Iris Hu 
Senior Acquisition Marketing Manager at Mosaic Group an IAC company
"Everything that happens is for the best."
My name is Iris Hu and I am a Senior Acquisition Marketing Manager at Mosaic Group, an IAC company with a collection of winning mobile brands. I am part of a global team and I lead 3rd party ad-vendors and performance marketing for multiple brands across their mobile and web businesses. I am a big believer in mentorship, coaching and networking, so I’m always looking for opportunities to learn from experienced leaders. I’m also always happy to give any advice I can and share my experience and knowledge with others.
Q: What/who inspired you to pursue this career?I was inspired by a friend, who had been in the mobile space for over a decade when we met. I remember them telling me how mobile was the future and how excited they were to watch the industry evolve. Seeing my friend so passionate about this really had a huge effect on me. They also were working on their own application to provide a user-friendly smart-phone screen layout, making it easier for the elderly to use. This idea of having a positive impact on others' lives was also very appealing.
Q: What's the best career decision you've ever made and why?
Don’t give up and don’t say no to challenges, or to so-called “impossibles”.
We won’t ever know our full potential unless we tackle challenges and give our full effort to the things we do. Here’s a little story. There were huge structural changes in one of my previous jobs and it happened just a few months after I joined. All of a sudden, the whole department shrunk to just me. I was still in the onboarding phase with minimal knowledge of the field. I had to take on all the responsibilities and adapt myself to the new role immediately. Not going to lie, I had lots of doubts about my ability and qualifications to run the day-to-day operations. Did I think about giving up and quitting? Yes, I did, many times during the transition. Luckily, I didn't quit. That was the best decision I ever made! I am still thankful for those challenges as they allowed me to learn, grow and adapt faster than I could ever have imagined! I am grateful for the opportunity to absorb so much knowledge, experience, and to be surrounded by a group of amazing leaders.
Q: What common challenges do professional women face today in the world of mobile?I’ve seen so many professional women getting into the world of mobile. It’s definitely on the up and is an attractive career for younger people. It’s great to see so many females working in the field and being successful. Technology is evolving faster than we think, Covid is changing the way we consume ads significantly and iOS14.5 is disrupting the entire industry, from attribution to reporting to ad targeting. These are the challenges we face every single day, not just women, but all of us. The ability to be able to adapt to change has become very important.
Q: How do you motivate your team members?
Lead by influence - I have a high standard for myself. I do the work the way I would expect from others and show them a strong example. It’s always good to take the initiative and practice leadership.
Compliment your colleagues when you can - we are all working towards the same goal for our companies, after all. Saying something nice to a co-worker can make them feel good about their work and appreciated for a job-well-done.
Have appreciation - always appreciate your colleagues' information and questions, even if it might not be exactly what you’re looking for. Be a supporter of your team members.
Q: How would you define success in your own words?I think success is being able to enjoy every day. It’s being able to be truthful to yourself, to the things you like and the life you’d like to live. The journey of working towards that is the journey to success.
Q: What is your idea for a new invention?
If I were to invent something, it would be a teleporter. It would be such a convenience to be able to get somewhere else in an instant. For me, it would be great to be able to go see my parents and family in China more easily. It could also eliminate time spent commuting and would open up all sorts of travel possibilities.
Q: If you could have the power of teleportation right now, where would you go and why?
I would definitely visit my home country and see my parents. Working and living in a different country doesn’t provide the opportunity to see my parents very often. In addition, there are time zone differences, long flights, and expensive tickets, etc. Spending time with them has become more and more precious to me.
Q: Are you an early bird or night owl?
By nature, I would say I am more of a night owl. I am able to concentrate better and be more productive at night. However, I can be a morning person when I need to be. I used to take 6 am exercise classes during grad school, so I’ve definitely had my fair share of waking up early.
My favorite book is Tuesdays with Morrie. This book reminds us to slow down and appreciate each other. It also reminds us of what the most important thing in the world is: relationships with people.
Q: What advice would you give to your younger self?
I don't know if I can really give valid advice to my younger self because then I won't be who I am today. Everything that happens is for the best - I really believe that.
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