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From Selling Products to Selling a Vision: Meet Zach Masi, Talent & Operations Associate
When Zach Masi first joined LearnUpon as a Sales Development Representative, the positive experience he had during the hiring process left a lasting impression. So much so that when the opportunity came to move into a Talent & Workplace role, he jumped at the chance to help create that same experience for others.
His journey at LearnUpon has taken him from selling products to selling a vision—moving from a sales-focused role into one centered on talent and operations. Today, Zach brings curiosity, adaptability, and a people-first mindset to shaping both the candidate journey and the employee experience.
You started at LearnUpon in a Sales Development role. What inspired your move into a Talent & Workplace role?
I really enjoyed my time on the Business Development team at LearnUpon, and it served as a great introduction to the EdTech space and our organization’s Go-To-Market teams. That said, I found myself continually curious about what other departments were doing and what different roles in the company looked like. I saw the talent responsibilities as a way to expand my organizational knowledge and learn how LearnUpon employees collaborate across the company. I also had such a positive experience during the hiring process when I joined that I wanted to help shape that same experience for others interested in working at LearnUpon.
As for the workplace aspect of my role, supporting our U.S. teams and offices seemed like a fun and meaningful project. So far that has been true. A lot of my time goes into creating great working environments for our employees, helping people feel comfortable and productive, and organizing team events that foster connection. Honestly, it’s just a lot of fun!
Which skills from your time as an SDR have been most useful in your current position?
Recruiting is a lot like sales. I’m not selling a product, but rather the vision and experience of working at LearnUpon. The ability to lead with curiosity, uncover motivations, and show up professionally are skills that have helped me succeed both as an SDR and now as a Talent & Operations Associate.
I’ve also found that strong organizational and time management skills are essential in both roles. I’m often shifting between hiring conversations, internal projects, and workplace management tasks, which requires me to stay flexible, set priorities, and keep projects moving forward.
What does a typical day look like for you in the Talent & Workplace team?
My days vary a lot depending on the number of open roles I’m hiring for and the workplace projects and initiatives underway. Some days, most of my time is spent connecting with candidates, conducting screening calls, and sharing information about careers at LearnUpon. Other days, my schedule is more open and filled with tasks in the Salt Lake City office or collaborating with internal teams. Just recently, I spent a full day driving around the city checking out event spaces for this year’s holiday party and visiting office furniture showrooms to shop for new desks for our office.
Regardless of the day to day tasks, I’m always keeping track of my talent pipeline to ensure the hiring process moves along efficiently, while also connecting with employees in our offices to make sure they have what they need to do their jobs.
How does your role in Talent & Workplace contribute to the overall employee experience at LearnUpon?
It all starts during the hiring process. A big part of our candidate screening workflow is identifying people who not only have the skills required for the role but also share values that align with LearnUpon’s culture code. The people we bring on will have a significant impact on how our company grows, so we take this step very seriously.
For existing employees, the Workplace team is committed to creating a great employee experience through comfortable work environments, accessible benefits, and consistent team-bonding events. A big part of being part of LearnUpon is having fun, and we make sure to create space for that both inside and outside the office. Each LearnUpon location around the globe also has a designated social club to involve everyone in the planning and execution of these events.
What has been the biggest learning curve in making the switch, and how did you overcome it?
The biggest learning curve has been understanding the details of roles I’ve never done myself. To hire well, it’s important to really know the responsibilities and day to day of the position, and that took some adjustment at first. I’ve leaned on our hiring managers and current employees through 1:1s, conversations, and knowledge sharing to get up to speed. Candidates also play a part in this. They’ll sometimes ask questions during screening calls that I don’t have the answer to right away, which pushes me to do more research and keep learning alongside them.
Another big area of learning has been supporting workplace operations in Europe. Being based in the U.S. but coordinating travel and accommodations for employees on the other side of the globe took some trial and error. I was grateful for everyone’s patience and guidance while I learned to navigate Europe’s endless public transportation options!
Interested in joining the team?
We’re always looking for people who love to collaborate and make an impact through learning. Check out our open roles at LearnUpon and see if there’s a fit for you!