Staff Spotlight – Emma Grundy

In this series, we introduce key members of the Sparta team, to give you a bit more of a look at who it is that’s making the wheels turn here at Sparta, what makes them tick, and hopefully highlighting a few of the unsung heroes that are working hard behind the scenes.
In this interview, we speak with Emma, our Customer Success Manager, based in Lancashire. Emma brings her experience in customer-facing roles to help ensure the success of Sparta’s clients by helping them fully leverage the potential of our product.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE COMPANY?
I’ve been a part of the Sparta team since August 2022, it feels like a lifetime – in a good way, of course! The pace and growth make each day count.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR ROLE?
As a Customer Success Manager, my role revolves around guiding our customers right from the onboarding phase and throughout their journey. Key metrics like churn rate, Net Promoter Score, and how effectively customers adopt our product are my focus. Ensuring they leverage our tool to its fullest potential through robust onboarding and ongoing support is our goal. Ultimately, we aim to retain customers whilst creating confidence in our product, fostering advocacy within the industry.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE INDUSTRY?/CAN YOU GIVE ME A RUNDOWN OF YOUR CAREER PATH UP UNTIL THIS POINT?
My journey has been customer-centric, primarily within the supply chain field. The shift to this industry is a relatively new adventure for me. Over the past six years, I’ve delved into account management roles involving SaaS products alongside operational services. My keen interest in the product side grew, leading me to seek a transition to a company where product and innovation drives the forefront.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF WORKING AT SPARTA?
Sparta’s vibrant start-up culture still thrives. It’s such a dynamic environment, where everyone is aligned towards a common goal. It’s great to be part of a journey where each person’s contribution matters, and the impact is tangible.
WHAT DO YOU THINK SETS OUR COMPANY APART FROM OTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY?
Our uniqueness sets us apart in the industry, making us disruptors in our own right. The innovation and originality we bring to the table are exciting. The fact that we are the only forward-looking market intelligence and forecasting platform on the market speaks for itself.
Another one of our standout features is our dedication to our customers. While tech often gets a bad rap for customer relations, we’re proud to do the complete opposite, prioritising our customers’ satisfaction and success above all.
WHAT’S ONE THING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY WOULD BE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT?
When I’m not at my desk I love to be outside, whether gardening or walking in the mountains; I’ve summited 71 mountains across 8 countries and have my sights set on reaching 100!
WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
Progressing through various challenges over the past decade has been rewarding. Stepping out of comfort zones, embracing continuous learning – these have been pivotal in shaping my journey, and they’re things I’m really proud of.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE OUR COMPANY CULTURE?
Diversity is the real strength of our culture. Working globally, collaborating with colleagues from different backgrounds, along with honesty and transparency create an environment where everyone’s efforts drive us towards shared goals. The remote setup has its perks, but those chances we get to meet in-person really fosters an amazing team camaraderie.
WHAT’S THE MOST INTERESTING PROJECT YOU’VE WORKED ON HERE AT SPARTA?
Rolling out the distillate vertical to our customers was such an interesting learning curve. It felt like such a pivotal moment for the company, being the first expansion beyond gasoline. Both internally and externally, there was a real buzz of curiosity and interest surrounding our progress.
WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
I’d remind myself to focus on personal growth by only comparing to my previous self, rather than others around me.
HOW HAS YOUR ROLE EVOLVED SINCE YOU’VE BEEN HERE?
Since I joined, our customer base has grown significantly! It’s been exciting to see the word about Sparta spreading. With this growth, my role has expanded to engaging with a more diverse group of customers across both new and existing regions. It’s been a dynamic shift that keeps me on my toes.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS/YEARS?
Keeping pace with Sparta’s grand plans is at the forefront! Short-term, I’m honing in on expanding my industry expertise, especially as we broaden our product verticals across the barrel.
WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WISH PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT YOUR JOB?
Customer success can be a bit of a mystery in the business realm. It’s a relatively new function, and many aren’t familiar with what it entails. So, I wish people knew a bit more about what it means to work in customer success!
IF YOU HAD THREE WISHES, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?
I would wish for more time, good health, and calorie-free cheese!
WHAT’S THE LAST SONG YOU LISTENED TO?
I had ‘Shiny Happy People’ on repeat recently. It’s an instant mood lifter, especially around the house!
WHAT, IF ANYTHING, ARE YOU CURRENTLY BINGE-WATCHING OR READING?
More than TV series or reading I’m a big podcast listener. I’m currently listening to ‘Real Survival Stories’ podcast. Gripping tales that keep me hooked.
CAN YOU SHARE A PARTICULAR SKILL OR EXPERTISE THAT YOU HAVE DEVELOPED IN YOUR ROLE THAT YOU DIDN’T EXPECT TO ACQUIRE?
I’ve developed a deep understanding of not only the Sparta tool but also how our customers interact with it, which is crucial to tailoring our services and ensuring a seamless user experience.
WHAT’S THE MOST VALUABLE LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNED IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
Never stop learning! With technology evolving rapidly in the industry, staying curious and open to learning from others has been my guiding principle.
WHAT’S ONE THING ON YOUR BUCKET LIST
Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro ranks high – it would be an incredible milestone, especially if it became peak #100 for me. I’m fortunate to live in a part of England where there’s plenty of mountains close by to complete as part of my 100-peak challenge.
Emma Grundy is our Customer Success Manager here at Sparta and can be contacted at
emma.grundy@spartacommodities.com
Sparta is a live, market intelligence and forecasting platform that enables oil traders, refiners, banks, hedge funds and wholesalers to have access to real-time and global actionable insights to capture market opportunities before others.
To find out how Sparta can allow you to make smarter trading decisions, faster, contact us for a demonstration at sales@spartacommodites.com