T2 has some of the brightest minds in the parking industry, and each employee brings a unique set of talents and experiences to the table. We talked to Poppy Guloien, T2 Regional Sales Manager to learn more about her passion for parking and fascinating background. With a drive to live and work authentically, she stays attuned to the pulse of the industry to help our customers succeed.
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Jasper, Alberta, but I grew up in a small seaside town that is a suburb of Vancouver British Columbia called White Rock.
Who were your role models?
First and foremost, my parents. My mom is the epitome of compassion and kindness – a really classy lady. My dad is very intelligent and well-spoken. He has always been an amazing problem solver and an all-around “get’er-done” kind of man. I admire these qualities in my parents, and I always aspire to emulate them to the best of my ability.
My parents always like to remind me that, when I was a teenager, I said that I wanted to be like Alexis Carrington Colby on Dynasty when I grew up. Super embarrassing!
There have been a lot of people who have inspired me over the years, and they seem to have one thing in common – the courage to be unapologetically themselves. It has taken me a long time, but I have learned that when I sacrifice my authenticity to get people to like me, I don’t enjoy their admiration. Deep down, I know that they only like who I am pretending to be, and not who I really am. It takes remarkable strength of character to disrupt the zeitgeist, and that kind of courage is inspiring.
How did you end up in the parking industry?
I had just moved back from the Cayman Islands, where I had been the Director of Sales and Convention Services for the Westin Hotel for 8 years. I knew I wanted to do something different, but I wasn’t sure what. My cousin’s husband was working for Digital Payment Technologies in sales and asked me for my resume. Before I knew it, he arranged an interview for me at DPT and my career in parking began there in 2011. DPT was a subsidiary of T2 Systems, then, and is now fully integrated into our company as our pay station hardware arm of business.
What drew you to T2?
When I went through the interview process with senior leadership, I really liked how encouraging and supportive they were from the start. They genuinely cared about employee feedback and making T2 a great place to work. From the start, there was a sense that each employee at DPT was considered an integral part of the team. I have always loved being part of a team – I feel right at home contributing as a member of one big family.
What challenges do you enjoy in your current role as Regional Sales Manager?
The biggest challenge is staying on top of our advancing and emerging product lines and how they integrate with our industry partners. Our customers’ needs are always evolving, so keeping my finger on the pulse of the market is a key priority for me and makes my job very rewarding. Every parking ecosystem is different, and every organization has different priorities and objectives. No two parking operations are the same. It’s fascinating and I love thinking through the impact that each organizational choice can have on an operation. It is better than solving the Wordle of the day!
What is one thing you think people do not know about parking that you find interesting?
The public often thinks that paid parking or parking tickets are a “cash grab,” but that is so rarely what motivates parking management. Parking management is about reducing traffic congestion, analyzing how the parking spaces are serving community businesses, and more.
What’s something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I was a professional actor and voiceover artist for 10 years. You may have seen me in a theater production, on TV, or heard my voice in a video game or a cartoon!
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