Meet the Experts: Karissa Zuroski

From our award-winning customer support team to the engineers who keep our platform and services fast and performant, each one of WP Engine’s more than 1,000 employees is vital in fulfilling our mission to power confidence online.

We take pride in our team’s expertise, whether in technical troubleshooting for WordPress^Ⓡ[1] sites, driving relentless innovation across our fully managed hosting platform, or providing exceptional support for our agency partners.  

Our Meet the Experts series is an opportunity to peek behind the curtain, learning more about the roles, areas of expertise, and contributions individuals are making to drive success for WP Engine and our customers.

In this feature, we’ll introduce you to Karissa Zuroski, a Sales Director and Small Business Brand Account Manager based in Omaha, Nebraska. 

Say hello to Karissa!

Karissa has always had an eye for opportunity, even when it wasn’t exactly what she expected. Fresh out of college, she was working as a corporate event planner when she applied to be a “happiness engineer” at Flywheel, thinking it was an office assistant role.

“I was eager to move on from events, and Flywheel had such a strong brand in Omaha,” she says. “I ended up being recruited for their small sales team because of my background in event sales.”

Though she had avoided other sales opportunities, she quickly found her place in the company’s collaborative sales model. 

“My dad is a career salesman, and I never thought I’d follow in his footsteps,” she says, “but I fell in love with the partnership-based, consultative approach we use here.”

Based in Omaha, Karissa’s role gives her the opportunity to build, refine, and scale processes that support long-term customer value and retention.

“My favorite part of working here is the autonomy. I feel trusted to make decisions, solve problems, and drive meaningful solutions across the business.”

When she’s not focused on customer success or team performance, Karissa is all about family. “I have two young kids, so outside of work, I’m usually on a bike ride, cooking dinner, or hanging out with cousins.”

Karissa’s career journey

Over the past nine years, Karissa has helped lead and scale high-performing sales teams by focusing on what matters most: coaching talent, building process-driven systems, and making hard decisions quickly.

She has built a reputation for leading high-performing teams and navigating change with empathy and clarity.

She currently leads the Brand Account Management team, where she’s responsible for building a sales model that’s rooted in value and long-term customer success.

“The way we sell has changed drastically,” she explains. “I was brought into this role to design a value-based selling model that prioritizes great outcomes for our customers, which in turn drives retention.”

A key part of her work is motivating and supporting the team through constant change. “It’s hard to build momentum when things are always shifting. We’ve adopted a ‘slow down to go fast’ mindset, and that’s been a game-changer.”

When it comes to team building and leadership, one lesson in particular stands out:

“Not every investment pays off, and that’s okay,” she says. “It takes maturity to recognize when something isn’t working and make a change. But on the flip side, when you spot coachable, high-impact talent that aligns with your mission? Go all in.”

As for how she continues to grow her own skills? “Omaha has a great network. I stay connected through conversations and local peers. I’m also always willing to take on new challenges. That’s been one of the biggest personal growth levers for me.”

Words of wisdom: act with intention

Karissa has received a lot of advice throughout her career, but a quote from her father has stuck with her and shaped her mindset, both in sales and in life.

“Some will, some won’t, what’s next?” she says simply.

“It reminds me not to waste energy on things that don’t serve me. It’s especially great advice in sales where keeping a level head is everything.”

To those considering a similar career path, her advice is simple but powerful:

“Don’t delay the inevitable, act with intention, and embrace clarity over comfort.”

For those considering a career at WP Engine, Karissa underscores her team’s collaborative approach. 

“Make connections. The WordPress community is incredibly welcoming,” she says, “and the people you meet can open doors to amazing opportunities.”

Powered by people

WP Engine is powered by people just like Karissa. When asked to identify her favorite aspect of her job at WP Engine, her answer reflects a culture where individuals are empowered to make an impact.

“My favorite thing about working at WP Engine is being trusted with autonomy. I can control outcomes by solving problems and driving solutions across all areas of the business.”

Want to find out more about what it’s like to work at WP Engine? Explore our current openings and check out our blog for more inspiring stories from WP Engine’s experts!