Toast Career Growth & Development

What is your current tech role, and what first sparked your interest in that field?  

I’m Toast’s senior director of enterprise product. I manage a team of product managers, engineers, architects and designers who focus on Toast’s enterprise customers and their unique needs. My team works on engaging technical problems, deeply understands customer needs and delivers solutions used by restaurateurs to delight their guests and grow their business. 

I didn’t plan on a tech career — I have a degree in English and anthropology — but I always had an interest in technology. My journey began when a former mentor and colleague helpfully pointed out I was acting as a product manager even though my role was in program management. I didn’t really have a strong sense of what it meant to be a product manager; I just knew I liked working with engineers and designers, and I wasn’t afraid of leading technically complex work with many dependencies and critical requirements.

At Toast I find it gratifying to work in a customer-centric, mission-driven organization that supports an industry I love. I’ve touched so many different parts of the product, gotten to build and work with an amazing team and developed strong relationships with customers — making every day unique and interesting.

Share a bit about your journey into tech. What challenges did you face along the way, and how did you overcome them? Did any specific interests help expand your expertise?

At every stage of my career, working closely with engineering and design partners has been critical. When I started out, I worked at a small tech startup with under 20 employees. I was a jack of all trades — program management, sales enablement, user research, design and quality assurance — you name it. 

It was energizing but also challenging — I had to build my confidence and ability to act quickly, make decisions and, most importantly, have a strong voice and product perspective. Only then could we get the right level of focus and direction. 

As the company grew, so did my responsibilities. My next challenge was to learn how to best partner with others in the organization. Asking questions, admitting I don’t have all the answers and establishing trust with my colleagues helped me be successful in this stage. My willingness to go deep with my colleagues, understand constraints and keep us laser-focused on meaningful outcomes helped me navigate a growing, more matrixed organization. 

My background in liberal arts is an asset. I’m not technical enough to understand the underpinnings of every solution or have the expertise to make every design decision, but the ability to create a narrative has served me well. 

How did mentors, networks or programs help you advance your interests and profession? How do you pass that support on to early career professionals?

One of my first mentors was the one who helped me see that I was essentially acting as product manager without the title. She connected the dots for me and pivoted my career. She supported my professional growth by directly throwing my name in the ring for big projects and high-visibility customers. I would not be where I am today without the support of many mentors and managers I’ve had in my career. They’ve advocated on my behalf, given positive and hard to hear feedback and supported me as I moved into more and more responsibility. 

I try to pay that forward by working with more junior level product managers as a coach, mentor and advocate both inside and outside my organization. Being a sounding board for junior PMs just starting out is something I prioritize, even when things are really busy day to day. Many product management skills are learned on the job, so sharing my hard-earned lessons and experiences can help someone else grow. 

Working with more junior product managers is something I find really grounding. I hope to continue to support colleagues as they navigate what it means to be a product manager in a dynamic and changing industry like restaurant tech.

Describe your current role. What does a typical day look like for you?

As an outside account executive, my work varies daily. Interestingly enough, it often feels like my week begins on Friday since I spend Friday afternoons planning for the week ahead. Prospecting, managing opportunities through the sales cycle and customer check-ins take up the majority of my days week to week. I’m newer to the team, so I’m still building my book of business. I’m meeting with existing customers just as much as I’m meeting with prospects so that I can become the face of Toast in my territory. I also try to set aside at least two hours a week for personal development, reviewing product knowledge or taking online courses. Toast offers an array of on-demand professional development opportunities, so there’s never a shortage of ways to grow my skills.

What is your favorite part about your job? What about the most challenging aspect? 

I love what I do. First, I’m a huge foodie and love discovering new restaurants and hidden gems in the city. Combine that with a love for helping people and learning other people’s stories, and you have a role that feels created for me. The excitement of not knowing what each day will look like keeps things fresh and adventurous. 

The biggest challenge is developing and maintaining a healthy pipeline and balancing prospecting with getting customers live and completing the sales cycle. Most challenges come from being in the role for less than half a year, but the amount of tools the company provides, along with the wisdom and mentorship of my district manager and other account executives who have been thriving in this role for longer have helped tremendously. 

I’ve never been a part of a team quite like this one. The culture and support and the resources and reward potential are unmatched. We work hard, but I love what I get to do, and joining the team has been a blessing. This, paired with people who have taken the time to help me, makes this company stand out amongst other places I’ve been.

What opportunities for advancement are there in your position? 

Toast does an incredible job of providing resources, opportunities and clear directions on how to grow and advance in my career. During my time here, I’ve taken advantage of continuous training opportunities, breakout sessions on growing your career and the generous annual personal development stipend. My district manager and the regional vice president have also been intentional about asking about my goals and helping me create a game plan to achieve those milestones. I know the different path options for my career at the company, and I feel confident in which steps to take to pursue them.