🔒 Alana O'Grady, Vice President of Communications at Verkada
Serendipity, Joy and Empathy in Career Paths
Welcome to this interview edition of The Switchboard, my newsletter exploring the ways we communicate and connect at work and beyond. I’m Julia.
About Alana
Alana is the Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs at Verkada, a security technology company. Prior to joining Verkada, she spent more than five years in Edelman’s U.S. and Hong Kong offices.
Before relocating to Hong Kong, Alana was stationed in Singapore where she led regional Southeast Asia communications hubs for blue-chip technology companies. She began her career with Burson-Marsteller in New York City specializing in corporate media relations and executive positioning.
Externally, Alana is on the Board of the Family and Children’s Law Center. She is also an Executive Producer of the independent film MÁS ALLÁ.
What sparked your path into your field?
I was introduced to a wonderful woman, Pat Ford, who invited me to dinner with her husband (also named Pat Ford) so I could learn more about the incredible work she was doing as an Army medic. At the time, I thought this would be my path—I had been volunteering as an EMT at a local fire station for a few years and wanted to continue in that direction.
While our conversation was inspiring and I was in awe of her accomplishments, I found myself equally captivated by her husband’s work. He shared stories about the meaningful, purpose-driven projects he was leading at Burson-Marsteller (now simply Burson), and I ended up interning for him later that year. I never looked back.
What is a value that drives you personally and professionally?
Easy—joy! Joy is critical to both life and work in so many ways. I strongly believe that if you find joy in your job, you'll perform better. If you enjoy the people you work with, you'll naturally be happier (after all, many of us spend more time with our colleagues than our own families). And you'll carry that joy home. It’s a cycle that I'm passionate about maintaining.
As you look back, is there a pivotal project or job that's shaped your career or inspired you?
I spent seven years of my career in Asia, working in Singapore and Hong Kong. Moving across the world and immersing myself in different cultures was transformative. On any given day, I could be collaborating with teams in Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, China—the list goes on. I found it incredibly stimulating to absorb and appreciate the specific nuances of each culture. That experience was extremely formative for me.
Whenever I offer career advice, I always suggest living abroad. No two days were ever the same: Healthcare in Korea in the morning, Finance in Hong Kong in the afternoon. Everyone wore multiple hats, which made every day thrilling.
What are the skills needed for great communicators?
Empathy. It’s what makes our field so integral to the corporate world. We have to deeply understand and connect with diverse audiences. Our ability to step into others' shoes and translate complex ideas into more relatable narratives is critical.
What's a hack or habit that grounds you in life and work?
It isn’t for everyone, but for me, being in the office five days a week makes a big difference. As a mom with ADHD, working from home made it difficult to separate my professional responsibilities from my family duties—I constantly felt pulled in two directions. Being in the office allows me to compartmentalize effectively: when I’m at work, I’m fully present there, and when I’m home, I’m fully present for my family. I also leverage my morning commute as a transition tool.
On the way to work, I gradually turn on my "work brain," catching up on news or audiobooks (such as Abundance or Co-Intelligence) and chugging my matcha. On my commute home, I shift gears, drink lavender tea, and listen to my ever-growing list of non-work-related books (currently in my queue are Outlive and Let Them).
Thank you Brooke Kruger for nominating Alana. Thank you for tuning into this edition. I’m always grateful for your support growing this community of caring communicators and connectors. If you enjoyed this article, give it a heart, consider sharing it with a friend or posting a learning on LinkedIn. Signing off. — Julia