This is my Zipstory: Q&A with Melissa

In this latest blog entry, hear from US Senior Engineering Manager Melissa Depasquale on what has helped grow her career and leadership capabilities over the course of her Zipstory.

Tell us who you are, what you do at Zip and a little bit more about your Zipstory

My name is Melissa Depasquale and I’m a Senior Engineering Manager at Zip, currently leading all of our front-end engineering teams. I started as the Engineering Manager for our customer mobile team, and over time, my scope has steadily expanded - first by taking on responsibility for additional teams, and later by adding both teams and Engineering Managers into my group. Now, all of our front-end teams report through to me via our various Engineering Managers.

My Zipstory has been shaped by taking on complex challenges including implementing ACH payment methods into the mobile app, revamping the entire role structure for our internal customer application to meet our growing CX needs, scaling high-performing teams, and growing into leadership through trust and opportunity.

You’ve been a Zipster for 3.5 years now. What has enabled you to accelerate your career fastest during your time here?

Zip’s pace and evolution have created incredible opportunities to grow for those that want it. As the company has scaled, there has always been something new to step into, whether it’s leading additional teams, refining how we plan and deliver as a product and engineering team, or supporting other Zipsters as they ramped up into more senior roles.

This environment has kept me learning and stretching, and has given me the chance to make a real impact. In my experience at Zip, there’s a strong culture of empowering others to step up and trusting them to lead, which makes Zip a very exciting place to grow your career.

In your experience, what are some of the opportunities you get working in Engineering at Zip that you wouldn’t get working elsewhere?

One of the biggest opportunities I’ve noticed at Zip is how quickly you can grow your scope if you’re up for the challenge. I started by leading a single mobile team, and over time, that evolved into leading the entire front-end org.

That kind of progression didn’t simply happen through being a part of formal programs or waiting for someone to tap me on the shoulder, it came from spotting areas for improvement, feeling like I had the freedom to step up and address them, and also having a manager who actively supported me in doing so.

There’s a real sense of ownership that’s part of our culture, and if you lean in, there’s room to grow fast and take the lead on really interesting, visible projects. An example of an initiative I feel proud to have been a part of was the device fingerprinting and step up authorization, which has enhanced security and usability across all of our applications for our customers by verifying devices to their account. This will be a stepping stone for all future security initiatives.

Thinking about the way you get your best work done, how does Zip support your wellbeing?

Being a remote-first company, Zip gives me the flexibility to structure my days in a way that works best for how I lead and think. That flexibility helps me stay focused, while ensuring I can stay closely connected to the people I work with.

I care deeply about building teams that are not just high-performing, but also sustainable - where wellbeing is part of the culture, not an afterthought. For me, the balance of autonomy, connection, and an intentional focus on Zipster wellbeing has made Zip a place where I can do really meaningful work and lead in a way that feels true to me.

What excites you most about writing the next chapter of your career story at Zip?

What excites me most is the opportunity to help grow other leaders. I’ve moved from leading teams directly to now supporting a group of engineering managers to lead their own Zipsters, and helping them thrive is where I’m finding the most purpose.

I’m excited to focus more on scaling leadership, not just delivery, and to build the kind of support, clarity, and connection that helps Engineering Managers do their best work. It’s a different kind of impact, and one I’m feeling really energized by.