Braxton generates a positive energy that is contagious to those who surround her in the Phoenix office. Always smiling and cracking jokes, she lives the value of being unboring. She also has the ability to form deep, genuine connections with not only those she works with but the business owners she speaks with over the phone. Her passion for small businesses and their success is so deep, that she even has her own internal blog where she speaks about her experiences through witty puns and unique photos. She started her career at Yelp as a college intern and is now entering her third year as a Yelp Account Manager.
What drew you to a job at Yelp initially?
I was an avid Yelper throughout high school and managed the Yelp for Business Owners page for my mom’s business. After an incredible time studying abroad in Italy for a summer in college, I ended up sitting next to a Yelp employee on my flight home. He raved about working at Yelp and how awesome the company and culture was. Because I already loved the Yelp site and supporting local businesses, it really sparked my interest in looking into working at the company.
My final semester at Arizona State University, I applied for and was offered a position as an intern in the Account Management department. I fell head over heels in love with the role and Yelp’s culture; and after working hard for the semester, I was offered a full time position after graduating. It’s so cool to see how Yelp and the department has grown and evolved since then. Something that attracted me so much to Yelp was their commitment to the mission of connecting people with great local businesses. The leadership at Yelp is truly impressive in living the company’s values, and this trickles all the way down to the individual account managers.
What is a typical day in the office like for you?
Depending on what time of the month it is, the vibe, workload, and type of work is slightly different. I love moving through the month because each week is a little bit different, which keeps things fresh. It all boils down to having really great conversation with business owners. Sometimes I will help with one of our New Advertiser Orientation webinars by answering live questions from some of our new clients. On Friday afternoons, you can catch our team playing a round of Catch Phrase to end the week.
What makes your job exciting?
The opportunity for constant improvement and being surrounded by awesome, hard-working people. Each client that we speak to is a person in a unique situation, and we’re at the front lines of strategizing with them to figure out how to best use Yelp to help their business grow. Our interactions are a fascinating mix of facts and feelings, and figuring out how to communicate that information and navigate through those conversations is very exciting. There’s opportunity for learning, personal growth, and compassion on every call. Combine that with having simply the best people around you all day long makes for a very stimulating work environment.
Where do you find a sense of community at Yelp?
I feel lucky to have so many great little communities within the larger Yelp community! Not only do I absolutely adore my teammates, but I also love staying involved with the different Yelp groups. In the past, I’ve gotten together with the Yelp Book Club to discuss a great read, had brunch with OUTBurst, and had a yoga sesh + happy hour with Women at Yelp. Because there are so many wonderful people with such a wide variety of backgrounds and passions, it’s really easy to find your niche and to break out of your shell.
What are you up to when you’re not at work?
During the week I am all about my zen routine. After work I’ll go straight to yoga, make dinner at home, do a little meditation, and then snuggle into bed with my latest book. On the weekend I am all about staying active! I love to go to community festivals, try new restaurants, and lounge by the pool. I’m just recently starting to get into hiking which has been quite the adventure!
What makes living in Phoenix so great?
#1 reason why I love living in Phoenix is the weather. We’ve got beautiful, bright blue skies practically year round and a sun that just won’t quit! I know it’s hot hot hot in the summertime, but it’s so easy to jump in the pool or take a super quick drive up north. We’re a few short hours from snow or the beach. If you’re looking for rustic and secluded with an outdoorsy vibe, we got it. If you’re looking for skyscrapers and city lights, we got that too. Renowned art museums, drool-worthy foodie scene, gorgeous mountain views, Vegas-level nightlife, music festivals, pool weather in November… I could go on, but I think you get the picture.
Want to work with Braxton?
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