Interview of Megan Teepe, Head of International Business for Rover

How are you and how is your family doing in these COVID-19 uncertain times?

Megan Teepe : My family is safe and healthy in Seattle, Washington.  We feel lucky to have each other and the love of our dog Colfax to keep busy and entertained as we wait for the US vaccine rollout to help us return to more normal conditions.

Tell us about you, your career and the way you have created/joined Rover.

Megan Teepe : I joined the Rover team six years ago because I was passionate about the company’s mission to make it easier for people to enjoy the love of a pet in their lives and I was excited about being a part of building the community to make those connections possible https://www.rover.com/uk/. During my time here, I had the privilege of building our initial operations and analytics teams.  For the last three years, I have been lucky to bring Rover’s mission to new countries, including France, in my role as the Head of Rover’s International business.

How does Rover innovate usually?

Megan Teepe : Rover was conceptualized after one of our founders had a negative experience at a dog kennel while he was on vacation. He realized that there had to be a better way of getting loving care for your pets and the idea for Rover was born.

That very same mentality — thinking outside of the box, taking well informed risks and innovating — are at the backbone of the company and continues to be a large part of Rover’s DNA today. If an idea, feature or business practice seems off or out of date, we encourage our team to offer up and create new rhythms to improve processes and customer experience.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect Rover and how are you managing this crisis?

Megan Teepe : Like most companies throughout the world, the pandemic has impacted on our business particularly around the decline in travel and shift to working from home due to COVID limitations. One of the silver linings of the pandemic, however, has been the widespread adoption of pets which is making the overall petcare market even bigger than before. As people go back to work and begin to travel again we believe we’ll significantly benefit from these tailwinds.

Did you have to make tough decisions and what lessons did you learn?

Megan Teepe : No company has been immune to making difficult decisions during the past year and Rover was certainly not exempt. Reducing our workforce and making necessary decisions that impacted our bottom line were painful. We’ve learned how to operate a business that is now leaner and more efficient and enables us to scale in Europe as travel resumes.

How do you manage your and your employees stress during this period and how do you project yourself and Rover in the future?

Megan Teepe : Like many other companies, since the start of the pandemic our team has been working remotely. While we miss the everyday interaction and human connection, we are still collaborating on a daily basis. Our team has done a wonderful job setting up (virtual) events and meetings to have some fun and destress during the workday. We look forward to getting back into the office, but encourage everyone to lean on their family, friends and pets during these trying times.

Who are your competitors and how do you plan to come out stronger than them?

Megan Teepe : Rover’s biggest competition comes from pet parents using their friends and families because they don’t know of other more convenient options.  We are working to ensure that pet parents know that Rover is a great place to find loving care in their neighborhood exists.

One last word?

Megan Teepe : In one of the most difficult years, people around the globe leaned on their pets as a major source of comfort, companionship and stress relief. The rise in pet adoption only further validates Rover’s mission of making it possible for everyone to experience the love of a pet in their lives.