The future of e-commerce, mothers as employees & more
Marta Kowalska is new to the WithIt community and already making progress in her profession. Today, we celebrate her new promotion to Intiaro’s Head of Customer Success and learn more about her journey.
Intiaro, a North Carolina-based 3D visualization, configuration, and augmented reality platform, is changing the way consumers shop for residential and commercial furniture. In a highly e-commerce-focused market, Marta works remotely from Poland to ensure that manufacturers and retailers have an excellent experience.
When we chatted with Marta, we were able to discuss several topics including:
- Her professional path from college to career
- How motherhood has benefited her professionally
- Why travel is important to her
- Advice for women entering the home and furniture industry
Without further ado, let’s get into our chat with Marta Kowalska.
Q&A
WithIt: What is it about your work that keeps you motivated?
I love building genuine relationships with people … I’m their trusted advisor.
I’ve done a lot of jobs. When I worked in Bloomingdale’s selling shoes in college, I always offered the best advice I had, and I was number one in the sales department because of it.
[At that time,] I was in college, of course, in New York SoHo and people were asking, “how do you do it?” And I told them, “I really advise people … If my client looks wrong in this pair of shoes, I will tell her that, and I will bring her something else that she’d like.”
And it works the same here [at Intiaro]. I really look for the best interest of my clients, and I love building relationships internally and externally.
Relationships are what keep me motivated every day.
WithIt: What’s the most challenging part?
The toughest part of the job is to prioritize.
I need to have the best interest in mind for my clients, but I know that there are some limitations. So, I must make sure I prioritize for them in the best possible way.
And now that I am the Head of Customer Success, I have to think about the internal organization and my team as a whole. We all have our workloads and goals. So right now, the challenge will be to look at not only my team’s best interest but at everyone around me in the whole organization. It’ll be fun, and it’ll be an exciting challenge.
WithIt: As a customer success specialist, what are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve built with my clients. I feel like we connect so well. They come to me with their challenges and know I will find the best solution for them.
I like to see that they’re satisfied, and they achieve their goals. Without strong relationships, I don’t think we would be able to achieve that as much.
WithIt: As a woman, what are you most proud of?
I mean, of course as every mother will say, I’m most proud of my children and my family. This is my number one pride. This is my first priority.
But also, the second thing is how am I growing as a woman? As I’m getting older, I’m growing in my understanding of what I can accomplish, what I’m capable of.
I’m able to know what I want and go for it, achieve goals, and set an example for my children.
And you know sometimes it takes a while, and things go wrong. But the older I get, the more I realize, “Okay, it happens. It’s not the end of the world. Right? Not everything’s perfect. We will find the best possible solution and learn for the future.”
Behind the Scenes: Marta’s Typical Workday
- Catch up on emails that came overnight because of the time difference between the U.S. and Poland
- Meet with the various departments to troubleshoot queries
- Host a team meeting for the Customer Success department
- Lunch
- Communicate with clients around 3 o’clock, which is around 9 a.m. EDT
- Summarize the day and set goals for the next day
WithIt: Do you have any routines established that help you care for your mind, body, or soul?
I swim every other day, and I’m lucky enough to live in a building that has a swimming pool literally a minute from my door.
I have a dog, so I walk my dog, and I have kids. So, you know, when I get home, I get so soaked up with the kids’ conversation and “how was school” conversations.
On the weekends I try to take my kids —I love traveling, too — so I take them traveling.
It’s all about finding balance in life, finding time for yourself, your partner, your kids, family, work, playtime, and adventure.
That’s why I love my job so much because I travel to the United States a lot. It’s always such a great adventure for me.
What I do, I travel for work, and I try to take a few days off and still, you know, go somewhere and see something [while I’m there]. Even though I lived in the states (New York and California) for 10 years. So, you can imagine, I’ve seen it all in the States.
Also, I took some time off, and I think it’s so important [talk about] that I took some time off to be with my kids at home when they were little.
Sometimes I would think, “Look at me. I took some time off to spend time with my kids, and now I’m going to fall behind.” But I didn’t fall behind. Look! I am where I want it to be.
“I think mothers are amazing employees. We’re great at managing things because we have to manage it all.”
I think it’s okay, to tell women that if you’re able to it’s okay to take some time off because this is the time to bond with your baby. You can go back and achieve great things.
“I think mothers are amazing employees. We’re great at managing things because we have to manage it all.”
WithIt: How did you prepare for the position you’re in now? How did you get from here to there professionally?
I have prepared. I have taken courses. I’ve read books. I have found so much information on LinkedIn. I have observed people who are in the position I am in. I’ve learned from them. I shadowed them. Before I started, I took a special course on customer success management and learned as much as I could.
I really felt like I’m doing what I like. This means a lot because when you’re doing what you like and there are hard days you know you’re prepared for this. Absolutely, I don’t want to say, “No, it just came about.” It did not come. That was hard work.
WithIt: What advice would you give to women who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?
Be brave. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. You will make mistakes. It’s good that you will make mistakes because you will learn [from] them. Keep growing.
If you feel like there is something that you can go for in terms of additional classes, getting a mentor, networking, reaching out to people, just go out there and do it.
And again, make mistakes. It’s fine. Those mistakes create who we are in the end.
And women, [we] need to support women. That’s why I love WithIt … This should be all over, you know?
This or That
In a final burst of quick-fire questions, we asked Marta about her design and work/life preferences. Here’s what she said:
Contemporary or Traditional
Dress up or down
Custom or Antique
Color or Neutral
Morning or Night
We hope Marta’s words leave you inspired to keep chasing your goals as a woman in the home and furniture industry.
If you’re a WithIt member, would you reach out to Marta to congratulate her on her new role as Head of Customer Success?
And if you’re considering WithIt membership for your professional journey, find out more about WithIt’s mission here or make the decision to join today.
