What’s it like to be a Caliber Senior Account Executive in Austin? One of Caliber’s early-career PR all-stars, Ross Stevens, sat down with our Culture Manager, Kate Forster, to talk about why he loves Texas, ESG, cooking and proptech PR.

Kate: Since we’re currently a work-from-home friendly workplace, tell us about “home” for you!

Ross: I live in Austin, TX now, but I grew up in Columbia, SC. Those are the only two places I’ve ever lived. My home is currently occupied by my clingy, crazy, conniving Australian Shepherd named Izzy, who has lots of personality, and my lazy but sweet Chocolate Lab, Hazelnut.

Kate: What’s your favorite activity outside work?

Ross: That’s tough. I would say my biggest hobbies right now are being outside with my dogs, glaring at my failing fantasy football/baseball teams, or discovering new dive bars. I’m also a huge music fan, and have been playing instruments since I was eight or nine. I don’t think my neighbors would appreciate me playing my drum set at any hour of the day, so I’ve made the switch to guitar in the last couple of years.

Kate: What’s your favorite part of your job as a Caliber Senior Account Executive?

Ross: Getting to know my Caliber teammates and clients on a more personal level. It’s nice to have that genuine human connection, outside of just having a work connection. I recently got to spend some time with clients at SXSW, and being able to sit down with them and not only talk about plans for their organization, but also learn more about who they are as a person and what drives them was a really enjoyable experience that made me feel more connected to my accounts.

Want to experience what it’s like to work at Caliber? Check out these Caliber culture posts.

Kate: What’s one accomplishment from your childhood that you still brag about?

Ross: I didn’t accomplish much as a child, but I did win an essay contest in third grade. I don’t remember exactly what it was about, but I think that it had something to do with the Fall season, which makes sense, since that’s my favorite time of year. Looking back at it, should I be offended that my teacher was so surprised that my writing wasn’t terrible?

Kate: Name one career accomplishment or milestone you’ve achieved since joining Caliber.

Ross: Being promoted to Senior Account Executive in two years. Since being promoted, and now being with Caliber for just over two and a half years, I’ve really enjoyed developing trust and better relationships with clients, while also serving as a guide for some of the Account Executive and Account Coordinator staff members.

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Kate: What’s one thing that amazes you about fintech or innovation in financial services?

Ross: The ESG aspects of financial services and fintech really capture my attention. I believe it’s the future of the industry and everyone should be (and will need to be) looking at everything through that lens moving forward. As an example, working with some of Caliber’s clients, I’ve been able to work on projects that address some of the underlying issues with diversity in the real estate industry. It has not only been interesting but rewarding to help proptech clients establish a leading voice in trying to root out bias.

Kate: If you had to include one ingredient in every meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Ross: Hot Sauce (of any kind, though my favorites are probably Crystal and Cholula).