This month we are delighted to introduce you to our VP of Sales, Austin Evans!
Hailing from Houston, Texas, Austin takes great pleasure in empowering individuals to grow in their professional lives, embracing new challenges, getting outdoors, and cherishing valuable moments with his wife, children, and furry friend.
Take part in celebrating Austin's incredible accomplishments by immersing yourself in his enthralling interview.
Employee Spotlight Q & A:
- Ashley Alderman: What is the first thing you do when you start your workday?
- Austin Evans: For work, I check Slack to see what leads came in overnight and try to get to inbox zero before I do any project work. For myself, I wake up pretty early, grab a bowl of cereal, get my kids ready, and drop them off at school. Then I hang with my dog for a few minutes before I log into work.
- AA: If you could answer one question in the universe, what question would you ask?
- AE: The first thing that comes to mind is “Why does banana candy taste more like a banana than a banana?” I know that bananas don't taste as flavorful as they used to due to a fungal disease that eradicated the sweeter bananas in the 1960s. But I wish bananas could taste like laffy taffy again and would like to know how to bring that back.
- AA: What type of recognition and appreciation do you value most?
- AE: I guess for me, tangible gifts are equal to commission, so when it comes to my professional life that's what drives me. In my personal life, I think words of affirmation are what I value most from my wife, children, friends, and family.
- AA: What has been your most memorable moment at Peoplelogic?
- AE: In the fall of 2022, we had a team bonding event where we went axe-throwing in Durham, NC. That whole night was so much fun. I remember the competition got down to three of us, and Brian Droz pulled a remarkable comeback victory. Then we went to a wine bar to celebrate afterward.
- AA: If you could have superpowers, what would they be and why?
- AE: Teleportation because it serves a lot of purposes. Easy world travel, bank vaults if you get desperate, and you never have to buy another baseball game or concert ticket. I vote for taking objects along the teleportation route – including other people.
- AA: What has been your most meaningful work-related accomplishment so far?
- AE: I find my most meaningful accomplishment in work to be the success of those I've hired and mentored. For context, I've seen six individuals I hired become VPs at other companies and one who started as an AE and is now the Director of Business Development at a cryptocurrency firm. To me, a significant part of my role as a manager is helping individuals improve in their careers. I take pride in seeing their growth and knowing that I played a part in their success.
- AA: If you were to describe your work style as a type of music, what genre would it be and why?
- AE: Experimental Rock for sure. Think bands like At the Drive In and Mars Volta.
- AA: What industry changes or trends do you think will have the biggest impact on our industry?
- AE: I think the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (if used correctly) will have a significant impact in the realm of collecting real-time data, as well as the growing need for more data-driven feedback.
- AA: How would your best friend describe you in three words?
- AE: Witty, passionate, dad. Have you ever heard the phrase “Gas station dad” vs. “Costco dad”? Basically, being a gas station dad refers to being constantly on the go and filling needs as they arise, compared to being a Costco dad where you have more time to prep, plan, buy in bulk, etc. I definitely consider myself to be a gas station dad as my life requires me to be on the move.
- AA: If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
- AE: Definitely peanut butter. Think Ted Lasso style with a spoonful of PB. We also had this internal Slack debate across our team on who is “team crunchy” or “team creamy.” I prefer creamy PB but sometimes I like to mix it up with crunchy.
- AA: If you got a year off with full pay, how would you spend it?
- AE: I would create a mainstreet services company – think HVAC, plumbing, electric, etc. – because it's always going to be a need. I would be sure to hire, build, and scale a diversified team as that feels like a good long-term strategy.
- AA: What’s your go-to tactic for unwinding after a stressful day?
- AE: An hour or so walk with the dog. We usually walk on the nature trails or on the golf course after hours. During this time, I enjoy listening to audiobooks or catching up with friends on the phone because it relaxes me.
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