Senior Director Partner Success LA, CA

Please introduce yourself. Who are you and what is your job/career?  

My name is Lara and I run the Partner Success group at a web3 startup called MoonPay. I am a Senior Director and have been with MoonPay for 2.5 years.  Previously, I was in management consulting at The Boston Consulting Group and PriceWaterHouseCoopers over the last 10 years. 

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? 
A singer/songwriter! 

Lara is a phenomenal singer!

What was your first job? 
Neuhaus Cafe - I was 15 years old and started off at the ice cream counter, then waiting tables, then became store manager.  I worked there for 8 years from high school - college.

Can you describe your profession to those who might have never heard of it before? 
Throughout my career, I've undergone a few strategic transitions. I initially ventured into the realm of private equity and commercial real estate. Subsequently, I embarked on a journey with PwC, where my focus revolved around account management and business development, catering to Fortune 500 companies. My responsibilities encompassed nurturing client relationships, devising go-to-market strategies, implementing account-based marketing initiatives, and much more.
In the last 2.5 years, I embraced another pivot, redirecting my efforts towards a similar role but within a different industry. I ventured into the FinTech arena with a strong focus on democratizing Web3 adoption. More specifically, my endeavors revolved around facilitating the buying and selling of crypto assets for everyday users.

What was your process for choosing your career path? Was it a long journey or an easy one? At what moment did you know that you wanted to be in this profession?
After dedicating over a decade to waiting tables and shouldering the responsibility of working two jobs throughout high school and college to make ends meet, I found myself on a path of financial self-sufficiency from the age of 14. This early experience solidified my determination to attend college and pursue a major in Business/Real Estate, aiming for a well-paying career upon graduation.

While my primary focus was on business and real estate, my heart truly resonated with music. Consequently, I enthusiastically enrolled in various music-related classes, including music theory, voice training, and theater, purely for the joy they brought me. My passion for music never wavered, and I made sure not to let my career aspirations hinder my pursuit of it. I continued to participate in open mic nights, honed my guitar skills, and even ventured into creating my own album and music videos.
My overarching goal was to strike a balance between hard work, job satisfaction, financial stability, and my unwavering commitment to maintaining my financial independence.

Can you walk us through your typical day of work? 
Being responsible for a European team, my day kicks off bright and early! Mondays commence with team meetings, setting the tone for a productive and action-packed week. Typically, my schedule is filled with back-to-back calls spanning from 7 am to noon, involving discussions with both internal team members and external clients.
Around noon, I take a brief pause for lunch, recharging before diving back into a whirlwind of tasks between 2 pm and 5 pm. During this time, I diligently address the key points that emerged throughout the day. This often includes catering to client-specific needs and resolving any issues, crafting product strategies, and aligning our clients' requirements with our product roadmap.
Client meetings always take precedence, and my primary objective is to ensure their satisfaction and contentment.

What do you love most about your job? 
What I love most about my job is the privilege of collaborating with incredibly talented individuals from diverse corners of the globe, all united by a singular mission: to usher the world into the realm of Web3. Engaging with my clients and creating meaningful relationships with them is a source of immense gratification for me because our triumph is intertwined with theirs.

What questions should someone really ask themselves if they want to get into your profession? 
Do I possess a genuine enthusiasm for engaging with individuals and fostering collaboration in pursuit of shared objectives? Am I naturally outgoing? Do I derive satisfaction from delivering presentations and exhibit confidence when addressing clients and teams? Am I inherently organized? Do I have a passion for efficiently managing project tasks?

What did you study? How much schooling do you think is required to get into your role? What could you have skipped? 
I studied Real Estate Finance and Corporate Communications and Public Affairs in undergrad.  In grad school, I received my MBA. I would say for an entry level Account Management role you would need a college degree.  To work at BCG and MoonPay - the MBA was required. 

Did you have any mentors that helped you along the way? 
I always had mentors at each of the places I worked.  I think it's so important to find someone you can really trust and count on to discuss next steps in your career. 

What was the biggest piece of advice that helped you get to where you are? 
"Study business in school, but still do what you love on the side.  Buy real estate as soon as you have enough for a down payment rather than throwing your money away in rent for many years" 

How is the flexibility? Work life balance? 
I am currently at a startup so the work/life balance is not ideal. I have clients all over the world so the time zone can be tough at times.  I hope to get a better hand on this in the future! 

What tools/resources do you frequently use? Any tools you recommend? 
Trello or Asana for relationship mapping and tasks checklist. 

What would you say to someone who is looking to figure out what they want to do? 
Take personality assessment tests to map out your strengths/weaknesses.  Don't be afraid to declare your major later on, take as many classes as you can to see what interests you the most. Work seems a lot less like work when it's something you are passionate about or enjoy.  For me, I thrive when I am building relationships so I've found my sweet spot! 

What is something you do when things get difficult? How do you handle stress/ challenges?  
Go for a walk!  A walk around the block in the sunshine is so therapeutic.  I hug my dog tight if I need a break.  Take it one day at a time and make checklists to get you through the next task.  Don't be afraid to ask for help and advice.  Take another walk! 

If people have further questions how can they find you/contact you? 

My email: larapay@gmail.com