Sam is celebrating his 3 year anniversary at Stride—here’s a bit about his journey from Member Experience Associate to Associate Product Manager.

Sam, you’re an Associate Product Manager here at Stride—tell us a bit about what you do.

As an Associate Product Manager, I work closely with our Design and Engineering team (the people who write the code for our products) to develop our product features. I’m currently serving as Product Manager for Consumer Benefits, which includes our health, dental, vision, and life insurance products, as well as a suite of additional benefits like accident and disability insurance. Right now, we’re busy preparing for the upcoming Open Enrollment Period, the one time of year when people can enroll in health insurance for next year. 

When I first joined Stride, I was on the Member Experience team, where I was supporting our customers via phone and email, which gave me a deep appreciation for what our customers really need. That experience served as a great foundation for the work I’m doing now on the product team.

Where are you from originally?

I’m from the San Francisco Bay Area, but I currently live in New York City.

What were you doing before you joined Stride?

I graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in International Affairs. After I graduated, I knew I wanted to return to the Bay Area to look for my first job. I found Stride when I was looking at growth-stage companies that aligned with my values and where I could start building my career.

Why did you choose to work at Stride?

I was drawn to Stride’s mission—everyone I talked to seemed passionate about helping independent workers navigate the complexities of benefits and taxes. I think Stride’s mission attracts people who are genuine and fun to work with.

What’s the most rewarding part about working at Stride?

In my days on the Member Experience team, I enjoyed helping independent workers better understand their income and its relationship to their health insurance premiums. Now on the product team, being able to leverage those conversations through product experiences to help those same people has been really rewarding.

What’s your favorite memory at Stride (so far)?

Playing on Stride’s intramural volleyball team or testing out the Stride app’s mileage tracking feature on Bird scooters with Chris Fan, our mobile product manager.

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

I love tennis, surfing, snowboarding, fly-fishing, live jazz, and burritos.

What opportunities are you most excited for within the next year at Stride? 

I’m excited by the new business lines and partnerships that Stride is entering. I’ve watched Stride as a whole work tirelessly over the past three years to serve the needs of the gig economy, a segment that has seen explosive growth in the past couple of years. It’s awesome to see this growth and potential.

What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Shrek 2.

What’s on your Spotify playlist these days?

The Shrek soundtrack, Al Green, Rufus Du Sol

Thanks for sharing your story with us, Sam! You can get to know Sam better on LinkedIn.

Want to work with Sam to help everyone get their own affordable benefits? We’re hiring!