You've been at JRNI since 2013. How has your role changed since you joined?
I originally joined JRNI as a front-end developer, building out our first mobile-friendly booking journey. My ambition was always, however, to be a Product Manager. It’s something I even highlighted in my original application all the way back in 2013! Today, I live that ambition, and look after the “staff experience” which helps our customers manage their bookings and availability.
What are some of your biggest accomplishments so far in your career?
It would have to be launching a new product to market! JRNI Studio (which turns three this year) was the culmination of a huge amount of work. It’s incredibly rewarding to take an idea and turn it into something tangible that helps people do their job effectively.
Our user base continues to grow and is now in six digits, and we utilize users’ feedback (good and bad!) to shape the product. It might seem odd that I’m enthused by bad feedback, but by understanding where pain points are, it can really help us focus our attention in the right place and make valuable enhancements.
One example of this was enacting upon feedback highlighting the need to provide a means to translate user-generated content, something we’re about to roll out very soon!
In the last 12 months, we’ve also been working hard to make the product accessible. This initiative gave me the opportunity to meet people that rely on assistive technology, and work with a third party to help test our product. The end result, a new way of thinking: by designing with accessibility needs from the outset, you can provide an experience that everyone can enjoy.
What’s the best part about working in the product manager role?
How varied each day is! Some days I’m talking to customers all day, whereas others I’m heads down analyzing data or writing product specifications. Other days, I could be talking to partners or vendors, or working with the team reviewing the feasibility of a proposed feature, or ideating new ways to solve a problem we’ve identified. It’s a lot of fun!
What’s your favorite part about JRNI’s culture?
It’s the people! The company really does feel like my extended family. I think the company name is apt, everyone really is on board for the journey to build the best scheduling experience out there. It’s great to see the results we can deliver when we work as a team!
What makes JRNI a unique place to work?
The autonomy we’re offered by far. We’re trusted to get the job done, but support is only a Zoom call away when we need it.
Outside of work… What’s the best trip you’ve been on?
That’s a tough question! I think it would have to be the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. This was the first trip where I traveled alone, pushing me far out of my comfort zone. The experience was incredibly rewarding and I made friends for a lifetime there. I can’t recommend doing it enough!
If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I had the opportunity to visit Australia with JRNI last year (pre-COVID), and fell in love with the place. There’s something really quite special being able to finish work and head to the beach after.
What are some of your hobbies outside of work?
I love to read, although I'm notoriously bad at finishing books. A “hack” a friend recently recommended, is the brilliant “What You Will Learn” podcast by Adam Ashton and Adam Jones. They take non-fiction books, and digest them into 30-minute episodes so you can learn all the best bits without the big investment needed to read the entire book.
Interested in working alongside Luke and the rest of the JRNI team? Check out our current open roles and #jointheJRNI!
