The Limelight series focuses on employee culture across the iSpot organization. Follow along as we take a closer look at the real people behind one of the most comprehensive TV ad catalogs and more.

This month we interview Theo Brazeau, Product Manager—and learn about his journey through a fast-evolving tech start-up like iSpot.

What is your current role at iSpot.tv?

I’m a Product Manager, which mostly means I help plan and drive the products on iSpot’s road map. On a more day-to-day level, I’m either in meetings or Jira (or both) working on anything from rollout plans to initial wires.

How did your background lead you to iSpot?

I have an English degree from the University of Wisconsin and took a job as a writer at a healthcare trade publication straight out of college. It was the worst job I’ve ever had (and I’ve been a janitor at a manufacturing plant). So, I quit and moved to Seattle on the advice of a friend. I accepted the first job I could, which, and I still can’t believe how well it turned out, was on iSpot’s Editorial team. From there I was eventually promoted to Editorial Manager and then moved onto Product.

What are the typical challenges you face in your role?

As no two days are ever the same, the “typical challenges” are always changing from project to project. But at a high level, identifying the “how,” “why” and “when” of a given project or product presents the greatest challenges. Otherwise, the hardest thing is wrangling people into a noontime lunch meeting.

What is the most exciting part about your role?

Watching something come together from the “wouldn’t it be cool” phase to actual launch. I also probably shouldn’t say this, but there’s a part of me that likes fires—there’s something exciting about the scramble.

You were an early employee of iSpot– how has your previous experience in one department influenced your work at your current department/position?

My work on the Content Ops team (or Editorial, when I was on it) has influenced me in probably every conceivable way. However, what most comes to mind is how I think about downstream effects. Something as seemingly simple as changing the title of an ad or merging duplicate commercials can have serious ripple effects.

During your time at iSpot, the company and the TV ecosystem as a whole has changed quite a bit. How has that impacted your role at this high growth tech start-up?

I’ve been fortunate enough to grow with the company as we engrained further into the advertising industry and learned a ton in the process. It saved me a lot of money by not having to go to grad school. But really, it feels like just about everything has changed in some way or another, even the building itself. Gone are the days of wandering vacuum salespeople and the solitary Johnny Cash collage that served as our only decoration that came with the old building.

What is the most rewarding/ best perk of working at iSpot?

This is an easy one. The best part of any role that I’ve had in the organization has been my coworkers. I like you guys.