My Name Is Karen Maslowski — This Is Why I Joined Aha!
I love to learn. As a young child I discovered reading, music, then dance. In college I pursued geography — the study of “what is where” and why. Pattern recognition and data visualization became second nature.
This love of learning did not end once I entered the workforce. Rather, it matured. I began to focus on what more I could contribute to those around me — and where I could make an impact.
Early in my career, I found my place as a product manager in a company where my education in geography and my curiosity about technology could flourish. I joined the founding team at MapQuest — a group that was changing the way people used maps and got directions.
It was an amazing experience. I was the first product manager on the team and grew the B2B line from a proof of concept into the industry-leading mapping and routing software. There was an amazing energy surrounding what we were building and how the world was changing.
However, in the back of my mind one question kept coming to mind: What’s next?
As my career evolved, I worked in dynamic industries and with many talented people. And yet, I kept asking, “What’s next?” A bigger company, a bigger team? More presentations, more business trips? Those were not the things that I was looking for — I was looking for that same energy, that same industry-changing place I had found so long ago.
When looking for my next step, I sought out product management positions. Seemed like a logical move — after all, I have been a product manager for my entire career. I love the pace of going from the strategic level to the tactical level, and from the business side to the technical side.
I was looking for a company that was making something new, something innovative and needed.
For months I had been reading the blog posts from Aha! There were posts about product management and business in general, but the tone was unique. They held a refreshing perspective. After reading one, I started digging into the blog archive to learn more about Aha! I found a post outlining the “Minimum Lovable Product” and knew I had found that place that would change the way companies innovate.
When I contacted Aha! about an open position on the Customer Success team, Jamey quickly responded with infectious enthusiasm. After we hung up, I kept thinking about the position: Could this be real? Could this role — talking to product managers and helping them solve problems — truly exist?
The next step was for me to create a sample product in Aha! to try it out. I spent the entire weekend working on it. By Sunday night, I was sold — Aha! was it.
Each person I met was energized. The passion and enthusiasm of the team at Aha! reminded me of when I started my career. That is what I wanted next.
Since joining the Customer Success team, I not only have the privilege to work amongst a talented team, but also have the sincere pleasure of helping product managers each day as they set strategy and build products using Aha! — and discover what’s next.
That is why I joined Aha! — and why you should too.
