Meet the Team: Thao Nguyen

Welcome to Reggora’s Meet the Team series! Our team is powered by smart, hard working people dedicated to appraisal innovation, and we’ve all taken very different paths to get here. In this series, we’ll introduce you team members across Reggora. This post features Thao Nguyen, who joined Reggora in April of 2021 as an Accounting Manager.

Q: Tell us about yourself. Where did you grow up? Go to school? What do you enjoy doing?

I was born and raised in Burlington, Vermont - the beautiful Green Mountain state. Burlington will always be one of my favorite places to come back to and visit since my family moved around a lot when I was growing up. We moved to Salem, MA when I was in high school and I ended up going to school here in Boston to study Finance at Suffolk University. This was where I met most of my longtime friends, and when I realized I wanted to stay here in MA. It’s been the one state that I’ve stuck around for the longest.

I like to listen to music while doing anything. It will range from Françoise Hardy, to Talking Heads, to Mariah Carey (‘Honey’ is her best song, idc what anyone says), to Sade. My Top 25 Most Played playlist is all over the place. I took a music theory class once and it was one of the hardest subjects I’ve had to study for… it’s basically math for music. I also enjoy watching movies when I have the time. Some of my favorite filmmakers include Wong Kar-wai, David Lynch and Guillermo del Toro. I love to see other cultures through the lenses of foreign directors. To quote the words of Parasite director, Bong Joon Ho: “Once you overcome the 1-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”

Q: Where did you work before Reggora?

Before I joined Reggora, I was working at Buildium, a software solution for property managers, as their sole Senior Accountant. I worked closely with the Head of Finance with financial reporting and owned the operating expenses, treasury duties, and led the research & development capitalization process. When they were acquired by RealPage, I was heavily involved in transitioning a lot of the processes over, as well as implementing new changes within the Finance team. During my time there, I took on additional responsibilities due to new leadership and internal changes, something that helped shape who I am professionally now.

Q: Why did you join the Reggora team?

Two main reasons 1) Reggora’s product, and 2) Reggora’s culture. 

I saw what Reggora is building, its mission, and how they’re solving a complicated problem within the real estate industry. I found it exciting and much needed in the appraisal space. I also joined Reggora because I saw all the opportunities to help. Being a younger company, there’s always room for your voice and your ideas. The culture here promotes professional growth and development by encouraging 1 on 1s with not just your manager, but people outside your team as well. 

Q: What do you do here at Reggora?

I’m an accountant. I feel like when I tell people that, there are usually no follow up questions, lol. I currently handle all things OPEX, corporate credit cards, employee expense reports, headcount, payroll and taxes, etc. In terms of financial reporting, I’m reconciling the Balance Sheet and anything that’s below the line on the P&L. 

Accounting isn’t as glamorous as other sectors of the business, but it keeps us in check and if everything is afloat and running smoothly then I think that’s a win. In my spare time, I’m doing research on areas for improvement. That can be either implementing new policies, setting new internal controls, or streamlining a current process. I’m hoping to continue to learn and grow more within Reggora where I can be a well-rounded team player.

Q: How have you handled the switch to remote work?

It’s been wonderful; the main reason being that I no longer have to take the dreaded Red Line and spend 1-2 hours of my day commuting. Working remotely means I can work from anywhere (with WiFi of course!), not just from the comfort of my own home. I’m able to use my time more productively and not have to worry about traffic or crowded trains. Can you imagine pre-Covid, we were really okay with being crammed together like sardines on the train? 

Q: What’s something that’s surprised you since joining the team?

I’m surprised by how well connected everyone is considering it’s a remote-first company. Reggora does a great job of creating spaces that are welcoming and inviting by having social initiatives and planning events to get everyone involved. Some of my favorite events are “Masterclasses” hosted by our own employees - it’s fun learning something new from one of my colleagues.

Q: What is something that drives you? 

What drives me is how hard everyone here works. I see how dedicated my manager, my teammates and the rest of the company are to their work and it makes me want to contribute as much as I can. The people here really do live by Reggora’s values - putting worth into our work.

Many thanks, Thao - not only for sharing with us, but for all of your hard work on the financial side of Reggora!

We’re continuing to hire across all departments here at Reggora. To learn about joining the team and see our open roles, visit www.reggora.com/careers.