Lauren Nevin joined Upside in May 2023, after working in climate technology. Today, she focuses on growing the consumer side of Upside’s marketplace as a Senior Growth Manager. Hear what she has to say about her career growth, her current role, and the culture here at Upside.

Upside: What inspired you to join the Upside team?

Lauren: I came to Upside from Breakthrough Energy, which is the organization of climate technology initiatives founded by Bill Gates. I had an incredible experience building Breakthrough Energy from scratch with that team, and after seeing it take off, decided it was time to find the next opportunity to grow something. 

Upside appealed to me as a company moving beyond the startup phase and charting its path to scale. I also was drawn to Upside’s impact: growing brick-and-mortar business while making consumers’ dollars go further. 

Upside: Tell us about your role as senior growth manager.

Lauren: A lot of my work focuses on communicating to the people who use the Upside app, so it requires empathy to the user experience. Data is essential to developing that empathy, and I’ve learned it’s important to be disciplined about getting quality data and to stay focused on the signals most relevant to our stage of company growth. 

Upside: What lessons have you learned since joining Upside? 

‍Lauren: I learn something from our team every day. We have such talented people working across our Consumer functions – analytics, brand, design, marketing, product, research, support – who are pushing us all to better understand and service Upside users’ needs and preferences.

‍Upside: How has your past shaped your approach to work and leadership? 

Lauren: My first job was working on the wait staff at a family-owned seafood restaurant in my hometown of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. My parents didn’t impose any requirements or expectations on what I did in my career, but they did insist that I get experience working in the service industry (which they both had done at multiple points in their lives). 

They believed no matter where I ended up professionally, having that experience would make me a better person. I really appreciate my parents for that outlook, and I remember my time at the restaurant fondly – hard work and so many laughs.

Upside: Who inspires you in your work and in your personal life? 

Lauren: At work — I love working with Sydney Cohn, a product manager at Upside. Sydney and I both transitioned from chief of staff positions to our current roles where we’re now directly accountable for business outcomes. 

I’ve learned a lot seeing how Sydney translates her skills in strategy development, data synthesis, and internal communication and alignment into being a great product manager. And to know Sydney is to know she does everything with dedication and kindness. It’s been fun and rewarding to now partner with her on projects central to company growth.

Upside: And what about in your personal life? 

Lauren: I am inspired by people — women in particular — who lead with integrity and defy the boxes others try to put them in. I look up to those who are clear about the values most important to them and model those values authentically, especially when under pressure or difficult circumstances. 

There are many examples; some who I admire most are Cicely Tyson, Doris Burke, Mary Tyler Moore, and Ursula Burns. And I first learned what integrity looks like from the resilient, loving women in my family.

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