When Chrissy joined Canidium 13 years ago, she was a solo act, single-handedly establishing our Xactly implementation practice. Fast forward to today, and she's helped build that practice into a thriving 20-member team.
In a working world where employers accept that prospective hires will change jobs every three years and an estimated 70% of workers are actively looking for a new job, Chrissy's story is an anomaly. So, how did Chrissy become one of Canidium's most exceptional employees? Well, she built one of the strongest and most effective partnerships between a best-in-class incentive compensation management (ICM) platform and a growing software implementation firm, setting Canidium's trajectory to become the prominent name it is today.
Obviously, Chrissy Johnson’s wealth of experience, insight, and knowledge surrounding Xactly is hard to find anywhere else. If you are interested in implementing Xactly, she's the person you want to talk to.
Here's what she has to say about our Xactly practice, highlighting how she helped build it to optimize the platform's value for our clients.
Building a Culture of Collaboration
Why did Chrissy decide to build the Xactly practice at Canidium? To start, her passion for Xactly's potential underpins the team's mission. However, it's not just the software that has kept her engaged for over a decade; it's the environment at Canidium.
From day one, Chrissy found herself in a collaborative and supportive team. Even when she was the sole practitioner for our Xactly practice, she still felt connected to the rest of the organization.
"I really loved the collaborative environment; even when you were siloed, you felt like you had a team."
Canidium leveraged our positive environment to attract and retain top talent for Chrissy's burgeoning Xactly practice. Specifically, the team's growth brought in members who excel in those areas and have been able to master new solutions across the platform. "It's made the job a lot easier, and we're able to work collaboratively and get the work done," she says.
Why Xactly? A Software Evolution Story
Chrissy's enthusiasm for Xactly stems from her corporate HRIS and compensation background; she remembers the days when Excel was the tool of choice for managing compensation. And, as any compensation professional can tell you, compared to those clunky manual processes, Xactly was a revelation.
"I really liked the user interface," Chrissy recalls. "It's user-friendly and visually appealing." The platform's standard reports, combined with robust analytics, offer flexibility to meet diverse client needs. But what genuinely excites her is the software's growth and evolution over the years.
"When I started, there was no integration at all," she says. "We had to train administrators to load orders manually for calculations to work." Watching Xactly evolve—from no integration to the introduction of Delta and later to Connect—has inspired all the Xactly experts in our robust team, Chrissy included. The platform has continuously improved to meet client needs, giving users greater control with novel features like Extend. As a result, our team has leveraged these innovations to create unique tools like our three Extend solutions, which are the first of their kind.
Beyond her technical expertise, Chrissy’s background in corporate HR and compensation provides her with a broader perspective on how Xactly’s tools impact not just the technical side of operations but also the human element. She excels at empowering sales teams, streamlining administrative processes, and driving strategic business outcomes. Few professionals in the industry possess the depth of experience Chrissy has with both the Xactly platform and the broader field of software optimization. Her expertise is not only a cornerstone of Canidium’s transformation success but also a benchmark for excellence in the field.
Transformation: How Chrissy’s Experience Changes the Game For Xactly Users
Canidium's core mission is to enhance the effectiveness of software solutions by aligning them with clients' unique needs and infrastructure. We convert out-of-the-box platforms into tailored and fully configured solutions. However, Chrissy’s Transformation services go above and beyond, taking clients through a comprehensive journey to optimize their Xactly features, workflows, and configurations on the most granular level.
“It’s about understanding where they are today and where they want to be,” Chrissy explains. Whether it’s optimizing commission rules, modernizing compensation plans, or reimagining workflows to address evolving business needs, Chrissy excels at turning challenges into opportunities for growth.
