The People Powering ?? UserWay: Ben Stern, Head of Client Services

Welcome back to “The People Powering UserWay,” a new LinkedIn article series in which we spotlight the talented team members who continually drive our mission forward. Next up is Ben Stern , Head of Client Services.?

Tell us a bit about yourself – where you’re from, where you went to school etc.?

I’m the proud dad of 5 children: 4 princesses and a superhero. I was born in a small town in New Jersey and moved out of my parents’ home when I started 9th grade to live in a dormitory in pursuit of a better education.

This education, coupled with my love of technology, fueled me to work with youth-focused programming. I focused on informal education for over 10 years, then started a web design company, and eventually switched over to the startup world full-time.?

When did you first start working at UserWay?

I have been with UserWay since October 2021.?I first heard about UserWay after seeing an ad on Facebook that asked if I wanted to make an impact on the world. I applied and the rest is history.

Can you tell us what an average day looks like for you?

As the Head of Client Services – which includes the Solution Engineering, Customer Success, Customer Support, and Retention teams that operate remotely from around the globe – no two days are ever the same, which is just the way I like it. My days are split between overseeing my incredible team and assisting the sales team with both potential and new customers. I also work with the product and engineering teams, pitching in wherever I can be of use.?

What’s a project you’ve particularly enjoyed working on?

I am particularly proud of the way UserWay has very little red tape. I feel like I have continually had my thoughts heard and valued. For example – during my first week, I noticed an area in which we could make our team processes more efficient. I suggested a change. The CTO jumped on a call with me and by the end of that day, the change was implemented.?

One project that I am extremely proud of is our Accessibility Widget Bundles, which offers additional products and features alongside the UserWay Pro Widget. The Pro Widget is a giant step in an organization’s accessibility journey – it gives customers a taste of how easy it can be to advance further in their accessibility efforts with the right tools.

Name 3 things you enjoy about working at UserWay.

1. The people are amazing. I have never worked with a group of individuals who are more genuinely dedicated to an organization's mission.
2. Our remote-first policy has changed my life. As a dad to 5 kids, the ability to drop them off and pick them up from school is incredibly valuable to me and my family.
3. I cannot express how important it is to me that Allon Mason and UserWay have created an organization where everyone is heard. Communication is key, and there are no bad ideas. This attitude facilitates creativity and inspires ideas and insights that would never have been produced otherwise.

What do you want to change about the world?

At my essence, I am a person that has always followed his gut, his passions, and desire to help. I guess you can see how I ended up at UserWay. I’d like to make the world a more patient place. I believe that if the world was less impulsive, it would look entirely different.

As I tell my kids, make hard goals but soft paths.

I even wrote a book called, “Do You Have Any Patience?” to teach this trait as early as possible. Yes, I did write the book on patience.?

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I really wanted to be a racecar driver, but when my mom forbade me, I decided I wanted to be an astronaut and an architect instead.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

I would like to be able to travel back and forth in time. If that isn’t possible, it would be nice to be able to give people more common sense.?

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I make a?lot of room for my passion projects. I enjoy spending as much time as possible with my children, whether at home, hiking, snorkeling, cooking, biking, traveling etc. I also launched a YouTube channel, “Bengineer,” during COVID showcasing underrated local spots in Israel. Additionally, I wrote and published the first children’s book in the “Flip And Friends” book series, “Do You Have Any Patience?,” and host a podcast to support divorced dads called “Too Dad To Quit.”

Image description for article cover photo: Main text reads: "The People Powering UserWay: Ben Stern, Head of Client Services." Above the text is the official UserWay logo. On the right side is a headshot of Ben against a blue and purple gradient background, with a stylized UserWay logo behind him.