Holiday Countdown 2020 - The lost days part 8 - Susan Hauth

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Due to the article size limit, older days have to be removed from the main article.

Here is day 12:

 

Song of the Day: Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy by David Bowie & Bing Crosby (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADbJLo4x-tk)

We’re heading back from Russia to the American continent. It get’s royal today, we visit the official Jira-Queen Susan Hauth in Canada. She’s waiting for us at door 12 - today we’re halfway through the calendar - I hope you enjoyed it up to now!

Susan is from Toronto and hosts Community events with @Danny Zuccaro , Kamal Sondagar and @Majken Longlade  - Kamal is the man next to Susan on the photo above.

Hi Susan - you are number 12 in this countdown and we are so happy to have you here today. Please tell us, how did you become one of Atlassian's Community Leaders?

At the Atlassian summit 2014 in San Jose, I was encouraged to sign up by Toronto local solutions partners

What motivates you being a Community Leader?

My passion for Jira and the opportunity to connect, educate and share with others locally who also embrace the same passion for Atlassian products

Do you remember the first time you ever used an Atlassian product?

I was leading a development team when we needed a new change management system. We decided on Jira in November 2008.

Do you have a favorite Atlassian memory to date?

The very first leaders dinner in San Francisco in 2015. It was a cosy event as our numbers were small. Mike Cannon-Brooks joined us and we all got to speak personallly with him.

If you could go back in time to give yourself an advice, professional or personal. What would it be?

Be braver and take the leap when it's presented. Ignore conformity for what is better for you.

What do you like to do for fun? What are you passionate about?

I'm a marathon runner (now retired), but still run 3 times a week with my husband and our dog.

 

Did you have a New Year's resolution for 2020? Did you achieve it?

Every January we go juiceless. No alcohol for the month. We lasted till Jan 26th!!

Do you have a resolution for 2021?

In our locked down household of 3 we are going to plan days off to hit the ski hills for our physical and mental health.

 

Maybe you can find him there - relaxing after all this Christmas stress.

What is your fondest Christmas memory?

Many years ago we went to Thailand. We were in a small Thai village on Christmas Eve and asked the village leader if he could have anything he wanted what would it be. His answer: The ability to keep the fields wet all year around and grow more fruit. Brought it home how meaningless our crazy western Christmas indulgences are.

This is so true, Susan. I think, this year, everything’s a bit more silent than usual and maybe we can keep a little bit of this in the future.

Do you have a favorite Christmas treat?

My Mom's shortbread cookies. At 83 she's still cooking up batches every year.

 

(These are not Susan’s cookies, just some shortbreads from the internet, I’m sure, Susan’s cookies are much better…)

Awesome - you have to bring some with you to the next Summit - we all want to taste your Mom’s cookies!

Susan, think about your childhood. What's your favorite Christmas memory?

December 15th, woke up to find my 4 year old brother at the kitchen table opening up all the presents. He said "I thought it was Christmas"

Haha, hat’s an awesome story - I'm sure, this story will be told over and over again in your family :-) - did you gift-wrapped them again?  

What is your favorite Christmas song?

I have two Favorites:

• Peace on Earth (Crosby/Bowie) - always brings tears to my eyes

• Mary's Boy Child (Boney M) - We dance around the kitchen on Xmas eve to that one

The second Boney M song in this calendar! Click on this link and dance (but wait until David Bowie and Bing Crosby finished their song): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmm1gt_2SkQ

Susans most favorite Christmas movie is about a brother of mine:

Are there any unique Christmas traditions in your family?

New pajamas on Christmas Eve.

 

Do you decorate your house for the Holidays? If so, what kind of decorations do you put up?

Every room in the house gets decorated. There are Santas, deers, lights, trees.

Grinch or Santa?

Santa

 

Susan loves her family. Family has become first due to lockdowns, and every year, her best Christmas gifts are the gifts she gives to her children - watching their faces light up - even now that they are young adults.

Susan, what do you love about living in Canada?

Canada is a country where you are truly free to express yourself and has free health care. Our govenments have been united and steady throughout the Pandemic unlike our neighbors to the South.

 

How do you celebrate New Year's Eve?

Usually we are with friends, this year we are planning an outdoor party with a few neighbors.

If you could change something about the way we celebrate the last days of the year, what would it be?

Take a time out and be kind to everyone.

Your best TV show in 2020?

Due to the pandemic we were limited to Netflix. Favorite show: Queens Gambit.

And the most unsual thing you did this year?

My husband's annual birthday party became a zoom extravaganza and was hilarious.

Here's your chance to give a special shoutout to someone - who is it and why?

To my family and to our dog who makes us smile every day.

Thank you Susan - thank you for telling us so many personal things about you. I'm looking forward to seeing you again, hopefully in 2022 - and don't forget the cookies! 

I wish you and your family a merry Christmas and a wonderful, happy new year 2021 - have fun and take care! 

[Soumyadeep Mandal]

Thanks, Susan Hauth & Thomas for sharing this awesome annual calendar article for 2020!