Posted by Megan Felsing on 14 Apr, 2019

Meet the StarNow Crew — Renee

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If you often wonder how StarNow’s Customer Success team is so awesome, you should meet our Customer Success crew manager Renee, who makes sure our team has everything they need to be brilliant!

When Renee isn’t busy looking after our members and advertisers, you’ll find her cuddling her beyond-cute one-year old baby, or buried away in one of her favourite Harry Potter books. Carry on reading if you want to get to know our resident “Reluctant Muggle”, Renee!

What does a typical day at work involve for you?
I'm the Customer Success Manager, so I spend my time making sure the Customer Success team has everything they need to be awesome at looking after our members and advertisers, as well as looking into some trickier queries that come our way, and sitting in meeting rooms figuring out how we can constantly be getting better and faster. Other than that, you'll find me drinking many coffees and chit chatting with all the fabulous people who work at StarNow.

What’s your favourite part about working at StarNow?
The culture and the people. I've just returned after a year's maternity leave and it felt like coming home. I get to spend each day with awesome, kind, inspiring people – how lucky am I?

What are you best known for in the office?
Most recently, being the pregnant one! And now the one with a baby I suppose.

StarNow is celebrating its 15th year! It may be hard to narrow down but could you tell us about a favourite memory of yours at StarNow?
I have so many – and they're mostly small, seemingly insignificant moments rather than big events.

I do remember one day, I was jokingly over dramatic about there being no peanut butter left – so, much to my embarrassment, our CEO Cam spent a good 10 minutes laboriously scraping down the jar so that I had enough for my toast.

Right after that, my delightful boss walked over with a pastry with a candle in it for my first StarNow anniversary. I was so overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught of kindness I nearly cried.

Where is a place in Wellington that is of significance to you and why?
Moore Wilsons – my biggest craving whilst pregnant was their freshly squeezed orange juice (specifically theirs, it couldn't be from anywhere else). If I could have gotten it on tap, I would have. It's also a favourite spot to grab coffee/treats on a too-regular basis.

What does your perfect Sunday look like?
Any extra sleep I can possibly get, pancakes or eggs, a quiet moment in the sun, and quality time with my little fam.

If you ruled the world, what would you change on day one?
Rent control in Wellington and three-day weekends.

What's the most important lesson you've learned in the last year?
Know who your village is, and nurture it.

What did you want to be when you were five years old?
I might have been a little over five, but according to an old school book I found I wanted to be in the "elimpix" (Olympics). I have no memory of this, and I've had no sporting aspirations since.

Which four individuals living or dead would you like to eat dinner with most?
My Grandad, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tina Fey and Robin Williams.

Before working at StarNow, what was the most interesting job you had?
I've done a number of gigs in the theatre industry, so it would have to be those – stage management, directing, acting, production management and writing/directing...

Who would you like to swap places with for a day and why?
My daughter, so I could be praised when I sleep and eat! (I'm very tired, OK?)

What is the best advice you've been given, or wish you had of been told sooner?
Everything looks brighter in the morning.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Giving birth. That was NUTS. I can't believe women don't get some sort of medal for doing it.

What's your go-to Karaoke song?
Ironic – Alanis Morissette.

Random Renee Facts:

I'm legitimately descended from circus folk – the Jandaschewsky family, look 'em up!

I met my partner after he was impressed by a spoken word poetry performance I gave at an open mic.

I have a nearly one-year-old daughter – she is the most perfect thing in the world.

I'm a bit of a Harry Potter geek.

I trained to be a high school Drama/English teacher, but ended up at StarNow instead and never looked back.

Want to know more about the StarNow team?

About the author

Megan Felsing is StarNow’s Office Manager. Moving halfway across the world, Megan has brought her bubbly personality and British charm to the StarNow office. She is obsessed with dogs, often treating them like humans, so it’s no surprise that she was swept off of her feet on ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ day when an office puppy visit was organized just for her! Megan speaks Spanish, is a trained journalist and once graced everyone’s television screens on The X-Factor with her singing voice when she was 15 years old – get it girl!