Loidelis Canela Faces Off as FST’s New Oracle Conversions Developer

Loidelis Canela 
(Authentic image from her first UVA ID Card)

No stranger to UVA, Loidelis Canela already helped UVA Human Resources implement Workday as part of the Ufirst project, and she rejoins us on the FST project as an Oracle Conversions Developer. Canela brings more than eight years of experience as a tech contractor to the role, having worked in the private and public sectors.

Canela’s familiarity with the path from Oracle to Workday will help her succeed in the new role; it also gives her insight into how to assist stakeholders wrap their heads around what their future-state processes will look like in Workday Financials.

“I have an understanding of how the conversion process works,” Canela says. “From a tech perspective, I know how data will morph from Oracle to Workday and can help translate that for users. Having that level of understanding from prior experience is what’s helpful.”

Her background, specifically at UVA, enables Canela to have a crystal-clear sense of users’ needs. She explains that people don’t often get to see the 1:1 comparison of their current Oracle process and how it will look in the new system. That’s what people are looking for: a firm understanding of how their day-to-day activity will be different. Canela can anticipate questions and concerns at a granular level, such as users wondering how the interface will look, the number of screens to go through to complete their tasks, and what data will be available where. A high-quality user experience is a priority for Canela.

“The users are the ones that have to live with the system when we’re done with it,” she says. “It’s them that you really want to maximize the system for. We want to learn from what’s not good in the current system and make process improvements while we can.”

Canela has joined the team remotely at this time from her home in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she’s lived for over 20 years. Charlottesville won’t be completely left to her imagination, as she stayed in the area frequently while working on the HR implementation. Her first visit came shortly after it had snowed. She even shares the Charlottesvillian experience of seeing the Barracks Road snow mountain that frequently builds up in snow-heavy years.

When discussing what drew her back to UVA, Canela explains, “I like the culture itself. When I’m on the Grounds, I feel like there’s history and culture. I like the environment. Some projects are very business-like, but UVA’s very engaging and such a historic place. It makes me feel like I’m learning as I’m doing the work.”

In addition to her workplace tenacity, Canela enjoys sports. She played varsity basketball in high school. She has two children, and her 9-year-old son plays hockey. To help him learn, they frequently watch videos online so she can break down skills in living room practice sessions. Together they’ve worked on faceoffs, shooting pucks, and taking pucks away from defenders. While Canela doesn’t skate, she’s becoming quite the living room hockey star.