Meet the Campuswire Team: Sara Abaddi
By: Sanna Sharp
Tags: Startup, Sales, Profile, Campuswire, Edtech

Hi, Sara! Thanks for sitting down with me, and welcome to Campuswire! Where are you from originally?

Thanks, Sanna! I’m originally from Toronto, Canada — well, a suburb right outside of Toronto called Mississauga.

How old are you?

I’m 26.

So you also graduated fairly recently. Where did you go to school, and what did you study?

I studied biology and chemistry at University of Waterloo. It was a general honors science degree, but those were my two areas of focus.

And what were you doing prior to joining us here at Campuswire?

Before Campuswire, I was working in sales at another active learning startup that focused on building active learning technologies.

I know you’ve only just moved to New York — how long has it been now?

It’s been a whooole five days.

You’re practically a local! What do you think about the city so far?

So far, NYC is very vibrant. It’s full of life. Kind of like Toronto, but on steroids. It makes Toronto look like Brooklyn.

When you’re not making sales for EdTech companies, what do you do for fun?

I like to read random things. I play soccer, too. I was on a pickup team back in Toronto, we used to play every Monday. So, if anyone has any leads on a new team here in NYC — hit me up!

I’ll ask around! Now — cast your mind back to middle school. What was your favorite subject?

Hmmm… I’d have to say gym, and math.

Those are two very different subjects. So you’ve always been into physical activity?

Yeah, I love soccer. And calculus. [laughs]

Which soccer — I’m sorry, football — team do you support?

Well, by default I have to say Toronto FC because it’s my local team. But I grew up loving Man City, and now I’m kind of a lover of all teams. I really just enjoy watching the sport.

If you were an ice cream flavor, what would you be?

I would be chocolate chip cookie dough. It’s a nice balance of crunchy and chewy — which I also am. [laughs]

How many cups of coffee do you drink per day?

Maybe one, if it’s a really bad day, but I’m more of a tea person.

What blend of tea is your favorite?

Orange Pekoe.

And how many cups of tea do you drink per day?

2–3, absolute minimum.

Where’s your favorite place in the world?

Hmmm. My favorite place in the world is… wherever my parents are.

What’s the longest you’ve gone without sleep, and why?

That’s tough, because I’m a sleep nut. I definitely sleep more than I don’t sleep. But I’ve probably gone about forty hours or so, back when I was in school. My time management skills were trash back then.

If you were an animal, what would you be?

I’d be a lioness. They’re stealthy, but they handle things. They’re not the loudest in the room, but they’re powerful.

Do you collect anything?

I don’t really like to hoard things, but I do keep currency from all of the countries that I’ve visited.

What’s your pet peeve?

Can I share three? [laughs]

The first is food waste– hate when people waste food. My second is slow walkers. Especially when they walk in the middle of the sidewalk.

You’re going to hate the tourists here in NYC.

I’m sure. My third pet peeve is when people don’t keep their word.

If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Matilda. They better not ever remake it.

Love Roald Dahl. What was your first-ever job?

I started tutoring when I was in high school.

What are your day-to-day responsibilities here at Campuswire?

I do a lot of outreach — calling and emailing professors to get them as excited about Campuswire as I am!

What’s your favorite part of working in sales, particularly within EdTech?

My favorite part is definitely helping professors solve the challenges that they’re experiencing in class so that they can optimize how they teach their students.

And what is the biggest challenge you expect to face within your role here?

Because we’re a relatively new company, we don’t currently have the same level of brand recognition as other companies in the industry might. So professors may be more risk-averse to, or perceive themselves as taking a risk by, using Campuswire. But that’s also the exciting part of my job— demonstrating our product’s superiority, and convincing them that we’re a risk worth taking.

You work in sales and you play soccer for fun. Would you consider yourself competitive?

I would say no, but my friends would definitely say otherwise. [laughs]

No — I’m definitely competitive, but more with myself than with other people.

How’s your Mario Kart skill level?

I think I’ve maybe played it like once in my life? So not that good…. yet.

Was there ever a time in school where you wish you’d had Campuswire?

Any time that I needed help! There would be one hundred students all working on the same lab, who were probably all confused about the same questions. But I had no idea how to communicate with them. So having a tool like Campuswire to bridge the gap between my peers and myself — that would have been invaluable.

Last question — what are you most excited about for your future here?

I’m most excited to experiment with different sales tactics, to gather feedback and results, and, ultimately, to define our sales strategy going forward! ●