Here at Wrike, we often say that the more you use Wrike, the better Wrike works for you. We also say that the more people you have using Wrike at your organization, the more powerful Wrike becomes. And it’s true. Wrike is powerful in isolation, but it’s transformative when used across organizations to empower cross-functional collaboration.
I was excited to get to speak with Christy Flater for this edition of Championing Change because her experience highlights those two Wrike beliefs perfectly. At BYU-Pathway Worldwide (BYU-Pathway), where Christy is a Project Management Specialist on the communications team, Wrike use has proliferated within and across departments — and all of those departments have reaped the rewards.
First time here? Championing Change is our regular blog series where we interview real Wrike users about their experience and learn how they and their organizations transitioned from ineffective tools over to Wrike. It’s so inspiring to hear success stories and innovative ways of using our beloved platform — it always opens my eyes to new ways of working within Wrike!
Transitioning from outdated tools to Wrike
In her role on the BYU-Pathway communications team, Christy has a hand in a wide range of projects. She explained that her team transitioned from outdated project management software that didn’t meet their needs, to Wrike.
“Moving to Wrike has significantly elevated our ability to monitor projects in detail,” she said. “Our former software was highly limited in functionality, providing only basic capabilities that often hindered progress.” That is not what an effective team needs to get their projects across the line.
Since moving to Wrike, Christy’s team has been empowered with the tools they need.
Wrike has proven to be a robust and high-performing tool, enabling greater efficiency, visibility, and collaboration across our teams.
Christy Flater, Project Management Specialist
Encouraging Wrike adoption with communication and support
Christy was aware that moving from one software to another could be difficult for members of her team and beyond. However, they approached the change management process with a focus on clear communication, collaborative training, and consistent support.
“We began by ensuring that everyone understood the purpose behind the transition,” she said. “By highlighting the benefits of the new tool — such as improved efficiency, streamlined workflows, and better collaboration — we were able to secure buy-in and ease initial concerns.”
Hands-on training sessions have been the cornerstone of BYU-Pathway’s adoption strategy. These sessions are designed by the communications team to give team members direct experience using Wrike’s features in real-world scenarios, which helps each user learn how to address specific challenges and demonstrates how Wrike can streamline their workflows. BYU-Pathway understands the benefit of holding these sessions regularly, rather than once-off, allowing users to continue learning as they become more familiar with the tool.
Christy explained that another critical element in their training process has been adding detailed notes to task descriptions for updated processes in Wrike. “This step has been particularly helpful in standardizing workflows, ensuring clarity across projects, and giving easy access to information that users need without having to search for separate documents or instructions.”
This approach has reduced confusion and reinforced the adoption of consistent practices for BYU-Pathway employees. They’ve developed what they call “the Wrike way,” or standardized practices that will allow for flexibility for different teams’ needs. Christy reported, “This balance ensures consistency across the organization while empowering teams to customize Wrike for their specific workflows. The result has been a smoother transition, higher adoption rates, and greater efficiency.”
Training additional teams to increase collaboration
Interestingly, Christy’s team took on the work of training teams beyond their own on Wrike, which turned out to be a cross-departmental bonus. Using a structured training plan with hands-on workshops, user-friendly guides, and interactive Q&A sessions, Christy’s team was able to account for different levels of experience, familiarity with technology, and resistance to change. She explained, “While this effort required time and resources, it was crucial for building confidence and ensuring adoption across the organization.”
One of the major advantages of training other teams was the opportunity to enhance cross-departmental collaboration. It allowed us to align workflows, create shared understanding, and foster stronger relationships between teams. Additionally, the collective learning experience often inspired creative problem solving and new ideas for using the software effectively.
Christy Flater, Project Management Specialist
Christy’s team did face a bit of resistance from a few individuals, and some teams adapted more quickly than others. However, while these individuals and teams required more effort and support, the process of training other teams was well worth it. “Ultimately, the time spent training and supporting one another proved invaluable, as it ensured a smoother adoption process and set the stage for long-term benefits,” concluded Christy.
Scaling Wrike for cross-departmental collaboration
Christy’s team quickly saw clear value in using Wrike. “Wrike allows us to streamline our workflows, collaborate effectively, and ensure that all aspects of our projects are completed on time and with the highest quality.” The BYU-Pathway communications team has used Wrike to centralize tasks, timelines, and resources, significantly improving the team’s efficiency and ability to stay aligned on goals and objectives.
Wrike serves as our central hub, where everything from brainstorming ideas to executing complex campaigns comes together seamlessly.
Christy Flater, Project Management Specialist
Once it became clear how valuable Wrike would be for communications, Christy and her colleagues were able to advocate for its adoption across other departments at BYU-Pathway. “Through collaborative discussions, demonstrations, and success stories from our own experience, we’ve shown how Wrike can help teams across the company achieve their goals,” Christy reported.
As Wrike has scaled throughout BYU-Pathway to marketing and career development departments, it has helped to foster stronger interdepartmental relationships and encourage a culture of collaboration and shared success.
Christy said they’ve seen firsthand how Wrike can improve visibility when multiple departments are working on a single project. “By bringing various teams onto a single platform, we’ve been able to break down silos and create more cohesive workflows that span different departments.” Every team is able to view the project’s progress, potential challenges, and upcoming milestones, resulting in a more unified and effective approach to project management.
Christy acknowledged that different departments have specific needs, but extolled the benefits of Wrike’s features that are fully customizable, allowing each team to adapt to their own unique needs. “Wrike’s flexibility ensures that it supports a variety of work styles and priorities, which is crucial as we expand its use across the organization,” Christy explained. “Whether a team is focused on content creation, event planning, or strategic initiatives, Wrike offers tools that simplify complex processes and keep everyone on the same page.”
Building a foundation for organizational excellence with Wrike
Christy’s experience with building a solid Wrike foundation with her team at BYU-Pathway, and rolling it out to more departments to create cross-functional excellence, is a prime case of getting the most benefit from increased Wrike use. The more people who use Wrike, the more powerful it becomes.
“Wrike has transformed the way our communications team operates and is now paving the way for greater organizational alignment and efficiency.”
Huge thanks to Christy and her team for giving us a crash course on how to craft a successful strategy for using Wrike to power your organization!
Are you ready to give Wrike a try? There’s a free two-week trial with your name on it.
