Employee Spotlight: Meet Norway Manalaysay
Norway is a Customer Success Manager at BetterComp who brings over 24 years of compensation industry experience, and more than 11 years dedicated to customer success. Based out of Chicago, Norway joined the BetterComp team back in November 2023 and partners closely with customers to help them get the most out of their BetterComp investment. We sat down with Norway to discuss more about his role and his life outside of work!
Can you share a brief overview of your professional background and how you ended up in your current role?
I’ve been a compensation consultant, compensation practitioner, and CSM. I’ve spent time at Arthur Andersen, Mercer, American Express, Accenture (2x), and MarketPay/PayScale. I ended up at BetterComp because I wanted to re-join Sandra and other former MP/PS alum at this awesome company.
Describe your role at BetterComp:
I describe myself as a client partner. I work closely with my clients to ensure they are getting what they need out of BetterComp. My average day mirrors what is going on during the compensation season. Right now, I’m partnering with my clients on getting their data submitted to survey vendors. Besides my clients, I regularly interact with other members of the CS Team, especially our awesome Implementation Managers. Seriously, they’re the best IMs in the industry.
What is your favorite part about your job and working at BetterComp?
My favorite part is growing relationships. In what seemed “a blink of the eye” I’ve developed relationships that have spanned 20 years. I’m developing new relationships here at BetterComp and I’m excited to see these relationships grow.
What do you like doing when you’re not at work?
I. AM. A MOVIE. NERD. But not in a pretentious, “I only watch movies that have subtitles” kind of way. No, any and all of it. From the recent Barbie, Dune, and Oppenheimer movies to the films of the golden era. Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago being 2 of my favorites from that time. I recently saw a Korean/French film called Return to Seoul. It took me for an unexpected ride, and for those 2 hours I was in a world that was not my own. That’s movies!
What are some of the key milestones or achievements in your career that you are most proud of?
I’m proud to be working again with people I considered the best colleagues I’ve ever had. I spent 10 years with many of these people and I look forward to another 10 years!
If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting in your field, what would it be?
Don’t worry and take your time. I understand wanting to know everything right away. That’s not possible. Oh, and never burn your bridges!
Since you are based out of Chicago, what are your thoughts on deep dish pizza?
I’m compelled to say that real Chicago style pizza is not deep dish but rather tavern style pizza!
What’s your favorite book/movie/TV show and why is it your favorite?
I finally read The Kite Runner. The father from this book reminds me a lot of my father. I’m currently reading Blitzed, about the ubiquity of methamphetamine in the Third Reich.
If you could have dinner with any one person (living or dead), who would you choose and why?
I would have dinner with my late parents. I miss them. There are a lot of things I would ask and tell them.