DataGrail’s Employee Spotlight series highlights the person behind the professional, digging deep and discovering what drives our team members.
Dylan comes to DataGrail after spending the last five years growing the Product Design team at Atlanta-based SaaS company, SalesLoft. Prior to joining SalesLoft, he worked at multiple SaaS startups in the Atlanta area. Dylan has a passion for high-quality customer experiences, designing functional and delightful user interfaces, and a strong desire to mentor and coach.
What excites you about joining the DataGrail team?
A few things come to mind when I think about what excites me about being here at DataGrail. First, the problem space. I believe that privacy is a right and that we should have the opportunity to have more control of how our data is being utilized. Beyond that, I love working at a startup; I am passionate about moving quickly, iterating often, and building out processes. Also, the people that I had the opportunity to meet throughout the interview process really sold me on joining the team. They were authentic, candid, and had a passion for privacy as well as problem-solving.
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
I would love to learn more about audio engineering. I’ve been playing instruments for a little over 20 years and have picked up audio engineering as a hobby over the last several years. I would love to dig deeper into the how and why behind mixing and mastering and continue to improve the craft.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I am passionate about health and fitness. Over the last 2 years, I lost 140 lbs with nutrition and practicing the sport of CrossFit. I love being at the gym, and I coach CrossFit a few classes a week. Beyond that, I love spending time with my wife and 2 daughters. We enjoy playing video games, riding bikes/skateboarding, watching movies, and more.
Why did you choose to work in technology, and what led you to work at a startup?
I’ve always enjoyed working at startups. The feeling of collectively working together with people who have the same passion for building a product from the ground up and celebrating as a team is something you can’t find anywhere else. I choose to work in technology because it is something I have been interested in since we purchased our first family computer as a kid. I’ve always been interested in how things work. Having the opportunity to combine my love for design and technology is something that I am grateful for every day.
What is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far?
Embrace being out of your comfort zone. During my time at SalesLoft, I chose to step out of my comfort zone as often as I could; I also learned more and grew more than I could have ever imagined because of it. It is hard to get out of your comfort zone, we like being comfortable and doing what we know and understand. The moment that you take on that challenge to go the extra mile is the moment that you experience incredible growth. Even if you fail, you have learned something valuable.
Where’s your favorite place in the world?
This one is tough, I am going to go with 2 places. Being at home with my family is something I will always favor. Spending time with my wife and having the opportunity to watch our kids grow and learn is extremely rewarding. Alternatively, I love being at the gym with the CrossFit community. Being able to work towards a common goal, grow, and learn together is what brings me back every day.
Enjoy this piece? Check out our previous spotlight, featuring Maryana Kessel, VP of Sales!