Kate Lee’s journey from music gigs to human resources (HR) has more in common than meets the eye. The biggest similarity: making sure everyone performs at their best. As a people services partner based in Taiwan, Kate works across teams and time zones to support the engineers who develop the software features that make Houzz Pro a game-changing solution for construction and design pros.

How would you describe what you do at Houzz?
I would say everything related to people! 

I’m deeply involved in understanding and addressing employees’ needs by supporting their growth, fostering positive conversations and helping solve challenges. My role allows me to build connections with each individual and help them perform their best.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was little, everything excited me. As I grew older and learned more about myself, I started to focus on two main interests: becoming a psychologist or a social worker. Both careers appealed to me, because they involve understanding people, providing support and making a positive impact. 

Over time, I realized what truly matters to me is helping and supporting others, and creating meaningful connections. After many experiences and opportunities, I found my way to Houzz in People Services, and it turned out to be a perfect fit for me. It’s allowed me to do what I am passionate about. 

What was your career path before coming to Houzz?
Before I joined Houzz, I worked in HR for about eight years. And before that, I worked for a band and in a theater, doing basically everything you need to make the show happen. It was very exciting, challenging and fun –  but also very tiring. Sometimes I’d work until midnight!

After that, I spent a few years in New Zealand studying language – and it’s where I met my husband. We went back to Taiwan, which is where he’s also from, and I got my first HR job in a tech company. That’s how it all started!

How did you find Houzz, and why did you want to work here?
My HR experience was in big companies, where operations and work were predictable. I knew exactly what would happen in the next quarter or next year. I’m a curious person, so after eight years, I was ready to try a new challenge. I started browsing opportunities on job sites and found out about Houzz.

When I read about Houzz’s mission, website and software, I knew it was a company that provides tremendous value to people. Before I joined Houzz, I bought my own house and went through the process of getting all the resources for my renovation. It was exciting, but also very challenging and exhausting. I loved how the software helps both the pros and the homeowners, and really hoped to have the chance to join the team.

What’s the best part about working here?
I will definitely say it’s the people. They are all amazing, and it’s a pleasure to work with them. The team is very collaborative, supportive and full of talented individuals who are passionate about what they are doing. 

Every person I’ve met here is super friendly, even if you’ve not worked with them or talked to them before. If you have a question and they’re not the right person to answer, they’ll find who you should reach out to. I’ve never experienced that in past jobs.

And, because we’re global, I can do different things with different people from different countries, which is one of the most enjoyable parts of my job. The culture is very open, and people are encouraged to innovate and be creative. 

What about your role do you enjoy the most?
I love the variety. Like I mentioned, when I worked in my previous companies, about 80% of the things I worked on would be the same from year to year. Here, every day is different, and there are also lots of opportunities to raise your hand and say, “I want to do that!”

You mentioned you’ve worked in pretty big companies before. What is something that has surprised you about working here?
I was surprised by how global it is. The work I did before was more locally focused. Here, I’m not just working on things for the Taiwan team; I need to understand what’s going on in other countries, as well. For example, if we want to draft a policy for Houzzers in Taiwan, we need to think about how it can affect other global teams. I had never had to think like that before.

Tell us more about working in Taiwan. Are roles remote-first, too?
In Taiwan, we have an office that’s more like a co-working space. There are some engineers who really like to have in-person interaction and choose to come into the office weekly or monthly to meet up and have that in-office experience. Other engineers really enjoy our remote-first environment, because it works best for how they like to work and manage their schedule. 

What tips would you give to someone thinking about joining Houzz?
Be curious, open-minded and – the most important thing – be proactive. Also, don’t be afraid to bring your ideas to the table. When I first joined, I was a little bit shy. I didn’t know what I could say at first, but everyone is encouraged to share their feedback and opinions. Even small suggestions can have a meaningful result! 

You mentioned the global nature of our company a few times in our conversation. How does that influence your workday?
If you work in a company that’s not remote or global, you might have a typical workday of 8 to 5, for example. Because we collaborate with people from different countries at different times, I reserve focus time for myself, depending on my meeting schedule, so I can concentrate on things I need to do. Like today, I’m meeting with you in the morning, so I’ll make sure to have focus time this afternoon. I try to make my schedule as flexible as possible to have a good balance.

What makes you most excited about the future of Houzz?
The product! Houzz is consistently evolving, and I love seeing what we are building right now. I am excited for where we will go and what we will achieve.

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