Matter Stories: Erin Ogunsanya, Wellness and Benefits Manager

Tell us about yourself. (Where are you located, what is your career journey, and what brought you to this industry?

Chicagoland area, specifically Evanston, IL with my spouse and almost 6-year-old child.  My career journey is unconventional and I feel fortunate to have worked in many different industries, including social work, real estate, advertising, and tech. My tech career began 8 years ago in a much smaller startup with around 20 employees. Experiencing the startup environment was truly what sparked my passion to  continue working in tech. I love to do a little bit of everything, deeply learn about the product, and be part of the company's growth.

That mindset is also what drew me to Matterport. From the moment I interviewed, I was invested in the product and being a part of the journey towards its success. At Matterport I've had such an incredible career journey, and the ability to learn and adapt has made my journey so fulfilling in the almost 5 years I've been with the company. 

What excites you most about your role?

This is my dream job. The benefits, wellness, and leave of absence space are changing, which keeps me on a constant learning journey. After becoming a parent, I truly understood the importance of balancing work and life and the value of leave and benefits. I can impact our employees' and their families' lives daily, and I consider that a privilege and honor.

Tell us about your biggest accomplishment or favorite project at Matterport? What was it, were there any challenges, and how was it successful?

I've had the opportunity to work on a lot of incredible initiatives such as Women of Matterport, the company going public, and our ten-year celebration.

The most rewarding accomplishment is building our Wellness at Matterport space from the ground up. This gave me the opportunity to be the first individual dedicated to our benefits, wellness and leave of absence space at the company. While this can present some challenges it also gives me the opportunity to work strategically. For example, I contributed to saving the company a substantial amount of money this year, while maintaining a strong benefits package that remains competitive and exceeds industry benchmarks. Helping to build a culture that prioritizes Wellness has been the most rewarding accomplishment.

Are you involved in any programs such as EMERGE, Matterport Cares, ERGs etc., if so why? What’s been a memorable experience?

I attend most Matterport Cares and employee resource group events. I had the privilege to lead our Women of Matterport ERG for 3.5 years. During Covid, we were able to put together a series called Women of Matterport. This series highlighted many gifted and talented women in our company who were open to sharing their wins and losses, as well as personal challenges they overcame along their professional journey. It was moving, powerful, and gave us all a sense of community at a time when we were forced into distance. The most memorable aspect to me was all the women who shared their journey had an opportunity to look back on their careers and be proud of themselves, sometimes for the first time. It was powerful, impactful, and a true highlight of my career.

Do you have a favorite digital twin or a twin that resonates with you? Which is it and why?

I have always been interested in the tombs of Egypt. I loved studying the hieroglyphics in school and the incredible meaning behind them. Being able to view tombs in Egypt without traveling is one reason I fell in love with Matterport’s technology. Giving everyone the gift to see the digital twin of history.