Meet the ReputationDefender Team – 12/11/2009
One of the great benefits of working at ReputationDefender is the opportunity to work with such a unique mix of smart and passionate professionals. Over the past couple of months, we have been sharing the stories of some of the ReptuationDefender team in a weekly segment. Last week’s edition of Meet the ReputationDefender Team profiled customer support specialist, Mitch Lillie. Today, we get to learn about Bart Munro, ReputationDefender’s Director of Product Management.
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Bart Munro, and I’m the head of our Product team, made up of several product managers and UI designers. Our job is to understand the problems and needs of our customers, and then design the products and features that will become solutions our customers love.
What did you do prior to joining ReputationDefender?
I’ve had quite a bit of experience in technology product management, including time with Microsoft, CNET, DialPad (Yahoo Voice), and eBay. Before coming out to California for my business degree at Stanford, I was a management consultant in New York. And way, way before that, I grew up in College Station, TX.
What attracted you to ReputationDefender?
For me, the two most important factors in deciding where to work are passion and people. I need to be passionate about the mission of the company, how it will change the world, and specifically, how it will make someone’s day better tomorrow than it was today. And I need to be surrounded by sharp people, who want to build something together, and who enjoy the journey of getting there. I found both of these here at ReputationDefender – truly a unique opportunity to pursue a powerful vision with a stellar team.
Why do you think it’s important for people to manage their reputations online?
Up until very recently, I think most folks have felt they could control their online presence by making a few basic decisions – where do I use my credit card online, do I publish a blog, how do I share my photos online? In today’s internet, however, huge amounts of new content are constantly being made easily available in search engines – birth certificates and public records, board posts and comments, attendance histories of events and conferences, even SMSs and voicemails. Much of this content, you may not have decided to make available or even been aware that it existed (including the comments and photos of you that other people put online.) The bottom line today – if you are not in control of your online image and reputation – someone else will be!
When you’re not helping individuals control and protect their good names online, what do you like to do in your spare time?
Rock climbing and backpacking are my two favorite ways to enjoy the outdoors. New travel and food adventures are a big joy for me. And currently, I’m raising my 2nd service dog for Canine Companions for Independence – his name is “Revenue II.”
What’s your all-time favorite website?
It’s gonna have to be Amazon.com. The customer and customer experience can be seen in everything they do – including seemingly simple things like actually letting you see your full purchase history as a customer. Mine goes back to 1997!