At Neighborhoods.com, we strive to offer our employees the tools they need to flourish and grow in their roles. Samantha Dahlstrom plays a crucial role in making sure our employees have what they need to succeed, and are well on their way to achieving their success. She embodies Neighborhoods' values and goals, as she has joined the team in 2013, as an Executive Assistant, and has since then worked her way up to the Director of People Operations. Want to read more about how a leader emerged at one of Chicago's award-winning start ups? Learn more about Samantha's story below:
What is your role at Neighborhoods.com, and what do you enjoy most about your work?
I was recently promoted to Director of People Operations. I enjoy being able to interact with every department and understand how their processes affect the organization as a whole.
How did you arrive at your current position? In other words, what is your educational and professional background?
I attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, where I earned my BA in English and Studio Art. Eager to break into the professional world after graduation, I took a job in the Chicago suburbs as an Office Assistant. Looking for more responsibility and the opportunity to spend less time on the phone, I applied to a Craigslist ad posted by an “Internet Company” seeking an Admin. I felt like the luckiest gal on the planet when I got my offer letter!
Since accepting the Executive Assistant job over five years ago, I’ve learned a ton. I moved into the role of Operations Manager, and now serve as the Director of People Operations. Along the way, my manager encouraged me to get my SHRM-CP certification, and I’m so glad I did! Taking the class was a big commitment, but it helped my career in so many ways.
What fascinates you about the work you do?
The people I work with are all so different. Their backgrounds, disciplines, likes and dislikes - all unique. Yet we’re able to work together to create products that have helped thousands of people find a new home.
What is the most challenging thing about your job?
The wide range of tasks that I am responsible for. Navigating the tricky waters of benefits and payroll, writing and maintaining workplace policies, coaching leaders and employees, plus making sure our office is a nice place to work.
How do you stay motivated at work?
I strive to maintain a balance of short-term instant gratification and long-term deep satisfaction. I’m a lister, and absolutely love checking things off every single day to get a quick productivity fix. Long-term, I rely on my relationships with my awesome team members and the mission of the company to keep me going. I know that at the end of the day, the work I do is changing the lives of our employees, partner agents, and customers.
Favorite project you've worked on so far?
I’ve worked on a lot of exciting projects, but there’s one that stands apart from the rest. In my first six months on the job, Bill and Danny asked me to prepare a slide deck with data from our website analytics, financials, and growth history to share with new employees. It was called “10 Things to Know About 55places.com.” As a visual learner, it was really exciting to be able to analyze our data and create easily digestible visual representations of a bunch of numbers to share with people we were bringing onto the team.
How would you best describe the culture at Neighborhoods.com?
It’s a culture of coaching. Through feedback tools like TinyPulse and our biannual PDP process, as well as frequent check-ins and straight talk both ways, team members at all levels have the opportunity to give their feedback and make this company the kind of place they want to work.
Favorite area/perk of the office?
Our HumanTouch Novo XT Massage Chair, hands down. At the end of a long day, it’s so rejuvenating to just lay back in ZeroG mode and let the chair do its thing. I walk out of Serenity Place (our massage chair room) a new person.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I like to cook and eat, crochet, paint, hit the gym, or read a great book. Currently I’m in the middle of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer and Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility by Patty McCord.
Want to learn more about Neighborhoods.com? Check out our Careers page for available opportunities.
