My Name Is Melissa Hopkins — This Is Why I Joined Aha!
I just joined Aha! — here’s why. I came from a $10 billion dollar company with 10,000 employees worldwide. At Citrix I managed teams across multiple divisions including Consulting, Education, Supply Chain Operations, and IT. I was a trusted advisor to our executive team. For more than a decade I thrived there, but I was ready to take on a new series of challenges.
My time at Citrix was great, and it taught me something I will never forget. I am most fulfilled when I can use technology to solve problems and help people along the way.
That’s why after I left Citrix I reached out to a close friend for advice about my career. Something was missing but I could not quite nail it down. We talked but I still had no answers. That’s when everything changed.
The next day there was a message in my inbox. My friend had emailed me an article that she had read on the Aha! blog. She said I had to read it. This article put my feelings into words, and reaffirmed that sometimes, it’s okay to change directions.
Learning more about Aha! brought back the excitement of being a product manager. When I started a trial of Aha! to check it out, I realized that for the first time, a tool could help PMs like me think more strategically. I was happily defining strategic goals and releases for my fictitious product — just as product management should be.
I read through the Aha! website, where the team openly shares their beliefs about work and life. It’s not very often that you get such an in-depth glimpse into a company’s culture before joining the team. Throughout the interview process, I met many of these team members in person. The rapid growth of the company reminded me of the early days at Citrix and the team’s enthusiasm confirmed my own feelings, that Aha! was the right place for me.
I had found a fast growing company with a product that customers love to use. I could apply my skills and experience to help shape it into an even bigger success. And I could work from anywhere. What else could I ask for?
When I accepted my role at Aha! as a Sr. Manager, Customer Success, I quickly realized that I had an opportunity to take my career to the next level. I love helping people use technology to solve challenges. Now, I use my consulting background to help my product management peers get their mojo back! This is the dream job that I never knew I could have.
I will always work hard; it’s just part of who I am. It’s funny, though — when you find a job you love, it doesn’t feel too much like work. I expect to be my best every day with a team that shares my love of customer success.
That is why I joined Aha! — and why you should too.
