Welcome to our Meet the 50 Team series, where we give you the lowdown on how the people at 50onRed get stuff done. This time we’re sitting down with one of our Account Managers, Ajmail Matin!
Tell us a bit about yourself and your role here.
I’m one of the newer kids on the block at 50onRed and to this industry, but being a part of the Account Management team has been very insightful. As an Account Manager for 50onRed’s Traffic Platform, it’s my job to walk advertisers through the interface and offer campaign optimization tips to help them meet their goals and needs. I try to add as much value as I can to lift our advertisers’ conversion rates higher. At the end of the day, I just strive to make an impact at 50onRed. It’s good to keep in mind, not what 50onRed can do for you, but what you can do for 50onRed (and their clients).
What makes working for a startup company unique?
I don’t like to think of it as work, but more of an experience. 50onRed is the most accommodating work environment I’ve been a part of. It’s humbling to be surrounded by so much talent. Some of our teammates have attracted the attention of such companies as Google, Amazon, and Facebook, which gives you some insight to the kind of people that I spend my days with.
More importantly, though, you get to be yourself and show off what you’ve got. I may get up in the morning and head to the office, but it doesn’t feel like going to a job. This is truly an exciting place to be and I’m happy to watch it grow.
Where are your favorite hot spots in Philly?
There are plenty of places shaking things up in Philly right now! I personally love the Italian Market area. If you like Mexican food, make sure you grab some freshly-made tortillas and tortilla chips from Tortilleria San Ramon. Or maybe you want a sandwich that’ll broaden your horizons. In that case, head to Paesano’s and take your pick. I usually go with the Arista.
If you’re a big lover of pizza and happen to be in Fishtown, you’ve gotta go to Pizza Brain. It’s the only pizza museum in the world. You won’t have to travel far if you want dessert afterward because Little Baby’s Ice Cream is attached right next door. Thinking two scoops? Make it three. You’re not driving, right?
Let’s say it’s Saturday night and you’re looking to make some moves. The Trestle Inn in Chinatown is a great place for tasty cocktails, dancing, and an overall one-of-a-kind experience. Looking to change up the scene and lay down some strikes? North Bowl is calling your name. Union Transfer is another option to consider if you’re into seeing upcoming bands, or even well-known artists that you can currently find on the Billboard charts.
Feeling up for a late night bite? Eulogy Belgian Tavern is one of my favorite places to eat after midnight. Feeling lucky? Sugar House just added a poker room, and you could put your Texas Hold’em skills to the test.
If you’re up for a proper Sunday brunch, one of my go-tos is Wedge + Fig (because sometimes you just need some bacon-lattice macaroni and cheese pie in your life). Another great brunch spot is Cafe La Maude in Northern Liberties. High Street on Market is known to be one of the city’s best restaurants, so it’s pretty hard to get a table there for dinner, but they’re open for breakfast Monday through Friday and lunch on weekends.
Who are your mentors here, and what have they taught you?
I like to learn from everyone I surround myself with. We can all learn a bit from each other, and that’s what its all about. Alex Wooley is our Operations Manager for Traffic Platform, and he’s helped Jaasu, Anna, Samantha, and me become efficient Account Managers in a short period of time. His views on this industry are really beneficial and have helped me understand how to face challenges and make the most of every opportunity to educate our advertisers.
What tools are essential to your day-to-day?
We recently began using Close.io, which is helpful for CRM. Desk by Salesforce is definitely essential for anything support-related. Skype is awesome because it’s the quickest way to communicate with advertisers. If I wanted to get in touch with anyone at 50onRed, Slack is the instant messaging service we use.
In your spare time, you do some stand up comedy and StorySlams at First Person Arts. How did you get involved there?
I wanted a challenge, and I kept telling myself that I was going to try something new. I remember seeing a promotion for StorySlams somewhere online. Then, one day, I found the guts to do it and entered my name to tell a story. They choose 10 entrants at random, and, when it’s your turn to go, you tell a five minute story with the theme (which is given way in advance). Although I haven’t won yet, it’s an awesome experience, and I recommend others try it. It’d make a fun 50onRed outing, actually.
To entertain myself, I’ll head to some open mic nights. I like to come up with jokes as a hobby and test them out in front of strangers to see how they respond. Sometimes I’ll bomb, and other times the crowd loves my stuff. That’s just something that comes along with the territory. It’s awesome to see a group of people laughing, and you being the reason they are. It’s helped me eliminate a lot of self-doubt. It’s also really fun to see what some other Philadelphians are brewing up in their spare time.
You ran your first ever race during the 10-mile long Broad Street run last year (Congrats, by the way!). What compelled you to sign up for that venture, and how did you feel when it was over?
Thanks! I really just felt like running. I’d never participated in any kind of race before and, for some odd reason, I thought a 10-miler would be a good start. Once I committed to it, the training began. Then, a couple months later, I was at the starting line. It seemed so bizarre at first. Seeing around 40,000 individuals getting ready to run down Broad Street with helicopters circulating and spectators cheering you on. It was pretty epic. I felt like one of those animals in the stampede scene in Jumanji.
I finished with a time of 1:19:08 and was proud of that. After crossing the finish line, I realized how much is possible when you set your mind to it. It didn’t come easy–It took hard work and dedication, but life is too short to set limitations for yourself. You set the boundaries for living your life. Not anyone else.
You also volunteer for WXPN phone drives. What’s that been like?
It’s always a cool experience to meet new people who share the same passion as I do for music. WXPN is an awesome staple of University City, and they continue to deliver music that doesn’t have that bubble-gummy vibe you tend to hear on commercial radio. That’s what sets it apart.
It’s a member-supported radio station, so I take calls from listeners from all over to talk about how they can support the University of Pennsylvania’s radio service. Basically, I wanted to find a way to help them out, and I’m glad I did. Definitely check them out if you’re looking for a volunteer opportunity at one of the phone fund drives they hold throughout the year.
What advice would you give those on the job hunt looking to work here?
Have a vision. Envision yourself here, and share your vision. Be dynamic and demonstrate why we should hire you instead of any other candidates. How can you make an impact?
What’s your favorite perk about working at 50onRed?
Being surrounded by a team that gets stuff done! We work hard. We play hard. Plus, I enjoy all the free snacks and weekly catering.
Want to learn more about 50onRed and see what opportunities we have available? Head over to our Careers page.