Meri Pusteoska, Customer Success Manager on Influential Women

Influential Woman · Customer Success

Meri Pusteoska

Customer Success Manager

Solon, IA

2Awards received

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Management Training degree from Kirkwood Community College Cert Six Sigma Black Belt Cert Project Management Certification

Her Story

About Meri

I've been working in customer-facing roles for 25 years, with the most recent 5 years focused specifically on customer success. I started in entry-level positions and built up to what I'm doing now. What I love most about my work is helping customers reach their goals - it's something I truly, truly enjoy, and that's what led me to continue in this field. In my current role, I manage a book of business with customers I connect with on a predetermined basis - some prefer touchbases every two weeks, others monthly or quarterly. We talk about their accounts, the products they have with the company, their return on investment, their goals, and what additional metrics they'd like to reach. I'm the main point of contact for everything - whether it's escalating tech support cases, handling billing questions, or just providing updates on the business. Everything funnels through me, even if I'm sending it to someone else. My most notable achievement isn't one specific thing, but rather the relationships I've built with customers that have lasted longer than my tenure at any single company. I've turned business relationships into genuine friendships through the way I manage accounts, and that means the world to me.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Meri

01What do you attribute your success to?

I have had excellent role models.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

I was asked what I would do when I have to deliver hard news to a customer - and I decided then that I would lean on my relationship, my honesty, my hard work, and my professionalism, to deliver the news and then work to make the best of the situation for my customer.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

Always be helpful to other women because we are only here because of the people that were helpful for us.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

It's a global market and differentiating yourself from others around the world is a big challenge.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

Honestly and treating people with respect. Those are always the top.

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