Veteran Joana Hasty shares how two key U.S. Marine Corps values translated to success in her role as a Technical Architect at Dropbox and WFH life
Tags: Diversity In Tech, Diversity, Us Marine Corps, Dropbox, Veterans

Veteran Joana Hasty shares how two key U.S. Marine Corps values translated to success in her role as a Technical Architect at Dropbox and WFH life Dropbox Follow Nov 13 · 5 min read

At Dropbox, we believe in celebrating our veterans all year long. And every November, in recognition of Veteran’s Day, we put a special emphasis on honoring their service to their country and learning about their unique journeys to Dropbox with our Veteran’s Appreciation Month. Joana Hasty told us how her service in the U.S. Marine Corps prepared her for her journey through Dropbox, how she’s found community within our Vets@ ERG, and how an air fryer has become a staple in her WFH life.

How long have you been working at Dropbox?

I’ve been working at Dropbox for about two and a half years as a Technical Architect for the Solutions team.

Where are you located?

Austin, Texas.

Can you tell us a little about your military service?

I joined the U.S. Marine Corps right out of high school. My role was a logistician, and I did that for nearly five years. A lot of what my job consisted of spanned from supply chain to distribution and transportation, so various aspects of logistics. I’ve now been out for 13 years.

How have you seen your military experience support the skills you’ve needed to succeed at Dropbox?

The Marine Corps has shaped me in a lot of ways that are complimentary to my career now at Dropbox. Two of the biggest things that are important to me are accountability and leadership. Early on, I was taught that it’s okay to not always have to lead, but to follow and learn. I have no problems with being a mentor and a leader, and I also very much enjoy having a mentor on my side and following those who I can learn from. On the accountability side, you’re bound to high standards, and I like to keep myself honest and accountable for everything that I’m assigned or responsible for. Even when I’m wrong, even when I make mistakes, I own it, and I learned early on that that’s important for peers and leadership to have confidence and faith in everything that you do. That has translated well for me at Dropbox, which is a completely different environment. And when I admit my mistakes and allow myself to be vulnerable, others can let their guard down and let themselves be the same way.

Can you tell us about a product or feature or project that you’ve been part of that you’re particularly proud of?

I’m particularly proud of a program that I’ve been running internal to my organization. It’s allowed some of my peer teams that I work with to have their input and voice heard in legal and communication matters, where customer relationships are key. The point of this program is that it’s provided an overall better customer experience on topics that matter most to our customers. My role and my team’s roles are very customer facing, so we get sentiments from our customers on different topics. We can then be that liaison for our customers and pair with our legal team to make sure that any messaging is not just in a business mindset, but is tailored to the market that we’re communicating with. Typically they’re not customer facing, so we can provide that perspective — they win, we win.

What’s your favorite thing about the Vets@ ERG?

Hands down it’s the camaraderie that we have together. We all can relate to a young upbringing in the military — it’s just something that you carry with you your whole life, that when you meet another veteran, you just understand each other and you click. To have that community within Dropbox is important because a lot of people don’t realize how regimented you are when you come out of service, even for the smallest amount of time. That doesn’t always resonate with people who weren’t in the service, so we can relate to each other.

What’s your go-to WFH lunch?

Probably not my proudest moment, but we’ve invested in an air fryer, so my husband and kids and I love to make kale chips or chicken nuggets in there. Anything we can put in there that we don’t have to dump in a bunch of grease, we’re all about it!

What’s your favorite thing about Virtual First work?

I definitely like that there’s no commute! That’s probably one of the most important perks because it takes a lot of stress off and gives me an extra hour during the day. I can be more available and more productive when I don’t have to worry about being home at a certain time for family or dinner. And it gives me more time with my family, which is key.

Are there any new hobbies you’ve been exploring during quarantine?

I’ve really noticed my lack of decor. When I stare at my house all day long, I’m wanting to decorate better or to the season or take on DIY projects.

Where’s the first place you want to travel when quarantine is over?

Definitely to a beach. A nice, blue beach somewhere in the Florida Keys or Mexico.

What do you want other Dropboxers to know about the Vets@ ERG?

Take time to know our team. You don’t have to be a vet, you can be an ally! We encourage growth in our ERG, and we’re always welcoming with arms wide open. And we’re a fun bunch!

Our ERGs are the backbone of our culture at Dropbox. You can learn more about how they support Dropboxers of all backgrounds here.