My Name is Kelly Sebes — This Is What I Achieve at Aha!

What is the best way to accelerate your career? Work in a high-growth company that challenges you and puts learning first. An unwavering motivation to continue improving and achieving is also key. The highest performers constantly pursue new ideas and seek to understand the experiences and motivations of the people around them. We can learn a lot from them.

Curiosity fuels growth — which is why we want to bring you personal stories of achievement from talented people. Our hope is that some of their ideas are useful and maybe even inspirational as you work to become your best.

Meet Kelly Sebes, a senior product manager who has been part of the Aha! team for more than five years. She loves helping to expand the functionality of Aha! Ideas — driven by her endless customer curiosity. With over a decade of product management experience at tech companies, Kelly is energized by learning and growing in her role each day. She lives in Raleigh, NC with her family.

Read on to learn more about how she finds meaning and joy in her work — in her own words.

What energizes you about being a product manager?

"It is energizing to help our customers succeed and delight them with innovative solutions. There's nothing more fulfilling than seeing our customers thrive — knowing that our product played a part in their success. Collaborating with a great team to solve complex challenges also brings me joy. Together we brainstorm ideas, overcome obstacles, and turn concepts into tangible products that make a difference."

"The dynamic nature of product management keeps me motivated — every day brings new opportunities to learn, grow, and positively impact our customers."

Which recent accomplishment at Aha! are you most proud of?

"I am incredibly proud of our team for building out Aha! Ideas Advanced — which helps our users understand their own customers on a deeper level. It includes newer features like the ability to bring in revenue insights from Salesforce, analyze ideas across customer segments, and gather feedback with in-app polls. It is fulfilling to see how much value our customers get out of this functionality. And not only does it benefit our users, but we also use it internally to dig deep and truly understand our own customers' needs.

Developing these features was no small feat — the work was complex. But our team's collaborative and iterative approach allows us to move quickly. We continue to enhance those features today. It is a great example of our commitment to delivering valuable and lovable products to our customers."

What has been the most rewarding thing about joining the Aha! team?

"It is refreshing to be part of a team where no one plays politics and everyone is genuinely focused on building something of value."

"I love having the opportunity to work with exceptional teammates in a truly healthy culture. Working alongside such talented individuals not only fuels my own growth but also fosters a supportive environment where we can learn from each other. The culture at Aha! truly allows us to focus on what matters most — serving our customers and making a positive impact."

What is the most surprising but useful career advice someone has given you?

"Embrace failure and view it as a valuable learning experience. In the fast-paced world of product management, not everything will go according to plan. But failures actually help us learn and improve. Find (or create) an environment that encourages trying new things and taking risks. This empowers your team to think creatively and push boundaries.

Embracing failure also means being open to feedback and always looking for ways to grow. It's not about avoiding mistakes — it's about how you bounce back and learn from them."

What advice do you have for an aspiring or early-career product manager?

"Focus on understanding your customers from the inside out."

"This is where you can provide the most unique value. If you are new to a role or company, try to have at least two customer calls every week. These conversations will help you grasp their biggest needs and challenges. Make sure to read up on best practices for customer interviews so that you capture the best insights.

Quotes and customer data are also incredibly compelling for getting internal alignment on your product plans — they may give you the boost of confidence you need when going into a high-stakes meeting. By immersing yourself in customer insights, you will become an invaluable asset to your team. This is how you contribute to building products that deeply resonate with your audience."

The What I Achieve series spotlights the achievements and contributions of the Aha! team. For insights into how we got here, read our Why I Joined posts.

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