Smart Spotlight: Michelle Kothe on Life at Smart

At Smart Communications, our people are what make us truly Smart. Through our Smart Spotlight series, we highlight team members whose talent, dedication, and collaboration drive innovation and shape our culture. 

This month, we’re excited to feature Michelle Kothe, Engineering Manager for SmartIQ. Michelle shares her journey from running her own business to leading a talented technical team, what’s kept her at Smart for nearly a decade, and how teamwork and curiosity fuel her success. 

1. What is your role at Smart and how long have you been with the company? 

I am the Engineering Manager for SmartIQ, I manage a group of technical teams in the engineering department who all work on the SmartIQ product. These teams between them do everything from adding new features to the SmartIQ product, evaluating and implementing customer enhancement up to working with Support to fix customer bugs, keeping our testing platforms working and managing and ensure regular product releases on schedule or hotfix patches if needed. I see my role as helping each team by getting any roadblocks out of their way and ensuring they have all the support and resources needed to do their jobs. Ultimately the quality of the software at each release is my responsibility. 

I have been with the company since 2016 when it was Intelledox, prior to being acquired by Smart Communications. I worked as a Software Engineer in that capacity. 

2. What did you do for work prior to joining Smart, and why did you make the switch? 

I ran an online accommodation booking business with my husband, sister, and brother-in-law for about eight years. After selling that business, I did consulting work on short-term projects before joining Smart.  

I made the switch because consulting was unpredictable with frustrating contract extensions and unknowns. I prefer the stability and flexibility of full-time work at Smart, where I love the product and company culture. 

3. What's kept you at Smart? 

I love problem solving, the variety of challenges, the team environment, and the company's great vibe and flexibility. I'm grateful that Smart supports work-from-home and treats employees with respect and understanding. Dealing with people who are reasonable and want you to enjoy your job is part of what creates that excellent culture we enjoy here at Smart. 

4. What skills are needed to be successful in your role/on your team? 

To be successful in this role, you really need a balance of technical ability and teamwork. Everyone in the engineering teams has a core set of IT and problem-solving skills, but what really makes them all functional is how they respect each other’s strengths and know when to rely on one another.  

Problem-solving in IT takes a particular mindset — you have to be analytical and curious, but also collaborative. It’s about understanding that no one person has all the answers, and that the best solutions often come from combining different perspectives. 

I focus on ensuring everyone has a clear understanding of their tasks and roles and that they know they can rely on me to get them what they need and when they need it or find the right person. I also have to keep a close eye on overall quality and how new features, fixes and improvements interact with the existing code to ensure that customers can rely on and trust our product. 

5. What's your favorite aspect of your job? 

My favorite aspect is the thrill of solving complex problems, like tracking down the cause of an issue after weeks of investigation and implementing fixes that improve the product. 

6. What are you doing when you're not working? 

I do a lot of triathlon training including swimming, running, and cycling. I also do volunteer work occasionally, travel with my husband, and enjoy spending time with my family. I have a daughter and a son, and my niece has lived with us for many years. My son is finishing his engineering degree, and my daughter and niece both work in government roles related to IT and policy support. 

If you’re interested in joining our dynamic team, we invite you to explore our current opportunities on our Careers page.