This week we caught up with one of our newest Advisory Board members, Megan Poonolly, to get her thoughts about what motivated her to join the Marketplace Risk Advisory Board.
Megan Poonolly currently serves as Head of Safety at Care.com, where she oversees the user safety program and leads a team responsible for safety strategy and experience for all members of the platform. Before joining Care.com, Megan served as Senior Safety Counsel at Uber, advising the company on global safety policies, procedures, and tools. Prior to Uber, Megan worked in private law practice with a focus on background screening compliance and litigation. Megan received her B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Virginia and her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
Our Advisory Board is the very lifeblood of everything we do at Marketplace Risk. From conferences and virtual events to resources and advice for startups, our board takes a hands-on approach to providing indispensable insight and guidance, drawing on their broad experience that spans a multitude of platforms and industries. We are so excited to welcome Megan to the Advisory Board!
As Marketplace Risk continues to grow, we have expanded our Advisory Board, with calls for new members who can use their skills and experience to help startups. We asked Megan a few questions to get to know her better: What interests / fascinates you most about marketplaces / the sharing economy?
I am most fascinated by the immense cultural shifts brought about by the sharing economy; there are few other industries that are shaping the future of work and cultural attitudes towards work and sustainability. How were you first introduced to marketplaces / the sharing economy?
I was first introduced to marketplaces and the sharing economy as a consumer and early adopter of Uber; later, I joined Uber and learned firsthand the challenges and opportunities in the space. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A lawyer; it took me 2 years to pivot to that childhood dream (started out as an engineer), and then 10 years to pivot away from it! What motivates you the most about your business/platform?
The current moment has exposed the care crisis in this country; the platform makes a real difference in ensuring that people can work.
Do your friends and family understand what you do?
My husband does, but most people only vaguely understand or think that I run background checks on people all day. What one or two things do you do each day religiously?
I read for pleasure every day. Even though it’s for pleasure, I’m still goal-oriented and Type A, so I track my books through apps and Bookstagram! Who inspires you from a business point of view?
I am inspired by cultural change-makers and turnarounds (e.g., the Daras and Tony Wests of the world). I believe that strong teams make strong products, but strong teams can only thrive within a healthy culture. The safety space is an area where this is extremely important because of the cultural buy-in and support needed to succeed.
What’s your favourite social media channel, and what was the last thing you posted on it?
My favorite social media channel is Instagram; I last posted a story about my weekend travels to Charleston, SC. What do you think the world of marketplaces / sharing economy will look like in 10 years?
I think this area will continue to grow, but I foresee additional regulation and more coalitions/industry groups among sub verticals within the space (e.g., ISSP for Rideshare/Delivery)
If you’d like to be part of a dynamic group of founders, operators and subject matter experts, and your expertise and ideas could help us to better support the marketplace ecosystem, reach out to us at info@marketplacerisk.com.
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