Reviewed by: Callie Puryear
Zach Russell left for greener pastures—until he remembered all that made him love EBSCO
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Zach Russell is a proud Texan who’s happy to call Birmingham home. In 2014, he started working at EBSCO Industries and was there for almost 6.5 years. Then he went on a journey that led to new knowledge and skills, as well as a deeper appreciation for the values that made him love EBSCO in the first place. Ultimately, he came back. Here is his story.
Zach Russell’s “boomerang” story
Not everyone who leaves a company for greener pastures comes back, but Zach Russell did.
Meet Zach Russell
Born and raised in Austin, Zach is a proud University of Texas grad who knew he wanted to get into technology but had no idea where to start.
Through connections, he found a position in Birmingham in 2011 with a company that said “If you’ve got the right personality, we’ll teach you the tech.”
While there, he met his wife. Together, they have two children, ages two and three.
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Working at EBSCO the first time
In 2014, Zach got a call from someone at EBSCO who said “We have a new position and an idea of the value we want to offer but don’t have a game plan. Are you interested?”
As someone who loves flexibility, he was in. Once he got there, a few things impressed him about the company:
- A lot of people had been at EBSCO for a long time, which he took as a good sign.
- He loved the people he worked with—they were patient and taught him a lot.
- The company culture was open, meaning it was easy to access anyone from the CEO on down.
When Zach and his wife decided to adopt their first child, they were surprised to learn how much the company really cares about the people who work there. Not only did EBSCO provide paid parental leave, but they also provided additional adoption benefits to help the Russells bring their daughter home.
Curious about working at EBSCO? Check out their open positions today.
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On a journey
Almost 6.5 years after he started at EBSCO, Zach was headhunted for an opportunity that was too good to pass up. It was a huge step up in terms of leadership, and ultimately helped him build his skills, knowledge and experience.
While he was there, though, he began to have a much clearer idea of the values that really mattered to him, including building a healthy company, being good to your people, and building something that lasts.
Because that company was 100% remote, Zach and his wife seriously considered moving—either to his hometown of Austin, Texas, or to Nashville.
Ultimately, they decided not to because they were happy in Birmingham. The standard of living they could have here and the trajectory of the city were too good to ignore.
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Returning to EBSCO
When Zach decided to return to EBSCO in his current role as Senior Product Manager, everyone was very welcoming and glad to see him again. People understood that everyone has their own journey, and knew that his had been about improving his skills.
Now that he’s returned, he appreciates the longevity of the company and its dedication to making the community better.
“When EBSCO says they want to upskill their people and want to make lives better for them and their families, they actually mean it.”
Zach Russell, Senior Product Manager, EBSCO
Looking for a place to build a career you can love? EBSCO is hiring.
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