Employee Spotlight: Yanping Wolfe

Here’s your chance to meet Yanping Wolfe, our director of product management for IKE. Yanping does an amazing job managing multiple ikeGPS teams to develop our innovative IKE product line. Read on to get to know Yanping.

Please describe your role.

I’m the product manager for the IKE product. In my role, I focus on different aspects of product development. This includes looking to the market to ensure that what we’re building fits the market’s needs and communicating with customers to understand their requirements. I also support sales by aligning our product development with sales goals and work with engineering to make sure the team understands the requirements and road map.

What’s a typical day in the office like?

A typical day involves a variety of tasks because my role spans across different functions. I spend a lot of time talking to IKE customers and prospects to understand their business and relationship with us. Within ikeGPS, I consult with the sales and marketing teams, but most of my time is spent with engineering on product development.

What degrees do you hold?

I hold a doctorate in remote sensing and GIS from the University of Oxford and an executive MBA from the University of Denver.

What were you doing before you joined ikeGPS?

I worked for Spatial Energy, where I managed products for geospatial data hosting and distribution for the oil and gas industry.

Why did you decide to join ikeGPS?

I thought the technology was interesting and unique. There’s nothing else like IKE on the market. This role was also specifically for the utility industry, which is my background, so it seemed like a good fit.

What do you love about working at ikeGPS most?

I work with so many smart, talented people. It’s not the technology that makes such a cool product; it’s the people. Everyone works as a cohesive team across the board, and I love being part of such a collaborative environment.

What did you want to be when you grow up?

I wanted to be a world traveler who sails around the world.

What are some of your favorite outside office activities?

I spend a lot of weekends hiking in the mountains and gardening.

If you could create your perfect meal, what would it be?

I like food that preserves the original flavor. Steamed fresh fish is delicious and doesn’t need a lot of spice to have flavor.

What’s your dream vacation?

I would love to go on a sailing vacation. I’ve sailed in San Diego Bay and would love to do that more. Sailing is hard to do in Colorado.