Phalyssia Vinson - Consultant

As a consultant at Tria Federal, Phalyssia (pronounced “Felicia”) Vinson helps the Department of Veterans Affairs improve its processes and systems to better serve veterans. She has been praised for her leadership skills and ability to pivot on a moment’s notice. In her free time, Phalyssia enjoys spending time with her husband and 2-year-old daughter.

What’s your favorite part of working at Tria?

My favorite part of working at Tria has been the varied experience I’ve been able to obtain in a short period. In the year and a half that I’ve been here, I’ve had the opportunity to work with at least four different teams, and it’s been cool to see how all the VA directorates work individually and together.

I grew up thinking that consulting was a cutthroat environment, so working at Tria has been a breath of fresh air because it’s not like that at all. Everyone’s been very supportive and willing to help. I feel like my manager is really in my corner and he wants me to succeed.

How do you create a sense of teamwork with coworkers?

Definitely through open communication. On all the teams that I’ve been on, we have been very intentional in syncing up each morning. And if someone has availability, they’ll let the team know, “Hey, I’m free during this time if anyone needs any additional help.” I volunteer to help as much as possible, and I follow up on whatever I offer to help with.

I’ve also found it rewarding to participate in our “buddy” program, helping to onboard new teammates. You meet with the new employee, introduce yourself, get to know them a little bit, introduce them to the culture, and answer any initial questions. The commitment is only three meetings, but I usually let them know that I’m available to answer questions beyond those three meetings and serve as a first review for any projects they’re working on.

What do you do in your free time?

I love spending time with my family. I have a 2-year-old daughter who keeps us very busy. She loves going on walks and picking all the “flowers” (actually weeds). We enjoy going on adventures as a family and taking short road trips when possible.

What is something that people would be surprised to learn about you?

I am really into science fiction. Octavia E. Butler is an African American sci-fi author, and I have read her books repeatedly.

I also love watching travel vlogs and dream of living a nomadic life one day! Tiny homes, van life and vlogs about exploring Japan via train are my current favorites.

How do you hope to grow in your role in the months or years to come?

I have started working towards obtaining my Lean Six Sigma certification. I also want to obtain my project management professional (PMP) certification.

How do you find purpose in your role?

In my previous healthcare roles, I worked directly with veterans, managing a Community Care office where they received care. Those interactions have carried over into my current role because I keep the veterans in mind while working on projects. I remember the veterans’ stories or the conversations I had with them, and I consider how these projects would potentially affect them.