9 Years Strong: Longtime Navan Employees Share Their Stories

As Navan commemorates our ninth year, we're taking a moment to look back with some of the longest-standing team members. To mark this special occasion, we asked some of Navan's veteran employees who have been committed to our mission for more than half a decade to share their experiences.

Through their perspectives, we understand what drives their commitment and passion for Navan and how their collective contributions have shaped our organization's growth and success. 

Keagan Elsley, Director of Engineering and employee No. 7, joined Navan in 2015 as a mobile developer and has grown his responsibilities to his current role as a director overseeing multiple teams worldwide.  

“One of the original reasons I joined was the people,” said Keagan. “It was a crew I had worked with previously, and I saw the initial position as a great opportunity to continue to work with them. It has stayed that way over time. I continue to work with some of those original great people and new strong talent who have joined over the years.”

Keagan's personal journey has mirrored the growth and evolution of Navan, which is a testament to his adaptability and commitment to the company's success.

“Ownership is a big piece of our culture here that I value. Everyone takes pride and accountability in the product being the best it can be,” said Keagan. “People here take end-to-end responsibility for what they do and ensure what they are doing is best for the company and the user.”

Keagan is excited to see what the future holds and continues to conquer challenges with his colleagues.

Jose Soares, Senior Manager of Commercial Sales in San Francisco, was one of the first sales hires at Navan more than eight years ago. Jose joined the sales team in Navan’s headquarters in Palo Alto as an SDR and has earned eight promotions throughout his tenure. He has also had an important role in the company’s rapid growth.

“Over the last almost eight years here at Navan, I’ve had the opportunity to up-level myself,” said Jose. “The culture here has always been one of growth.” 

“Team members challenge themselves to grow, raise the bar, and drive value daily — and are rewarded with numerous opportunities to develop their career. I’m excited for the future of Navan as we continue to take the market and drive value for our customers at an even grander scale as we continue to grow as a company.”

Leighann (Yamami) Ramkumar, a sales recruiting manager who works out of Navan’s HQ in Palo Alto, has spent almost seven years at the company. She played a critical role in scaling Navan’s talent team during the company's rapid growth and through multiple transition periods. 

“I’ve always had a passion for the travel industry,” said Leighann. “I came to Navan because you get the fun and exciting pieces of the travel industry but applied to a business model that works. The product is actually something I use all the time, and as a recruiter, it’s extremely important to love what we produce.” “However, it's the people and talent leaders I’ve been able to support that have kept me here for so long.”

“I would describe our culture as challenging, fun, ever-changing, and intense at times given the circumstances we’ve had to overcome. One of the things I appreciate is that regardless of seniority or team, everyone leans in. We are a company that operates extremely well in times of crisis and is able to pivot fast,” said Leighann.

She also became a mother and had two children during her time at Navan.

“My time at Navan has been a learning experience in terms of setting boundaries and balancing my workload with family life,” she said. “I started my career here as a single individual and have since gotten married and had two kids.” 

“Each time I left and returned from maternity leave, my team showed me so much grace as I essentially had to relearn how to do my job. I’ve felt beyond supported.”

Jax Sassine, Senior Manager, Travel Services, has been with the company for five-and-a-half years. He’s based in Lisbon, Portugal, today but joined the company in London and moved to the Amsterdam office before relocating to help set up the Lisbon office.

Jax values the international culture at Navan, which has drastically expanded to include new countries, cultures, and offices throughout his career. Navan has dozens of offices across North America, Europe, Israel, and Asia-Pacific.

“Coming up on six years with Navan, I truly value the dynamic international culture, how we embrace diversity, and our amazing talent across the global offices,” said Jax. “I look forward to Navan's future growth and success and seeing what new standards we can set for the industry.”

One of the most memorable experiences during these six years was the 2019 Connections event, in which every employee from every office came together at Navan’s Palo Alto HQ. With his commitment and work ethic, it’s clear why Jax received multiple promotions, moving from consultant to manager throughout his tenure.

“I had never been a part of a company that’s so inclusive to allow everyone to be together for a celebration,” said Jax. “And I mean everyone!” 

Jeremy Schneeweiss, General Manager, UK, joined Navan five-and-a-half years ago. His journey with Navan started in New York City where he was one of the first salespeople in the New York office and expanded his role substantially there before moving to London.

“What’s kept me at Navan is the opportunity for growth, the speed and urgency to do (versus sit), and decisive leadership,” said Jeremy, who is as passionate about the product now as on the day he started. “Not only do we sell a dynamic, exciting, and user-focused product, but I really enjoy the opportunity to work across different regions, markets, and segments.”

When Donetta Adams, a business travel senior lead based out of the Dallas office, joined Navan more than five years ago, she wasn’t expecting her career in travel to take her around the world. But that’s what happened when she earned a trip to Lisbon through her work at Navan. But the travel isn’t what keeps her engaged in the business.

“My commitment to Navan for five-and-a-half years is a result of the continuous opportunities for personal and professional growth, nurtured by the supportive team atmosphere that ignites my daily drive. The aspect of our work culture that resonates most with me is the unwavering dedication to collaborative efforts, which binds us together in the pursuit of our shared goals,” said Donetta, who has been promoted from agent to business travel senior lead over the course of her Navan career. 

“I look forward to sticking with Navan on this journey — all of its innovative projects and upcoming opportunities fill me with genuine excitement about our collective potential.

Check out Navan’s open roles today to join our dynamic global teams.