Kate Owens

Kate Owens is a Senior Product Manager at SpotHero, a company that aims to transform the $30 billion parking industry.2 She has been with SpotHero since 2013, progressing through various roles including Growth Product Manager, Sr. Business Intelligence Manager, and her current position as Senior Product Manager.4

In her role at SpotHero, Kate works in cross-functional squads that include engineers, designers, and product managers.1 She emphasizes the importance of involving engineers early in the product development process to ensure shared understanding and vision.2 Kate believes in bringing engineers into the planning process as early as possible to gain a mutual understanding of the problems they're choosing to solve.1

Kate's approach to product management focuses on:

1. Collaboration: She works closely with engineering partners to turn ideas into action.1
2. Customer-centric thinking: Her focus is on making the best product possible for customers.2
3. Communication: Kate employs various strategies to ensure engineers share the product vision, including regular team meetings and involving engineering in quarterly prioritization exercises.2

Originally from Chicago, Kate has lived in various places including St. Louis, Omaha, and Eastern Shore Maryland.5 Her background includes experience in BI tool implementation, startup fundraising, and data analysis.6 At SpotHero, she has also advised on best practices and provided guidance on growth roadmaps for the Customer Service management team.3

Kate values a work environment that focuses on personal well-being and career progression.1 She appreciates SpotHero's flexible work model and the company's approach to work-life balance.1