Introducing Sara Vozeolas, Senior Manager of Data Analytics! Sara has utilized her background in economics to a career path at WelcomeHome in Customer Insights, where she focuses on building algorithms and testing AI solutions. Read more about what makes Sara an invaluable piece to the WelcomeHome puzzle below!
Meet Sara
Describe yourself in 3 words: Curious, Decisive, Genuine
Favorite board game: Dutch Blitz
Favorite books, movies, or TV shows? I only like to read/watch anything once, but I enjoy memoirs and loved the movie: The Imitation Game (It’s nerdy, I know)
Interests outside of work? Pilates, walking my dog Potato, the NY Times Games (Spelling Bee is my current fav)
Strengths Finder: Achiever, Learner, Focus
Enneagram: 8 - The Protector
Q&A with Sara
Describe your journey to WelcomeHome?
Originally from north of Boston, Massachusetts, I have been slowly working my way farther south! I graduated from Washington and Lee University in Virginia with a degree in Economics. The great news about an economics degree is you can do whatever you want when you graduate. It teaches you how to think and how to rationalize and assert your assumptions.
This led me down the path of data analytics. I started working for an insurance company (so much data!) but felt a need to take some risks. I joined an early-stage startup and learned much about product development, database management, operational efficiency, and strategy.
While I was at the startup, I had a friend working at WelcomeHome. She told me about their work and how they wanted to grow the team and leverage their data to help their customers. Eventually, the conversations lasted longer, and I applied for an open role on the Customer Insights team. Thankfully, they liked me as much as I liked them, and now I get to work and build new algorithms that score prospects and test various AI solutions. A dream job, if you will!
What do you love about working in Customer Insights?
I love being surrounded by brilliant people who care about our work! We all have different backgrounds on the team (Statistics, Machine Learning, Computer Science) and different strengths. Given that most of our day is spent solving various complex problems, having a wide breadth of perspectives and knowledge allows us to learn from each other and often arrive at elegant, simple solutions.
I have also been incredibly fortunate to have a few technical connections in the industry, and it is super rewarding to collaborate with such intelligent thought partners outside of my team.
Regarding AI and Software Intelligence, what do you feel sets WelcomeHome apart?
There are so many new shiny technologies released every day. However, just because something is shiny doesn’t mean it is valuable. I think this is where WelcomeHome is differentiating itself. Even from the beginning, the customer and the problem have been central to WelcomeHome’s product development.
AI product development is no different. WelcomeHome has remained focused on the customer problem as priority 1. The new technology advances are simply a means to a potential solution. Our customers have stayed involved in our process as we have tested and released new intelligent tools that leverage a mass amount of industry-specific, system-tracked data. AI at WelcomeHome is targeting the key problems and building the relevant tools for its users.
Why WelcomeHome?
Because they care. It sounds cheesy, honestly, but it stood out to me from the moment I was introduced to WelcomeHome. They care about their customers. They care about their employees, and they care about this industry. That sense of care fosters an environment that allows everyone to show up as they are and work to continue to improve our product every day. It is a special place, and I am so grateful to be a part of it.
What makes a successful leader?
The ability to listen. Someone once told me that the person who knows the most or makes the decision should always speak last. That has always stuck with me. Leaders who understand not only when to lead, but also when to listen and adapt, always seem to lead the most successful teams. Those teams collaborate freely, think creatively, and develop innovative new ideas because they have the space to do so.
Favorite quote?
“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” - Thomas A Edison