Katie Maas

I think I really attribute my success to my curiosity and driving need to learn more. That and probably that I'm too stubborn to fail. I always strive to know as much as I can on any given subject. I love learning and analyzing information. Even in fields that I determined weren't quite the right fit I always strove to be the best and to know as much as possible. I think that drive is really what has helped me succeeded in eCommerce.

The best career advice I ever got was actually from the first CEO I worked for in e-commerce. He told me not to undervalue myself. He said, “If you don’t value your own time, nobody else is going to.” That really stuck with me as I moved forward. I was learning and excited, so I’d say things like, “I’ll do this, I’ll do that—it’s no problem.” He stopped me and said, “No, you need to value what you’re offering, even if you’re still learning.” He added, “You’re here, you’re present, you’re taking things on—there is value in that.”

I think the most important thing is: don’t be afraid to ask questions. E-commerce sits at a really interesting intersection of sales, marketing, and technology, and you quickly learn that no one is a true expert because there are so many variables. It’s especially easy for a young woman coming into the space to feel like she needs to have all the answers or a complete understanding of a subject, before speaking up. What I’ve learned is that one of the most intelligent things you can do is ask a question. You don’t need to have all the answers. In fact, asking questions to learn more will actually raise your credibility and how others perceive you

I think one of the biggest challenges is the sheer amount of opportunity. There’s always a new technology, a new audience, or a new market, and it can be easy to constantly chase those things.

What’s challenging is taking a step back and asking, Do we actually need this right now? Is this a right-now solution? Will this truly help us, or is it just something shiny? That can be especially difficult when there’s top-down pressure to explore new opportunities. Sometimes you have to evaluate them and say, I don’t think this is something we need right now. Those can be tough conversations. You have to be willing to have them and that’s not always easy.

Professionally, the values that matter most to me are creativity, work ethic, and empathy. I think it’s important to lead with empathy while maintaining a strong work ethic to achieve your goals. Very few problems are black and white, they usually exist in shades of gray, and when you’re able to think creatively, you’re more likely to find thoughtful, effective solutions. Personally, it’s all about family. My husband and I have been together for almost 15 years, and we have two daughters. Creating memories and spending quality time together is incredibly important to us. We love exploring the world with them while also watching them discover who they are.