Monika Smyczek recently joined the PhotoShelter team as our new VP of Product, and we couldn’t wait for the chance to introduce her to you.
Monika is a seasoned product leader with a passion for visual storytelling. She comes to us after years of product leadership at WebMD and CultureConnect, a platform she co-founded to help museums build their own mobile apps. CultureConnect was acquired by Axiell in 2020.
Now, Monika is excited about the opportunity to work with our creative community here at PhotoShelter. We asked Monika a few questions to help you get to know her. Check out her answers to see why she was drawn to the PhotoShelter community and what she’s excited to build for you.
What drew you to PhotoShelter?
A passionate and innovative team working to help creative professionals harness the power of a moment. Kind, smart humans solving exciting problems. And a vibrant community of clients who use our tools to create and inspire.
What about the PhotoShelter product most excites you?
PhotoShelter employs leading-edge technology to help content creators collaborate and unlock the power of their assets. The ability to work with artificial intelligence and machine learning to solve very people-centric problems is incredibly exciting.
Why do you love photography?
I love photography thanks to my husband, Marko Metzinger, who happens to be a professional photographer. I have historically been more bookish than visual, but he’s taught me so much about being present, noticing deeply, and working with light to make an image. Understanding how he sees and processes his surroundings, as well as witnessing his commitment to his craft and intense focus on detail, have profoundly changed the way I experience the world.
What drives you as a product leader?
I’m drawn to the human side of technology. Using technology to solve problems for people, and working with other people to build something that didn’t exist before, is what drives me. I’m looking forward to immersing myself in the PhotoShelter community, getting to know our customers better and driving innovations that make life easier for creative professionals.
We are thrilled to welcome Monika to the team and cant wait to see how she makes a difference in the lives of our creative clients!
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