As a director of product management working with Ascend’s professional education businesses, Laura Pagluica works with the Computer Science, Public Health, and CDX Product Managers to assess market needs and problems and create innovative strategies to bring products to market. This involves everything from visiting with instructors and students, to profit and loss analysis, to creating new growth strategies. Her favorite thing about working with the team is that she loves the collaborative environment of her department. Whether it’s sharing innovative ideas and best practices, or brainstorming together to solve a problem, she enjoys working with such thoughtful and creative individuals.

Q. What’s your favorite Ascend value and why?

A. Embrace Change. I’ve been lucky to work in a variety of different roles at Jones & Bartlett Learning, including editorial assistant, sales rep, and product manager. Through these roles, I have been able to learn new markets, forge relationships with different teams and colleagues, and apply a variety of different skills. Change always brings opportunity and a chance to learn.

Q. What’s the greatest piece of advice a mentor has given you?

A. A mentor once told me that I should strive to learn something new every day. Whether it’s my personal life or my career, there are always new things to learn, areas for improvement, and a chance to learn from others.

Q. What are three (or more) things that are on your desk right now and why are they there?

A. My desk looks a bit different now that I am working remotely during the pandemic. At my home office, I always try to have fresh flowers- they never fail to bring color and cheer to my day.  I also have a wedding photo of me and my husband- we just got married a few weeks ago- and a bag of treats for my new shih tzu puppy, Rosie.  In the Burlington office, my desk is filled with mementos from my travels, photos of family, and a snow globe- a gift from a colleague that always brings a smile to my face.

Q. What is one goal that you plan to accomplish during your adult lifetime?

A. I would love to hone my photography skills! I have an amateur interest in photography and love to take photos during my travels. I’ve taken a few photography tours when visiting other countries, which is a great way to see the country through a local photographer’s eyes.

Q. Outside of work, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy?

A. I love to travel. I have been to 28 countries, and have so many great memories, from camping in the Sahara desert in Morocco, to hiking a glacier in Argentina, to taking a motorbike ride along the Vietnamese coast. I love experiencing different cultures, tasting different foods, and all of the other adventures that travel brings!