Today we're kicking off a new blog series, because Summer is upon us and it seems like the perfect time to share fun stories from our team.
But mostly, we needed a venue to casually share that Keegan used to be a mutual fund accountant and Brian Manning used to be pretty good at football.
So, we're launching our "day in the life of a Rocket Insights employee" series, featuring stories from our team about their career path, a typical day, their favorite Rocket memory and any cool hobbies or side hustles they have going on.
First up is Kat Garcia, a senior product designer.
When did you join Rocket?
I joined full time on April 1, 2020 after working as a contractor for a few years.
What is your career origin story?
I cofounded a student design studio in college with friends (would be nowhere without them), worked at a small agency, worked in-house at a soul-sucking corporate job, then grabbed a contractor role at Rocket to "fill in a gap" before moving abroad. And then I never left (and became full time after I moved back home) because it was unexpectedly an awesome fit for me!
What does a typical day look like?
Morning - emails, align with my team, maybe a client call. Midday - hit the climbing gym and have lunch. Afternoon - solid maker time for a few hours!
What is your favorite thing about Rocket and/or your favorite Rocket memory?
I feel like there may have been a design team dance party onstage at Dept Fest that I faintly remember!
Do you have any side projects / side hustles or hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time?
Learning languages! I spend 1-2 hours most days trying to get closer to fluency at French + Spanish with tutors.
Most importantly, what is your favorite GIF?
Next up we have Brian Manning, Android Platform Lead.
When did you join Rocket?
I joined on January 3, 2017.
What is your career origin story?
While playing football in college, I found out I wasn't very good at football, but I did know the playbook inside and out. I decided to start a company that would digitize playbooks and put them online. That was when I also found out I wasn't very good at sales, but I really did like this programming thing. From there I've gotten to play around with all manner of front-end and back-end technologies before eventually moving to mobile.
What does a typical day look like?
Pre-pandemic it consisted of either biking to the Rocket HQ in Newburyport or driving in with my dog Rugby, and after a standup, transitioning straight to a state best described by the enclosed cat typing gif. These days it's only the standup and typing. My paws are so sore.
What is your favorite thing about Rocket and/or your favorite Rocket memory?
It's 100% the silliness. Rocket is a place of work that one would only barely recognize as a company if it were not for the fact that you're surrounded by people whose only attribute that exceeds their playfulness is their competence.
Do you have any side projects / side hustles or hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time?
These days I'm really into hobbies that I can do around the house (for understandable reasons). The big ones are gardening, beekeeping, canning/pickling, archery, and the latest is woodworking.
Most importantly, what is your favorite GIF?
