Want to know what makes the Uncanny team so great? It starts with the people!
A combination of expertise and fun personalities helps Uncanny deliver kickass content while running like a well-oiled machine. This is why we’ve been introducing you to the team in our “Meet the People of Uncanny” blog series.
So far, we’ve shared posts on Lauren (Uncanny Content Strategist); Amanda, Jess, and Ashton (Writers); Josie (Program Manager); and Erin (Task Wrangler). Today, we’re introducing you to Chynna, Operations Manager and Proud Bostonian.
Keep reading to learn more about Chynna, how her knack for all things operations developed, and much more!
State your full name, for the record:
Chynna Benton
Where do you live:
Boston, Massachusetts
Who do you live with?
My husband, John!
Don’t forget pets:
My cat-child, Aurora. 🙂 She’s a queen!
What did you do before working with Uncanny?
I started my career in wedding and event planning – I’ve always been one for the details and timelines! 🙂 My favorite part of it all was working with couples and making their vision come to life for their big day.
I then started working as an Operations Manager on the side to help small businesses manage their backend with more ease. That’s how I fell into working with UC!
A note from Valicia: Imagine wrangling the chaos of a wedding! Clearly, that’s what makes Chynna such a great Ops manager.
What’s your favorite movie? (Latasha only allows two choices.)
My favorite movie is The Lion King. But I have to mention my favorite TV show, which is New Girl!
What’s your favorite book?
It’s definitely Twilight… #TeamEdward.
If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
I would love to go to Australia to see the Great Barrier Reef! I’m a huge marine life nerd and go to every aquarium I can, so it would be a dream for me to see it in person. 🙂
Who was your first crush? How did that end for you?
Honestly? I don’t remember. I must have blocked it out and I’m fine with that. LOL
A note from Valicia: Many people I know would be completely fine with that too!
What’s your favorite part about your work with Uncanny?
Hands down – the Uncanny team.
I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of some really incredible teams of people, but the support and acceptance that you feel from the people of Uncanny is incomparable to anything else I’ve ever experienced.
I also love the fact that everyone on the team is willing to go above and beyond to make sure our clients get the best service possible. We don’t just complete the projects to meet the clients’ needs, we also look for opportunities to help them grow and improve what they’re doing because the entire team truly cares about the people we work with.
What do you wish more people knew about the work you do?
I feel like the Operations Department is seen as boring in business because it isn’t fun to talk about like launching, content, and copy.
However, IMHO (😉), it’s the Ops team that provides the structure and peace of mind to everything else that happens within a business. We are the ones who lay the groundwork so that everyone else can run (or write) on it!
I love that what I do in Operations allows our writers to have the time and energy to focus on being creative, rather than getting bogged down in the details of things.
A note from Valicia: I can say first-hand that Chynna’s expertise in handling operational tasks helps us writers focus on delivering the best work for our clients!
What’s the hardest part of the work you do?
I’m a pretty black-and-white, process-driven person. I’m sure you’re all very surprised 🤣. So the hardest part for me is managing how to set goals and timelines for projects in a way that allows space for flexibility in the creative process.
Making sure that when a writer says, “I’m going to need an extra day to really flesh this out and feel good about it,” we have the ability to give them that space while meeting the client’s needs.
A note from Valicia: IMO allowing this flexibility really supports us in doing our best work. Thank you, Chynna!
When you’re not working, what do you like to do?
I’m really dedicated to my yoga practice! I also love baking bread, going to a great Farmer’s Market, and visiting a local brewery on the weekends.
What’s one goal you have for yourself in the next year (not related to work)?
I bought a Peloton in January 2023 and have been semi-consistent with it. Every time I’m on it, I wish I was at yoga class instead (lol).
My goal for next year is to just improve my consistency with riding, and doing so in a way that allows me to enjoy the rides more.
Do you have any secret talents or fun party tricks? (You will be asked to do these at a future team retreat)
Honestly? None that I can think of.
At parties, I’m usually the grumpy one in the corner drinking an IPA wishing I was in bed already. 🤣
A note from Valicia: Hey, can’t knock it! There’s something to say about cozying up in a nice warm bed.😜
You can follow Chynna on Instagram at @byte_bodega! Keep an eye out for her on Uncanny’s Instagram @uncannycontent, too!
