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I know it seems like I say this every week that we do one of these, but Jack D was long overdue for an employee profile. Not only one of the leaders on the data analytics team, Jack is also a key contributor to the culture of the company.
Coming from the perspective of a content writer, I personally feel like my job is in jeopardy every time this guy drops a meme into the office group chat. Always timely, always in the right context, my guy Jack never ceases to amaze with the humorous content.
So, I was able to interview him and get a better idea of what makes him tick. I know he’s from Westlake Village, I know he has a new puppy, I know he’s a UW alum and sports fan, but I think I was able to get even deeper with this one. Hope you agree and hope you enjoy!
So without further ado, here’s Jack…
Q: Jack, what was it like growing up in Westlake Village?
A: Growing up in Westlake was great and I loved it. It’s more or less a bubble, but it can feel like a small town at times. For instance, when I was in high school, if you went to In-N-Out past 10pm, you were pretty much guaranteed to see someone you know.
Q: I understand you went to UW. And you were in a fraternity? Describe that experience.
A: I loved going to the University of Washington and going out of state. It’s a big school, and I was one of the few so-cal students, so I wanted to go greek to meet people and make friends. Yes being in a fraternity meant that there was a lot of tailgating and parties (which was awesome), but I also met some of the best friends that I have and we still get together when we can.
Q: How did you find out about the role at AdPurp?
A: Before AP I was working at a company that specialized in cryptocurrency and when that market sort of fizzled out in 2018, I started looking for a new gig. One of the first jobs I looked at was AP analyst, and once I read reviews about the company culture, I instantly wanted to work here.
Q: What’s it been like pursuing your MBA while working at the same time?
A: It’s a roller coaster! School and work seem to always get busy at the same time, but it’s extremely rewarding when I can apply some of the topics and skills I’m studying in the workplace and vice-versa.
Q: On top of that, you are doing it all in the middle of a pandemic. How has that affected your ability to stay so productive?
A: I definitely had to become more organized and work on my time management. My classes are all online at the moment, so there are days when I am sitting in front of the computer for up to 12 hours or more. But I found that changing rooms or scenery is a great way for me to not feel burned out after a work day and stay productive.
Q: What do you like most about your role at AP?
A: I love using the available data we have to make decisions on how to optimize performance for our clients. That sounds complicated, but as an analyst I love data and numbers, so being able to dive into the nitty gritty or making sense of big data is right up my alley.
Q: How has the creation of our SaaS product Purply made things easier for you?
A: Purply has made my job extremely more efficient and convenient. Before Purply, I used to have to log into our individual clients networks one by one, but now I can see all the clients and verticals I work on in one place and it’s awesome.
Q: What’s some advice you’d give someone getting started at Advertise Purple?
A: Don’t be afraid to reach out to anyone and everyone. The culture at AP is great and everyone is so supportive, so if you need help with something or you need a laugh, it’s pretty much guaranteed that someone will want to chat. Also, I recommend upping your meme game because AP employees are on point.
Q: How has the culture at Advertise Purple changed from when you first started and now?
A: Overall, I would say that it’s actually pretty much stayed the same. There are more people than ever before, and we aren’t in the office at the moment, but I feel closer to the people I work with and I am having more fun. AP has gone through adversity with a smile and managed to grow at the same time, which is incredible.
Q: Okay, onto the serious questions… I know you’re a Mandalorian fan. What’s so great about the series?
A: YES! I am a self proclaimed nerd and have loved Star Wars since I first watched Episode 1 back when I was about 8 years old. I follow all the movies, tv shows, books, and even comics, so what makes Mando one of my favorite shows of all time is that it makes references to all of them. Plus, how can you NOT love Baby Yoda?
Q: Where can you get the best burger in LA?
A: Hmm, good question. I have always been an In-N-Out guy, but recently I discovered Fatburger and have been ordering from there for the last couple months. You can’t go wrong with an Original (add some bacon), fries, and a vanilla shake.
Q: Should UW have been in the Pac-12 championship game?
A: Oh baby this is a loaded question. I think yes, because by the rules for this year Washington won the Pac-12 North (even though UW didn’t play Oregon for the last game because of covid complications). So I was a bit salty when Oregon went instead and won the game. But it’s all good because UW will win it next year!
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Thanks, Jack!
