Hi, I’m Reema.

I’m a generalist who has spent much of my life thinking I need to specialize. 

But I’m 40. I don’t really have the time or energy to be anything but myself these days. :) I can figure out most things if I have the right combination of curiousity, enthusiasm, and skill. 

(and again, because I’m a generalist, I have many skills, not a brag). 
When someone asks what I do, I’m never sure if I’m supposed to talk about work, what I love, or just spout some pithy answer about how we’re all the universe, so I usually just say something like “I work in marketing” and that seems to satisfy them.





42
(there’s no reason for this number to be here aside from the fact that it’s the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything).

also I think it looks cool. 

here are some places I’ve worked →


Since 2018 

YNAB

I’m currently focused on Acquisition Strategy (customers, not M&A) at YNAB. 
I spend my time thinking about how to create an amazing customer experience from the first time someone hears about us, so they are interested enough to give us a try. 

I believe that if your signal (as a brand) is clear enough, you’ll magnetize exactly the right people to you, so it’s very important you know who you are.

It’s been an interesting challenge to focus on the last few years and I love my team (and the work we get to do).

2013-2018

Startups & Consulting 

I left Amazon in 2013 to work for one of my favorite authors, Danielle LaPorte. I started as Managing Editor for a magazine project that didn’t end up shipping (strategic choice) and then moved up to Operations Manager.

I spent six months after working for Danielle riding horses (I bought a horse which had been a dream of mine since I was a kid). 
Next, I jumped into consulting for an early-stage startup that flew too close to the sun, and had a brief stint at Customer.io as a Product Manager. 
2008 - 2013

My Fortune 500 Era

I started my career at Big Fish Games after hearing Suze Orman talk about Seattle as a great place to live. I applied on a whim and moved up from Santa Cruz (where I went to school) without much of a plan. 
I went from a Customer Service Rep to a Game Producer in my 4 years there. 

In 2012 I had the opportunity to join Amazon Publishing as a Production Manager and couldn’t pass it up. 

It was a firehose year there and I learned a ton (but definitely had a few crying-in-the-stairwell moments).



I live about thirty minutes (by ferry) outside of the Seattle area with my husband and cats. 

This quote from Seth Godin is basically how I’ve oriented everything in my life: 

“Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from.”I was born in Kuwait in the middle of a sandstorm, my name means wild gazelle, and I’ve never really felt like I fit in anywhere. 
But it’s been pretty cool to exist in that way because I’m able to jump back and forth between galaxy-scale universal thinking and wondering what I’ll make for dinner tomorrow.  If you have interesting things to share, send me a note at: ralzaben@gmail.com.