Meet the Team: Kurt Adams

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

I’m originally from Syracuse, New York, but I’ve lived in New York City for the past ten years. When I’m not geeking out over credit card points, I’m often found watching Bravo or the Yankees. On most weekends, I volunteer at my local animal shelter—the same shelter from which I adopted one of my two cats. I’m also a huge Peloton addict.

What does a Senior Marketing Manager do anyway? How did you get into Marketing?

I teach our members about how to use points and miles earned from travel credit cards to travel more, travel better, and travel for less. Think of me as your personal trainer for points and miles: I’ll coach you on using your credit card perks and push you to learn the best ways to redeem your points. You can read some of my articles here, or check out our Points highlights on our Instagram.

I got into marketing in the most ordinary, predictable way possible: by doing a history PhD. Jokes aside, after deciding I didn’t want to spend my entire career in academia, I stumbled into marketing, more specifically, marketing for financial services. While it may seem a far way off from the ivory tower, I discovered that I use the same skills I developed during my PhD—writing, public speaking, and teaching—when talking to members about points and miles.

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

I love that I get to help our members understand about different travel credit cards and how to use their points and miles. Nothing makes me happier than when I learn a member booked a flight with points!

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

Let your passion shine through. When I applied for my role, I told the team at Going about my (very real) Google sheet where I track how much I’ve saved in travel from credit card perks and redeeming points and miles. Tell us about what makes you tick.

What's one thing you wish you knew when you first started working at Going?

During my interview process, I was told the culture at Going was great, but I only fully got it once I experienced it. We may be a remote team, but the camaraderie and support at Going is second to none. We find ways to have fun and get to know each other even if we are in different time zones. My colleagues are always willing to lend a hand or just have a call to catch up and chat.

What prompted your love of travel?

My grandfather inspired my love of travel. When I was growing up, he traveled the US and sent us grandkids postcards from everywhere he visited. Now, I try to carry on this tradition by sending postcards of my travels to my nephews.

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

Growing up, I acted in many Shakespeare plays and wanted to be an actor. While my thespian days are behind me, it turns out that parsing the language of travel rewards programs isn’t much different than interpreting the Bard’s iambic pentameter!