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Mike Arnesen

Mike is responsible for company leadership and business development, yet still enjoys taking a generous helping of in-the-weeds work.

What’s your favorite thing about working at UpBuild?

My favorite thing about working at UpBuild is being able to work on really interesting problems — whether that’s analytics, SEO, overcoming business challenges, or setting the 20-year course for the company — in the best work environment I can imagine.

What would you consider your specialty at UpBuild?

My specialty is also a shortfall. If we run into a challenging or novel issue here at UpBuild, it’s not uncommon for me to drop everything and try to understand what’s going on and completely dissect it. That’s made me really well-versed in the technical side of analytics, for example, but that also means I fall behind doing important things like proposals! Whoops.

What’s your favorite industry (or industries) to work with?

I really enjoy working with mid-stage B2B startups (Seed to Series A). They’re really starting to build momentum, but they’re not too big or entrenched in their ways yet. They’re still idealistic; still willing to take risks and try new ideas. It’s great to be able to collaborate closely and outmaneuver the established and slower competition.

What is your favorite deliverable?

Our analytics audit!

What are some fun facts you want the world to know?

1. I type using an alternative keyboard layout called Dvorak; QWERTY is so 1870s.

2. I broke my collarbone (clavicle) while stage-diving at a hardcore punk rock show inside of a skate park.

3. I spent nearly 30 years hating public speaking and almost failed Public Speaking in college.

  1. In my free time (limited as it is), co-host a podcast called Too Rational on productivity and work/life optimization.

Finally, and most importantly: what’s your favorite GIF?

The context this is used in is any time where I have a problem I want to complain about that’s actually a really great thing. For example, having too many viable sales leads to talk to or too many awesome job applicants.