With a wealth of experience in both the tech and business worlds, Dane brings a curious mind and an expertise in finding elegant solutions to complicated problems. A welcome asset to our product team, we can’t wait to see his ideas in action as he helps us build an incredible offering for our merchants.
What excites you most about joining CommerceBear?
Definitely the people. I have a soft spot for working with colleagues who are passionate about what they do and have a deep sense of belonging and care for the products they serve to their customers. I feel a deep sense of camaraderie when working with like-minded people who have the ability to express empathy for their users.
What are your first moves when joining a new team?
My first moves always include learning more about the people I work with, not just on a professional level, but on a personal level as well. What makes everyone tick? What is everyone passionate about in their own lives? What are some of the personal quests or goals that they are seeking in their lives? I really like to learn what drives people. Another important move is asking the “5 why’s” — which is simply choosing an important topic and asking “Why?” five times. Let’s get down to the core of the business and to the core of what drives your discipline.
What drew you to product management in the first place?
Empathy. I love being the champion of the customer and really getting to the bottom of any problems our customers have. I love to tackle ambiguity and give tangible solutions that improve the experience for everyone involved. Not only our customers. I also really enjoy being really close to the technology itself. How we build and what we build with has always been a fascination of mine. I love seeing systems I’ve helped construct in motion.
What are your “words to live by” professionally?
I live by the Golden Rule, whether in my professional life or my personal life. The first time I heard it was simply “Do unto others as they would do unto you”. They are at the very heart and soul of every decision I make and every thought I share with others. It is my #1 core value and my one simple ask for others.
What’s your favourite article of furniture? Do you have a favourite ecomm marketplace?
I simply love couches. The longer the better. I love the L-shaped sectionals at my grandparents’ house back at the family home. When I was younger you’d have multiple cousins, aunties and uncles all sprawling out watching movies and shows together. Some of my fondest memories are sitting on, around or even laying behind the couch on the cold tile floor. Reminiscing and having deep, thoughtful conversations about the universe.
What do you do in your down time?
I dance, create music, and work on my own side projects that range from software development to furthering my cooking skills. I am currently a part of a small collective of dancers that dance under several different street styles. We discuss and share our growth and our passion for dance. We recently celebrated our 1 year anniversary together and we continue to develop and share our love for the art with each other.
Welcome to the team, Dane — let's dance!
✌🏼🐻