Katia Aboulhosn knows how to connect with her audience, whether performing a hip-hop dance routine or advising industry professionals on the value of Houzz Pro. And as a former member of her high school dance team, this account executive understands how working together – with her Houzz colleagues and with home pros – creates a successful outcome for everyone.  

How did you get into sales?
I was drawn to sales, because I love helping people. This role allows me to focus on making sure businesses are successful using our solutions and software to achieve their goals. I think of this as a long-term partnership that Houzz has with these home professionals. 

In fact, I found I enjoyed helping home pros market, manage and grow their businesses so much that I recently finished my master’s degree in business.

Is your MBA helpful in your conversations with pros?
Definitely. My marketing, finance and business courses help me, especially at the end of calls when we talk about the marketing tactics and techniques that can help them with their business needs and goals.

Do you need an MBA to be successful?
No, not at all. Sales development representatives and account executives come from a variety of backgrounds, like technology, hospitality and more. It definitely helps to have – or learn – professional, business and marketing skills.

Tell us about your career path at Houzz.
In my first year, I was a sales development representative, where I set up appointments for account executives. Then I started Greenhouzz, our three-month account executive training, which has a ramp-up period after completing the program to help Houzzers become successful in their new role. I was promoted to my current position in October. 

What is the best part about working at Houzz?
I’d say it’s being able to help home professionals in the U.S. and Canada achieve their goals. We want the pros who use our software to be successful. It’s amazing to open my email and see a pro who signed up a week ago say, “Katia, I just got my first lead! I’m so excited to work with Houzz!” 

I also love being able to work with such a variety of talented colleagues and coworkers. I’ve worked with the best managers, the best coworkers – everyone is willing to help. It’s always such a positive environment. 

What do you enjoy most about your role?
I love giving interactive demonstrations of the product to show business owners the value of Houzz Pro. It allows me to cater the demo to what I think can address their specific business needs. The 3D Floor Planner is my favorite feature to discuss. I pull it up during the demo to show how it works in my room. They get excited when they see it in real time.

Tell us what it’s like to work remotely.
I really love working remotely. I enjoy the flexibility, and my team interacts with each other so well. We feel very connected even though it’s a remote role. We have such strong communication: We have meetings throughout the day, communicate through chat, and cheer each other on whenever someone gets a sale. 

What’s something that has surprised you about working at Houzz?
How much interaction I have with my coworkers throughout the day! I thought I might not get to know my colleagues or my manager in a remote role, but it’s the opposite. We spend more time together through the screen than I do with some of my own family members! 

What’s your favorite Houzz Pro feature?
For software, I’d say it’s the estimation tool. Our pros often let us know how great it is to be able to create an estimate within minutes instead of hours or weeks. The tool has been a game-changer for many of our professionals. 

From the marketing aspect, definitely the photo stream, which is one of the most popular pages on Houzz. Homeowners can see not just a business’s name but photos of their work before they hire them, then they can go read reviews from past clients on their profiles. I go on it, too, because I love interior home design. It’s so much fun to look at!

What advice would you give to someone looking to join the sales team at Houzz?
Stay gritty and focused. Be passionate about the product and understand how your role contributes to Houzz’s success.

Also, all calls will be different, so you need to be strategic in your approach and build rapport. These professionals are investing in our software, so it’s important that we help them get the most out of using it so that they can manage and run their businesses efficiently and profitably.  

What makes you excited about the future of Houzz?
We’re focused on making Houzz even more successful than it already is. I really believe in the products and software, which we’re improving all the time, and I am excited to continue to grow and do well. Houzz has such a bright future, and we make many business owners very happy!

If you’re interested in joining our team, we’re hiring! Check out available opportunities at houzz.com/jobs.