Humans of Fundbox: Tom Goldschmiedt

In our series, Humans of Fundbox, we’ll take a look at some of the diverse and hardworking people that make up our company.

Today, meet Tom Goldschmiedt, Executive Director of Human Resources at Fundbox in San Francisco. Born in Israel and now a proud San Franciscan, Tom is a longtime Fundboxer who loves working with people and helping others reach their full potential.

In this Q&A, she shares her journey from law school to finding the right position in HR and operations, and her perspective on the company’s mission.

Tom Goldschmiedt, Executive Director of People at Fundbox. Photo: Ashley Batz.

Fundbox: In 2 or 3 sentences, can you describe your role at Fundbox?

Tom Goldschmiedt: I am in charge of everything related to the lifecycle of an employee at Fundbox. That includes everything from the onboarding process, to implementing employee development programs, company events, employee relations, and creating and implementing any related policies. In addition, I also supervise the facilities of the office. I see my role as the liaison between employees and the company, someone who can help give voice to employees, while also finding a happy medium that fits the company’s needs.

What is your typical work day like?

TG: I often multi-task, solve employee problems, and work on ongoing projects. For example, I recently revamped our new hiring process to include overviews of different departments and worked with managers to tailor their training plans accordingly. with a specific role. These days, I’m also working on our upcoming employee review cycle by gathering market data and working with managers and executives to make sure we deliver the right pay. equal.

In terms of facilities, I recently spearheaded an office expansion to a new floor in our building, which included months of lease negotiations and communication with various vendors, including designers, IT and more. No matter the day, I’m always busy!

You’re pretty much an early Fundboxer — how long have you been at the company? What has kept you here over the years?

TG: I have been with Fundbox for almost 4 years, I started as the Office Manager and was the 8th employee in the San Francisco office. I’m really excited to see the company grow and participate in getting it to where it is today. I love my job and how I can have an impact on the day-to-day lives of everyone in the office, especially when we were a very small startup.

I am the type of person who likes to stay active and busy, and in the past four years there has never been a moment of dullness. I always feel like I can contribute as we grow our team and I really enjoy that.

From a young age, do you know what you want to do for a living or discover it once you’ve been through it? What did you learn at school?

TG: When I was young, I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. After doing my military service (a must for everyone in Israel), I was excited to go to school. I chose to go to law school, but after finishing school, internship, and passing the bar exam, I entered the corporate litigation field and quickly realized that I didn’t enjoy practice as much as theory.

My next step was to study business and change careers, when the opportunity moved to San Francisco thanks to my husband’s job. We decided to go for it! I was interested in Operations roles and soon found an Office Manager role at Fundbox.

I immediately felt a sense of belonging at the company. Israel is a small place, and we Israelis tend to find each other. For me, being from Israel and working at a half-Israeli company makes me feel a little closer to home.

On the job front, I also find that working with people and managing operations comes naturally to me. My transition to Human Resources Manager felt like a natural next step and I enjoy learning and growing in the profession with each new experience.

Today, I find that my job as a lawyer has pushed me to “side with” and I have never liked the feeling of fighting “against” the other side. In contrast, working in the field of human resources is quite the opposite. It requires me to understand all parties and facilitate win-win situations, to help ensure greater communication and satisfaction for everyone.

Do you have any personal or family small business connections that keep you engaged with the Fundbox mission and clients?

TG: I have! My father has owned a furniture factory in Tel Aviv for about 30 years. I know firsthand how difficult it is for small business owners to depend on steady sales to stay afloat. It’s a day-to-day struggle. That perspective definitely helps me connect with Fundbox’s mission on a personal level.

Tom Goldschmiedt shares laughter with colleague Katie Silverman in the Fundbox office in San Francisco. Photo: Ashley Batz.

Since you’ve been at the company longer than most, can you share any good stories about the changes you’ve experienced as the company has grown?

TG: Fundbox is very different today than when I joined. Now, we have nearly 200 employees. I have the honor to join the company early and see how it started as an extension of the Tel Aviv office and grew to its own roots.

With that said, I believe the core values ​​of Fundbox remain unchanged: each of us has a sense of ownership in our mission.

As a company, we care about inclusion. Specifically, we are interested in using technological innovations to expand financial inclusion, creating new opportunities for more people. Do you think it is important for financial companies to have a social mission? Why?

TG: My strongest connection to the Fundbox mission is through our people. The core of the business is the people who work in it, and it’s my job to support them as they work towards their goals. I think it is important for a financial company to have a social mission because as a company that provides a valuable resource like working capital, we have a lot of responsibilities and opportunities to have an impact. affect businesses across the country.

Diversity is something we value and spend a lot of time thinking about. As an Israeli coming to work in an American environment, I can greatly appreciate how these different perspectives balance each other and how cross-functional and diverse teams come up with the best solutions.

When you interview people to join Fundbox, what are some of the biggest things you’re looking for in a great candidate?

TG: To be successful at Fundbox, you have to be a true owner and have a high sense of commitment. This person is not only thinking about what the company can offer them, but what they can offer the company. We’re looking for someone who doesn’t see their time here as “just a job” but instead looks for more meaning and strives to continue to learn and grow.

What we do has a direct impact on thousands of small businesses and also an indirect impact on their suppliers and customers. For me, it’s a great feeling to know we’re working towards something that positively changes people’s lives.

Want to work with Tom at Fundbox? Check out our Recruitment page.

Want more Humans of Fundbox?

• Meet Prashant Fuloria, CEO
• Meet Gibson Holland, Sync Support Manager
• Meet Emad ElShawa, Sales Operations Manager
• Meet Robin MacPherson, Software Engineer