Life in the Swimlane with Dan Caven, Senior Professional Services Project Manager

Welcome to the “Life in the Swimlane” blog series. Here we will feature interviews with Swimlaners to learn more about their experience. This series will give you a preview of Swimlane, our culture, and the people who keep us going.

My name is Dan Caven (He/Him) and I am our International Project Manager for US, EMEA, and APJ Professional Services Teams. I grew up just outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin and I have a degree in Design and Visual Communication. Though quickly pivoted into Project Management as more of my calling. 

I have lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota for the last 8 years with my partner Michael and our cat Loki. We have been enjoying the pleasures of first time homeowning and filling our weekends with small renovation projects. Or more accurately say, stumbling our way through renovation projects.

How long have you been with Swimlane?

I have been with Swimlane 3 years as of July.

What does your job entail?

I manage end-to-end delivery of our Professional Services Projects, making sure everything runs smoothly from kickoff to completion. I coordinate with clients and internal teams, keep timelines on track, and troubleshoot issues before they become blockers. It’s a mix of planning, problem solving, and keeping everyone aligned so we deliver quality work on time.

What do you enjoy most about working at Swimlane?

I absolutely love the people I work with. It is very clear that everyone on our team cares deeply about the work they do, and it is so encouraging to see that level of passion.

What excites you most about your work? 

I am continuously learning new things. The endless possibilities of what we can do creates an atmosphere of creativity and innovation. It is wonderful to be a part of a project where we are truly testing the capabilities of Swimlane and expanding our use-case repertoire.

What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

When I am not working, I love to travel. Often finding ways to avoid the Midwest winters and get somewhere warm on a beach. However, more day-to-day downtime is usually focusing on the latest movies that came out. I am pretty sure IMDB is consistently at the top of my phone’s ‘most screen time’ list.

Are there any clubs, volunteer/awareness groups, or social movements you’re passionate about?

I am very involved in the local LGBTQIA+ community and work with outfront.org as an advocacy group focusing on a safe and equitable world for our future.

What’s a fun fact about you many people may not know?

I used to be a cheerleader in high school as well as the Mascot at UW Milwaukee.

Your motto or personal mantra?

Continuous improvement should be present in all aspects of our daily life.

Three words that best describe you?

Organized, silly, empathetic.

What Swimlane core value resonates with you the most?

Honesty and Integrity in ‘All the things’. I think it says a lot to prioritize ethics and integrity in our work culture.

What type of impact do you want to leave on our industry?

I want to bring a higher level of consistency and structure to our process. The stability around the day-to-day operations will give more space to focus on creativity and innovation that will drive the business. The goal is to have a sturdy base that we can lean on and grow exponentially, rather than rebuilding from the ground up and starting fresh. I believe in our people and think we have the right vision to continue leveling up.