Here’s a high level overview of the Transformation Journey Chrissy takes her clients through:
- Discovery and Alignment
The journey begins with a deep dive into the client’s existing systems and processes. By conducting internal reviews, questionnaires, and interviews with key stakeholders, the team identifies inefficiencies, pain points, and areas of potential improvement. This phase aligns Canidium’s expertise with the client’s strategic objectives, creating a foundation for meaningful transformation. - Strategic Roadmapping
Once the current state is analyzed, Canidium designs a tailored roadmap. This roadmap outlines phased opportunities for enhancement, such as leveraging new features, optimizing workflows, and introducing innovative tools. The roadmap also highlights potential opportunities to integrate additional modules or licenses that meet the client's expanding needs. - Continuous Improvement
Transformation is not a one-time event but an ongoing process. “Over time, businesses change, and their systems need to evolve to keep up,” Chrissy notes. Xactly is an innovative platform. With each passing year, new functionalities and tools become available. The Canidium team, headed by Chrissy, ensures clients remain informed about these innovations and integrates them into the client’s systems. This continuous improvement approach ensures that systems remain modern, efficient, and aligned with organizational goals. - Collaboration and Execution
Throughout the process, Canidium collaborates with both the client and software providers, like Xactly itself, to execute the transformation. This partnership ensures that solutions are not only technically sound but also strategically aligned with the client’s vision. The end result is a fully optimized system, free of any past system inefficiencies.
Chrissy’s Rare Expertise: Why You Can’t Get Canidium’s Transformation Treatment Anywhere Else
Chrissy Johnson started building Canidium’s Xactly practice 13 years ago, with 8 years as our Xactly practice lead. Prior to her tenure at Canidium, Chrissy already had 4 years of Xactly experience. All told, this amounts to 17 years of in-depth professional experience in Xactly’s platform.
Chrissy’s expertise is both rare and invaluable. Over the years, she has been instrumental in developing not only the team but also the methodologies that underpin today’s transformation projects. Her deep familiarity with Xactly’s evolution—from its early days without integration capabilities to its current robust platform—gives her unique insight into the software’s potential and limitations.
Why You Need Chrissy to Build Your Strategic Roadmap
Chrissy’s ability to conceptualize and implement strategic roadmaps stems from her long-standing relationships with clients and her deep understanding of their needs. This rare combination of technical expertise and strategic acumen allows her to identify opportunities for growth and guide clients through complex transformation processes. Many of Canidium’s clients have been with the company for years, and Chrissy’s intimate knowledge of these accounts enhances her ability to deliver tailored solutions. She knows the history of each client’s system, the challenges they’ve faced, and the goals they’re striving to achieve—insight that no external consultant could replicate without her decades of experience. Simply put, without the 17 years of Xactly insights Chrissy Johnson has collected, you can’t get this level of optimization.
Who is Chrissy Johnson Outside of Work?
Outside of her extensive professional achievements, Chrissy Johnson leads a vibrant life in Austin, Texas, where she resides with her family. She is a proud mother of two daughters, one of whom is a high school senior deeply involved in her school’s drill team. Chrissy and her family are passionate about music, theater, and community events, often attending Austin’s renowned ACL (Austin City Limits) festival and other local performances. Balancing her dynamic career with a love for family activities and cultural experiences, Chrissy exemplifies how passion and commitment extend beyond the workplace.
A Testament to Growth and Innovation
Chrissy's 17-year journey with Xactly is a testament to the power of passion, teamwork, and continuous growth. From her early days as a one-person team to leading a thriving practice, she has played a pivotal role in shaping Canidium's Xactly practice. Her love for the software and her commitment to collaboration have been key drivers of her success.
In her own words, "It's been amazing to watch the software and the team grow, knowing that I've been part of that journey is incredibly rewarding." Canidium's culture, coupled with Xactly's innovation, has created the perfect environment for Chrissy to thrive—and her story is a shining example of what's possible with the right mix of passion, teamwork, and vision.
Reach out to learn more about our Xactly services, and in the meantime, learn everything you need to know about the implementation process in this buyer's guide.
