What do you do here at TouchBistro? How has your role/department evolved over the years?
I am the Product Director responsible for our Guest Engagement Solutions, including Online Ordering, Reservations, Loyalty, Marketing, and Gift Cards. I work directly with a small, but fierce and passionate team of product, engineering and design pros, who are committed to frequently shipping high-quality products. I also engage with our CS, Sales, Marketing, Finance and Legal organizations on the planning and execution of our internal enablement and go-to-market activities.
What makes TouchBistro special to you?
My amazing colleagues and leaders at TouchBistro give me the flexibility and support I need to balance my commitments to the company and to being a good father to my two kids under four. I am grateful to work here during these early years of their lives.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering product as a career path?
Be open-minded to roles outside of product as your first step. The best product people I’ve worked with all got their start in other functions, primarily in customer support, onboarding and QA. They were then able to leverage those experiences into a product role. It’s critical to have a well-rounded skill set in product, as these pre-product roles can help develop the core product knowledge, strategic thinking, and customer empathy skills through hands-on experience working with the product and customers.
What is your favorite project you’ve worked on at TouchBistro?
My favorite project was researching a major product opportunity that I’m very passionate about. I was invited to present my findings and share my proposal with our senior leadership team. We had a productive discussion about the merits of the project and how multiple stakeholders could benefit from my findings and recommendations, including our company, customers, and their guests. I learned so much through this exercise and look forward for the end result to be shipped to our customers.
What is your favorite type of cuisine?
I will never say no to an authentic Italian restaurant with a good wine list.
What is your favorite hobby outside of work?
I am running my third half-marathon in April, which will be my first in 2.5 years. Training in the Toronto winter has not been fun, but it’s getting closer and I’m feeling positive about it.
What is your favorite vacation/travel destination? Give us some recommendations!
My wife and I love hiking and being outdoors, so anywhere in the Canadian Rocky Mountains is a win for us. We are also fans of the Greek island of Naxos, which is not as well known as other Greek islands, but we felt that alone made it more authentic and relaxing.
If you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
It’s a toss up between a medium-rare striploin steak with mashed potatoes and baked veggies, or some fresh pasta with a tomato ragu sauce and garlic bread on the side.