Meet the Team: Chris Pranger

Tell us about you! (Where are you from, hobbies/interests, things you do outside of work!)

I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, and I still love living here. I am naturally inclined to…nature hobbies. In the warm months, I like to hike and spend time at the family cabin my grandparents built in the 1980s (it still has the decor to match). In the winter, I like to ski.

In the city, you can find me reliving my glory days by playing in recreational basketball or soccer leagues, watching a Nuggets or Buffs game, reading classic lit or historical fiction at my favorite park, or spending time with my family - which includes lots of nieces and nephews (including ones of the human, golden retriever, and cat variety).

What does a Data Analyst do anyway? How did you get in to Engineering?

At Going, a data analyst does a little bit of everything. Data analysis is at the core of our operations, from monitoring overall business performance to measuring the effectiveness of specific marketing campaigns and product launches.

Behind the scenes, I also help design our data model and maintain our data pipelines, ensuring smooth and efficient data flow across the business. Additionally, I spend a lot of time on my favorite data technology: building and deploying machine learning models.

I haven't always worked in engineering, but my innate curiosity, analytical mindset, and quantitative way of thinking allowed me to pivot smoothly and build my technical acumen. I've always been passionate about discovering how things work and uncovering the why behind trends and performance. Each day at Going, I satisfy this curiosity through various projects and analyses.

What's your favorite thing about your role here at Going?

I can’t choose just one, so I’ll break it into categories.

• Big Picture: I love Going’s mission to help people travel and experience the world. Getting to advance that mission is extremely motivating.
• Day to Day: The projects I work on are fascinating. Monitoring business performance and seeing how our product and marketing efforts contribute to that is so cool. And I love learning new technologies and building things with them. Most importantly, the people I work with are smart, ambitious, experienced, and a joy to be around.
• Non-Work: Going’s culture is great. Our perks allow me to live my best remote work life, and we have company-wide retreats in fun locations. Our leadership team genuinely cares about me, and I can joke around with my coworkers or ask them for travel advice (our team has seemingly explored every place on earth and has impeccable recommendations for each).

What advice would you give to a candidate interested in working at Going?

If you’re interested in working at Going, you’re probably passionate about both travel and building something disruptive in the travel industry. My best advice is to let those passions shine through. Tell us your story and how you’ve lived those passions in the past or how you feel compelled and capable of doing so in the future.

And if you are chosen to interview, get ready for the smoothest, most transparent, and most efficient interview process you’ve ever experienced. The team here does such a great job of communicating the different steps, what they will be like, and what to expect after each one.

Tell us about your background (education, work experience, goals, etc.)

I originally studied accounting and finance. Some college internships quickly disillusioned me from the public accounting and corporate consulting lives I saw awaiting me. I still had to find a job, though, and luckily, I became a financial analyst for a private equity real estate firm.

That job was valuable experience, but I just knew there was something more out there. One morning, I finally got the courage to walk into my boss’ office and quit without a future plan. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever done.

I spent my “first retirement” traveling, reading books, and working with my dad in his home remodeling business.

Eventually, some “ah-ha” moments led me to enroll in a master’s program for data science. I worked as a data scientist in the healthcare industry before a friend sent me the data analyst job posting here at Going. The rest is history.

What travel experience moved you the most?

A few years ago, I took a solo trip to New Zealand for a month. Each day was filled with adventure as I road-tripped around the country, staying in hostels at each stop. Most of my stays were in small towns with stunning natural beauty— I explored pristine beaches, alpine lakes and rivers, geothermal parks, lush rainforests, and vast fjords. When my route took me to a few larger cities, I discovered incredible food, fascinating museums, and vibrant culture. The trip felt so idyllic. I found myself in an incredible loop: mornings or afternoons featured unforgettable hikes or excursions, while evenings at the hostel were spent with new friends, playing card games, or enjoying a glass of world-class New Zealand wine. The people I met were truly kindred spirits. There's something so special about being on the opposite side of the world from home and meeting people you connect with genuinely and instantaneously. That sense of community and shared experience, whether it's with your closest loved ones or people you just met, is my favorite part of travel.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Like a lot of kids, I really wanted to be a professional athlete when I grew up. I loved playing basketball, so naturally, I wanted to become an NBA player. I have since decided to put those dreams on hold (for now, at least) to pursue my data career.