Employee Spotlight #8: Bryce Alsten, VP Of Operations And Development at Popl

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Bryce Alsten is the VP of Operations & Development at Popl, the LA-based tech company re-inventing business cards and changing the way teams and professionals network. An engineer turned entrepreneur, Alsten's passion lies in creating human-centric products that change the way people interact with the world and each other. He loves meeting new people and discussing big ideas. Feel free to reach out by email to [email protected].

Popl VP of Operations and Development Bryce Alsten.

Frederick Daso: What was your journey to becoming a Vice President (VP) of Operations and Development at Popl?

Bryce Alsten: The journey started when I graduated college from the University of Florida in 2017. After graduation, I started working as a Product Development Associate for a company that manufactured all the outdoor lighting and ceiling fans for Home Depot and Lowe's. It was there that I learned how products are ideated, manufactured, and commercialized. I traveled back and forth from China many times and became comfortable working in a cross-functional role.?

However, it didn't take long for me to realize that working for somebody else my entire life wasn't a viable option for me. So a friend and I decided to start our own company called KickBack, which sold phone grips and accessories. We taught ourselves how to do everything from setting up a legal entity, filing patents, 3D printing, Kickstarter, Amazon, Shopify, digital advertising, etc.?

In 2020, I left KickBack to start my own e-commerce company. Then just a few months later, I came across a TikTok video about a brand new product called Popl, a little tag for the back of your phone that you could tap to other people's phones to instantly share contact info and social media. I was fascinated with the technology, and I envisioned a potential collaboration with PopMagnetz, a magnetic phone accessory I had created and was selling at the time. So I sent a cold DM to the Popl Instagram account and talked to Jason Alvarez-Cohen, the CEO and co-founder.?

The PopMagnetz collab didn't work out, but Jason and I became friendly, and I told him that I wanted to be involved in what I could see was something very special. I led with value and helped create the first version of the now best-selling Popl wristband. I wasn't looking for a job; I was looking for a lifestyle. I wanted to build something special with a special group of people, and I found that at Popl. Fast forward to today, I'm part of the founding team, building a booming tech company that's pioneering an entirely new industry and changing the way people connect - life is everything that I ever dreamed it to be.?

Daso: There's a lot of conventional career advice about being a successful VP of Operations and Development, but are there any unorthodox lessons that you've learned through experience or mentorship that more of your fellow Operation colleagues should know?

Alsten: Sales is a process, not an event—play chess, not checkers. Think long-term. This may seem like sales advice, but sales is life, which is applicable across the board. To be a successful VP of Operations or VP of anything, you must know how to get along with people - how to "sell yourself," if you will. It's a role that requires cross-functional communication, both within the company and with external partners and customers.

At its core, the responsibility of an Operations Leader is to build systems and processes that allow the company to function as efficiently as possible as it grows and scales. Beyond that core responsibility, it's up to you how much more value you bring to the organization.?

Going out of your way to being kind and friendly to people is the foundation for creating valuable, long-term relationships for you and your company. Go out of your way to introduce yourself to people, show genuine interest in their lives, and look to provide value wherever possible, even if there's nothing in it for you. The accumulation of real friendships and relationships will lead to success. This is called long-term thinking. It's playing chess, not checkers. Whether you're selling yourself, selling an idea, or selling a good or service, sales is always a process, not a singular event.

Daso: What's the toughest project (professionally or personally) that you worked on as a VP of Operations and Development or in general? What were the most important lessons you learned from that project?

Alsten: The most challenging project I've worked on has been implementing an ERP (enterprise resource planning) system to automate and integrate the many disparate systems and processes of the company as we scale.

As we entered our phase of major growth, it became clear that the current methods of managing tasks and databases were not going to be able to sustain us forever. I realized that operations would eventually become a bottleneck as the sales team brought in more and more business. It was the equivalent of watching a skyscraper being built taller each day on top of a foundation that was only meant to support a 10-story building.

The lessons here were in understanding how a company's different processes and functional departments all work together in harmony. Just like the human body, or a sophisticated machine, all the different components and processes rely on each other to make sure everything runs smoothly day in and day out: accounting, operations, sales, HR, customer service, supply chain, etc. They all depend on each other, and they're all interrelated. The ERP implementation process was an "aha" moment where everything clicked. I don't think it's something I could have ever learned from a textbook or business class.

Daso: Who are some of the most inspirational people you've gotten to work with during your career in tech??

Alsten: Our entire team is incredible - it's hard to believe that the destinies of so many gifted and charismatic individuals could come together as they have. We're like the Marvel Avengers. But I have to give a special shoutout to the three partners - Jason, Nick, and Jeremy.

Jason Alvarez-Cohen (CEO) - Imagine if Kobe Bryant was born as a software engineer and social media guru; that's Jason. "The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do" is the quote that comes to mind when I think of Jason. He inspires me to dream bigger and re-think what's possible. He also taught me that "software is always the solution."

Nick Eischens (COO) - A born entrepreneur and leader, Nick runs numbers in his head like a human calculator, and his superpower is his compassion for others. Nick helps remind me that business should be enjoyable and that the process of changing the world should mean enjoying it with those around you. He inspires me to dream bigger and never limit myself in what I ask of the universe. He's also an incredibly legit DJ.

Jeremy Greenfield (CRO) - I would consider Jeremy a mentor to me in both business and life. He's a never-ending supply of wisdom, aphorisms, and relatable movie quotes. When it comes to business, he's got the proverbial sauce. I can't wait until he writes a book so that others can learn from him.

Daso: How would you define your company's culture, and how does it create an environment where you can do your best work?

Alsten: Trusting and inclusive. Winning feels best when shared with a team, and the daily pursuit of this idea makes our team special. They say, "Your vibe attracts your tribe," and it's been incredible to see that phenomenon take place as we continue to attract A-players who want to build something special alongside other extraordinary people.?

This culture creates an environment that allows me to do my best work because I never feel the need to prove my worth or seek validation for my work. We know that we're all passionately building something special together, which allows us to focus solely on moving the needle every day.

Daso: What's one interesting thing (non-work related) that more people should know about you?

Alsten: I love to surf. The ocean is a magical place where all the world's noise disappears. There are many parallels between surfing and life (patience, balance, timing, and observation). It's also a great place to have deep, uninterrupted conversations with people while waiting for the swell. At some point, I want to live in Hawaii and surf every day.

Daso: What's something you want to accomplish in your career that you haven't yet? What motivates you to get there?

Alsten: I want to write a book. I love writing, I love self-improvement, and I love the pursuit of an extraordinary life. I credit some of the most important accomplishments in my life to the inspiration and knowledge I've gained from reading books. I'm not sure what the book will be about yet, but it's a great way to leave a lasting mark on this world.

Daso: Who should I interview next?

Alsten: Here are my recommendations:

• Cohen Harris, MBA Candidate at The Wharton School | Ex-Management Consulting | CPG Brand Owner
• Zoe Haugen, Director of Marketing at MOGL?
• Nick Cappola, Project Leader / Senior Software Developer

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