Sierra Thomsen

What were you up to before joining Kipsu?

After starting my career in a Home2 Suites in high school, I fell in love with the hospitality industry and I've never looked back! After four years at Northern Arizona University's School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, I graduated in 2018 and moved up here to Minnesota where I spent the last three years in restaurant management. I love that with Kipsu, I am able to pull from my own experiences to relate to some of the struggles and successes that our partners or future partners are facing.

What are some things you enjoy doing outside of work?

I spend a lot of time on walks and playing fetch with Roman, my Mini Aussiedoodle puppy. I'm also using this summer to improve my golf game. I only really started playing last summer, so I'll be happy if I end this season with a 20 handicap!

What drew you to Kipsu in contrast to other companies?

From the first interview, I could tell that Kipsu employees have great relationships with each other and make an effort to be people as well as employees. I've always believed that customer satisfaction is directly related to employee satisfaction; it was clear to me that Kipsuvians feel taken care of and that care spills in to every interaction they have with current and potential partners.

What were some things you noticed about the Kipsu team during your first week?

Even starting remotely, I immediately felt connected to my team. I appreciated being able to reach out to anyone if I needed help or had questions. Kipsu definitely walks the walk of having an "open door" policy.

What challenges are you looking forward to tackling in your work at Kipsu?

I'm currently trying to get over the hurdle of making warm calls - something I don't have much experience in. I'm also excited to be working on a few different writing and marketing projects and expanding my knowledge in that arena. I have some great mentors in both sales and marketing so I'm soaking up every bit of advice they are willing to give!

What is your favorite Kipsu core value and why?

Customer First - I like that we search for partners rather than filling our book with customers. We want our partners to be as excited to work with us as we are to work with them!

If you could pick any person for a chat over a shared dinner, who would you pick and why?

I would pick interior designer (and former Bachelorette) Jillian Harris. She is so kind and light and I think I could learn so much from her about family, mental health and being the best version of myself. She also cooks so we'd have dinner covered but she eats primarily plant-based so I'd probably have to get a McDouble on my way home!