Andrew Gac is up for any challenge. From playing competitive tennis to raising his hand for an overseas leadership position, he thrives on stretching his skills to achieve top results. As senior sales manager for the U.K. and Ireland, Andrew and his team of account executives are focused on making sure the home professionals who use Houzz Pro see big wins, too.

When did you first discover you wanted to go into sales?
During my senior year at university, I called alumni asking for donations and really enjoyed it. I liked the competitiveness and, more than that, I enjoyed using my ability to build rapport and relationships with people to meet my objectives. That ended up translating into this sales career.

What made you want to join Houzz?
I worked in landscaping during the summer when I lived in Minnesota. My favorite part was looking up in awe at the lakefront mansions we worked on, admiring the work of architects and builders. When I heard about Houzz, I was fascinated that there was a platform that glorified the work of architects, contractors and designers. When positions opened up in San Diego, I jumped at the chance to be part of the first class in that office in November 2014. [Editor’s note: Houzz is now a remote-first company, and all of our sales roles are remote.] 

Tell us about your career path here.
I started at Houzz in San Diego as an account executive reaching out to home professionals across the U.S. and Canada to introduce them to our advertising platform. After a few years, I moved into other roles that combined new business acquisition along with account management. In 2017, I became a sales manager and then specifically focused on Greenhouzz, which supports our newly hired account executives. 

In 2019, I asked our senior vice president if there were any international opportunities, and there was a need for a sales manager in Europe. It sounded like an exciting opportunity, so I moved and have been leading the U.K. team ever since. 

Why did you want to move outside the U.S.?
It was both professional and personal. I’ve always tried to be as flexible as possible in how I contribute to an organization, and it’s important to me to let my managers (and their managers) know I’m open to adding on responsibilities if they think I’m able to further the goals of the company. 

On a personal level, I’ve always been interested in traveling, meeting new people, eating different food – all the things that come with being outside your comfort level. It’s a great way to grow as a person and as a professional, and gain perspective. There’s never a dull moment!

What is the best part about working at Houzz?
I’m tempted to give the answer that everyone gives – the people! It’s a top part for me, too. Houzz does a really good job of finding people who have a diverse skill set and range. They are driven, ambitious and passionate, which are qualities that make a difference when you want to be part of a winning team. Our leaders have done a great job of creating and cultivating a culture of winning, which I love.

The best thing about working here for me, though, is the platform. I fell in love with it the first time I saw how it digitalizes the home renovation and design industry, and connects homeowners and home professionals. To see the platform develop over the years has been incredible. I love all the different products we’ve added, like Project Match, which further helps connect homeowners and home professionals, and Houzz Pro, which is a terrific suite of software tools for professionals that really helps them run their businesses efficiently and profitably. It’s clear we’re the best at what we do, and it’s exciting to watch it grow.

What’s something that has surprised you about working at Houzz?
The most surprising thing for me has been how positive the corporate culture is. I have worked for other companies and talk with friends about where they work, and Houzz is so different. It doesn’t matter your department or country. There’s always this feeling of positive reinforcement, encouragement and strength-based coaching, and it’s great! It’s made a profound impact on me and shaped how I coach and lead. 

What’s your favorite Houzz Pro feature?
For me, it’s the CRM portion and general business management tools. A few years ago, I stepped into a call for one of my teammates who was out sick, and I met with an English architect. I was demonstrating Houzz Pro, and when I went over clicking into projects, he made it clear how seeing projects at a glance would make his day so much easier and how much more organized it would make him overall. He realized he wouldn’t need to go through paper files to see who needed to still pay, and it would help with so many other administrative tasks. It showed me how even the simplest of features can maximize the efficiency of a professional.

What advice would you give to someone interested in joining Houzz?
If you’re interested, you should definitely go for it! It’s difficult to say just how much of an impact it’s had on my career and personal life. It’s become a huge part of my identity, and I’m so thankful for all the time I’ve spent here so far. There’s an opportunity to have a life-changing career at Houzz, which is what I’ve experienced during the past nine years.

What excites you about the future of Houzz?
So much! We’ve only scratched the surface in terms of how we’re able to make the lives of home professionals and homeowners simpler and better throughout the home renovation and design process. I’m excited to see how Houzz Pro continues to develop. Everything that’s been done to this point has been well-thought-out and well-received by our community. 

What do you do when you’re not working?
I like to play music at a very beginner level. [Laughs.] One of my older brothers played bass guitar in a band, so I picked up one of his old ones and taught myself how to play. I play a little guitar here and there, too. When I’m not leading a sales team, I sing and love to write songs. I’m also a big tennis player and try to spend more time running, which I do a few times a week. It’s part of my routine, like brushing my teeth!

Have you used Houzz yourself?
Of course! Many times. When I was living in the U.S., I bought a dart board as a housewarming gift for my roommates and myself, and an outdoor fire pit for that same house, which was fantastic. I haven’t undertaken any renovations yet, since I’ve moved around a bit and don’t own any property, but I still like to dream, and I save photos to Ideabooks. It’s a long-term goal of mine to have a house, and – of course – I’ll use Houzz! 

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