Development Program Grad Class of 2012: 10 Years Later: Alex Trott

What first attracted you to 84.51° (formerly dunnhumby)?

An entrepreneurship professor recommended that I look into the company based on how he knew they utilized customer data. At the time, I was a psychology major (with an entrepreneurship minor) and thinking about my career path. My professor thought that this company was the best of both worlds and I could combine my studies of human behavior with my passion for business!

What was your first title at 84.51° (formerly dunnhumby)?

Client Lead, Best Customer Communications

What were your primary responsibilities in your first role at 84.51° (formerly dunnhumby)?

I started on the Best Customer Communications Team working directly with CPGs to provide targeted rewards offers to their customers. This function of our business is still operating today and taught me so much about Kroger's approach to rewarding their loyal customers and the 84.51° customer science that powers it.

What are your primary responsibilities in your current role?

Leading a team that works with a group of CPG clients on utilizing Kroger customer data and insights within their organizations.

Describe your path to your current role. How did you get here?

I had several roles that helped me get to my current role as Director, including a Kroger-facing role. This taught me so much about the Grocery Retail landscape and how data plays an integral role in making informed and smart decisions in a fast-paced environment.

What has kept you at 84.51° for 10 years?

THE PEOPLE!!! I do love my role every single day, the data is fascinating and always keeps you engaged. However, I genuinely love the people I have met over these last 10 years. They are now my family and have positively impacted my life in an endless amount of positive ways. I even get to work with my sister (real family!) and it makes my heart so full that I get to share this community with her.

What are your career highlights or most memorable experiences at 84.51°?

The DE&I efforts that I have been able to take part in. When I started out, I joined our Women’s Edge group, which then led me to join the Cincinnati chapter of NextUp, in which I am still involved. Then, I also joined MARC (now Men for Equality) to empower male advocates of DE&I in our business. As a part of that, I was asked to lead a live internal discussion, streamed on Kroger TV, on DE&I with [Kroger Chief Merchant & Marketing Officer] Stuart Aitken and [Kroger CEO] Rodney McMullen. We talked about a range of issues including tangible actions 84.51° and Kroger were taking to deliver and further our commitments to these causes.

How do you feel the Development Program prepped you for success at 84.51°?

I was so well prepared for the "real world" coming out of the Development Program. I had time to study the content of what I needed to know for my role, learn how to use the data AND build a network of friends that started out with me. It was like a 'class' that has now grown up in the business together. These folks are still my trusted colleagues and friends that I can lean on.

Looking back when you first joined 84.51° (formerly dunnhumby) 10 years ago, is this where you thought you'd be in your career?

Yes! This is where I had hoped to be and more. This company has given me endless opportunities – I feel so grateful to work for a company that has believed in me and let me unleash my entrepreneurial spirit to accomplish goals.

What advice do you have for someone starting their career at 84.51°?

Be humble. Learn as much as you can from the great people that surround you. Immerse yourself in what we can do and apply your own spin to it – we welcome that!

Yes! Too many to count. So many great mentors. I have found my 'tribe' with some great female leaders who have come before me and broken down countless barriers. I stand on their shoulders.

How has 84.51° changed in the 10 years you've been with the company?

The spirit and core has always remained the same, but it has been so much fun to watch the company 'grow up' and become a major player in the data, insights and media spaces.

Check out some of our other grads!