Team Spotlight: Grace

In this spotlight, we chat with Grace, the newest member of our team and 55 Minutes' first product owner, to get to know her life outside work.

What made you decide to join 55 Minutes?

When I dug into the 55 Minutes website, I was drawn to the word “human-centred.” I think it’s a word that’s honestly overused and has somewhat lost its meaning along the way. At my interview with Wendy I realised that 55 Minutes was the kind of place where solutions aren’t just about efficiency but truly about empathy and people — and that clicked deeply for me.

You’re the first product owner of 55 Minutes! Tell us more about your role and how you fit into the team.

As the first product owner here, my role is part explorer, part translator, and part professional asker of “why”? My role is to help our team make thoughtful product decisions before we rush into solutions, especially when things are still ambiguous or not fully defined. I help hold space for ambiguity where the answers aren’t obvious yet and I try to create clarity without forcing certainty too early.


A big part of my work is clarifying what’s worth building before we jump into how to build it. That means listening deeply and connecting dots across research, designers, engineers, users and stakeholders. It’s a lot of listening, aligning, zooming in and out, interpreting context, and communicating clearly so the team has confidence in why we’re moving where we’re moving.

What was your previous work experience prior to joining 55 Minutes?

I worked as a product manager in an insurtech startup, where I wore many hats. I actually started out as a marketing associate before eventually landing into product management. It taught me how to move fast, learn fast, and stay curious even when things were chaotic.

With 55 Minutes’ focus on inclusive design and accessibility, in what ways will you do your job differently from other product managers?

It challenges me to see beyond the typical user experience and delve into the lives of people that go through life very differently from me. It means writing user stories, measuring metrics and prioritising features where accessibility isn't a footnote but baked into our vision from day one.

What’s the most fulfilling part of your job?

Product management is a long game, there’s an element of delayed gratification to it so when an idea transforms into something real that actually helps or delights the user, that’s what fulfills. Also, it helps that I adore the process of figuring it out.

What’s the most frustrating part of your job?

When everything feels urgent at the same time and the product roadmap starts looking like a buffet table. Also, when user feedback contradicts each other and I start questioning reality.

Outside of work, what are your other interests, hobbies and activities?

I enjoy photography, drumming, cozy gaming and most recently crocheting!


If you weren’t working in product management, what would you be doing?

In the most romantic version of my life I think I would have been a documentary filmmaker! I like the idea of crafting a narrative thread about real people/issues that helps others glean a new perspective.

Grace’s preferred offline mode: strolling in a new city or by the water

What websites or apps are part of your life?

Substack is my morning tea companion of choice where I'm subscribed to way too many newsletters revolving around product strategy, culture, and random deep dives into niche topics.

The Notes app, because the basics are where it’s at. It functions like my digital sticky notes dump where I have hundreds of them from half-baked product thoughts, snippets of conversations that sparked something, and lists upon lists.

When was the last time you felt awe?

Grace at Emerald Lake (okay, maybe this photo does it a little bit of justice!)

My last visit to the Canadian Rockies left me in awestruck. Something about the scale and stillness made the noise in my head go quiet. I just sat there soaking it all in, in its HD glory that no photo could do justice.

What is something you used to believe but you no longer do?

I used to think that harmony meant avoiding disagreements, that keeping things smooth was how you built strong relationships. But I've learned that real connection requires honesty, even when it's uncomfortable!

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We hope you enjoyed getting to know Grace! We’re sure it’s only a matter of time before we see her creativity applied not only in the products of 55 Minutes, but in her photographs and crochet masterpieces as well!