Remarkable Women @ KT | Izzy Knopper
People who work with Izzy would say she’s a true partner for the Support team and a gold-star example of cross-functional teamwork. Since joining KeepTruckin a few short months ago she has had a huge impact on several initiatives across the company. Read on to learn more about Izzy’s heroes, what she admires in a leader and what she would do if she wasn’t working in her current role!
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
My name is Izzy Knopper, I am the Director of Support Operations & Enablement here at KeepTruckin. I have the privilege of working with and leading our Enablement teams which include the Training team that develops and facilitates agent-facing training, and the Quality team that drives Customer Experience through Quality Assurance and CSAT Analysis. I also oversee the Operations teams that maintain our customer Help Center, define our digital Customer flows and oversee our call center workforce globally.
What does feminism mean to you?
Feminism is the ultimate belief that all gender identities are equal. Women, men, and everyone along the spectrum have so much to offer themselves, each other, and their global communities. Recognizing that and celebrating that is what feminism is about. By understanding historical misconceptions of genders across the spectrum and by holding individuals as fellow human beings who are worthy of respect and opportunities, we follow the principles of feminism.
Who inspires you?
I have been fortunate enough to have some really impactful mentors in my life. But the person that inspires me the most is my previous leader at JUUL and friend, Mario Arlia. He helped me grow an incredible amount professionally and personally by always giving me feedback and helping me act outside of my comfort zone. His own pursuit of excellence inspires me to never give up and to always share the things I’ve learned with those I mentor. I remember when we were sitting through a 4-hour car ride with my other colleague, as we drove across the Irish countryside after seeing a potential BPO partner, and the three of us strategized about the long-term vision for our teams and where we wanted to grow professionally. I couldn’t believe we were making something so transformative out of essentially nothing. He taught me how to develop a vision, communicate that vision and work to get there with a team.
What qualities make a great leader?
Successful leaders know how to zoom out and see the bigger picture so they can help plan while balancing the specific needs of their team and their customers. They seek to understand rather than to be understood, actively listening and observing to collect as much data as possible. Great leaders drive improvement that will help their team or company succeed as they grow.
Are there any leaders at KeepTruckin that you particularly admire?
I have had the great pleasure of joining the new leadership team here in Technical Support. One of the key partners, Ardisher Kiani, has a relentless commitment to driving improvement but endless compassion for putting his team first. That is something I really admire. Michael Tristan is a fellow Enablement leader who was a key part of my onboarding and continues to be a sounding board and resource. He is organized, thinks about scalability in everything he does, and strives for excellence. It is a pleasure to work with the team here at KT.
If I could learn to do anything, what would it be?
I think I would learn to be scuba certified and become a deep-sea explorer. Learning how to catalog and document the different types of underwater life I come across and contribute to the learnings of the greater scientific community when it comes to ocean life. I love sea creatures and the ocean as well as continuing to learn. Seems like a peaceful and interesting way to spend time.
If you were an owner/operator of a transportation company, what would you want to transport?
I would want to transport environmentally friendly snacks and sustainably grown produce across the country!
Want to work with the Remarkable women of KeepTruckin? We’re hiring! View open roles here.
