Doc” where you write down everything you’ve accomplished, big or small. It will ease your mind whenever you start to doubt yourself.
You mentioned you love wine. What’s your favorite?
Napa Valley Cab, but recently, I like white wines.
What have you been binge-watching lately?
Grey’s Anatomy, The Last of Us, and The White Lotus.
You have a nice record collection on your wall. Which one is your favorite?
That’s an easy question. Lauryn Hill.
