It’s difficult to predict when an unexpected leap of faith will pan out, but for Allyson Pesta, moving across the country led to a fulfilling career at Zillow.
“I first heard about the company through a college friend and visited the office in 2019,” she says. “The moment I walked in, it felt fun, exciting, and like somewhere I could grow.”
Energized by Zillow’s culture and people, Pesta applied to the rotational program. After acing her interviews, she earned a spot. Two weeks later, she left Ohio behind, beginning a new, exciting chapter in her professional journey.
“It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” Pesta explains. “Since then, it’s been everything I hoped for—constantly evolving work, stretch opportunities, and best of all, growing alongside truly incredible people.”
Now, as a senior sales program manager, Pesta uses her skills to drive innovative growth. She shares more details about her upward trajectory at Zillow, how the culture has empowered her to grow, and why bringing your authentic self to work is a core value.
What are your core responsibilities as a senior sales program manager, and why does this work excite or inspire you?
I lead go-to-market (GTM) strategy and drive sales success, plus I lead an amazing team of program managers and collaborate across product, marketing, and ops. I’ve always loved the fast-paced, creative energy of sales; this probably comes from growing up with my dad in the field. I get to build, solve big problems, and turn shared goals into action. Every day is different, and I thrive on that constant change and challenge.
You’ve been a part of a few businesses at Zillow. Describe your career path at the company. Where did you start, and how did you ascend to your current role?
I started in the rotational program, where I completed six-month stints across different teams in the business. My first rotation was with the single-family rentals team, and I’ll never forget it. I was encouraged and empowered to dive right in. So I did. I jumped into hiring and training sales teams, building systems and tools, developing playbooks, partnering with vendors, and more.
From there, I moved into roles in operations and strategy, helping lead cross-functional initiatives and working closely with teams across the organization. After spending time across all three teams, I spotted a gap and pitched a new role that could tie all these initiatives together. That’s how I created and stepped into a first-of-its-kind program manager role.
After a few years, I left Zillow to try my hand at a startup, but I never let go of the relationships I built. I’d previously been president of our Disability Network and stayed active in recruiting for our early-talent rotational program. When the opportunity arose to return, I jumped back in and joined our talent acquisition (TA) team. I spent time across a few TA functions, including early-talent recruiting, which gave me a new perspective on how we attract and grow talent. It also helped me discover new skills outside of my day-to-day and reinforced how Zillow encourages employees to get involved in different ways.
Still, I missed the rentals space and working closely with sales. I’d stayed connected with the leaders in that organization throughout, and when the timing was right, I made my way back into my current role.
How did Zillow’s leadership and culture support your trajectory?
The rotational program allowed me to explore and figure out my strengths. People here are genuinely open to conversations—whether it’s job shadowing, career chats, or sharing advice. Zillow embraces the idea of a career path like a jungle gym, and that mindset helped me move in ways that aligned with my growth and goals. Plus, I’ve always felt safe having candid conversations.
How does Zillow encourage and promote internal mobility? What learning and development opportunities are available for employees, and which have helped your growth?
Zillow makes it easy to grow from within, and opportunities include networking, mentorship, and formal internal-mobility programs. I’ve also been able to learn and grow by working across multiple teams and in a variety of roles, which exposed me to different leadership styles and helped shape my approach as I build my personal brand.
Serving as the president of our Disability Network was another huge growth moment for me. It pushed me outside the scope of my daily work and helped me discover new skills. Zillow encourages employees to get involved in employee resource groups and other initiatives. I’ve found that those experiences can be just as impactful as your core role when pursuing learning and development.
What challenges have you faced in your career, and how did you overcome them?
One of the hardest, and ongoing, challenges has been untangling my self-worth from my output, outcomes, or job title. I want to make an impact, lead big projects, and do great work, but I’ve learned that my value doesn’t increase when things are going great, and it doesn’t decrease when things feel messy or uncertain. It’s been a journey to separate achievement from identity, but I’ve become a more grounded, empathetic, and resilient person—and a better teammate and leader.
Learning to say “no” was a big one. Early on, I said yes to everything, thinking it showed commitment. I quickly realized that doing everything just OK isn’t the same as delivering real impact. Now, I focus on doing fewer things really well.
Another was taking chances on new roles or paths that didn’t pan out as I expected, but even those detours helped guide my next step forward.
I’ve also learned that being thoughtful with your voice matters more than always speaking up. When you lead with intention, people listen.
How does Zillow empower its employees to bring their authentic selves to work? How has the company enabled you to grow personally and professionally?
Zillow creates space to be yourself. From day one, I’ve felt encouraged to show up as me—not just the polished, professional version. I’ve always felt like I had the freedom to explore, build, and evolve.
Serving as president of our Disability Network helped me grow in ways that had nothing to do with my job title. I learned how to lead community conversations, advocate for accessibility, and connect across teams. This role gave me confidence and leadership experience that translated to my daily work.
Professionally, I’ve been able to try new things, pivot, and learn from incredible leaders. Personally, I’ve learned I don’t have to tie my worth to outcomes or titles. Zillow’s culture makes it OK to be growing, learning, and figuring it out in real time, and that’s been huge for me.
Was there ever a time you felt stuck or bound to routine at Zillow? What did you do? How did Zillow support your development and need for growth opportunities?
I’ve experienced moments when I’ve felt stuck or like I was just going through the motions. It’s natural, especially when you’re in a role for a while or between big projects. What’s made the difference for me is leaning into mentorship and actively asking for stretch projects that align with my curiosity.
One thing that’s helped a lot is building my own board of directors—a mix of mentors, peers, and leaders. They help me see paths I may not have considered and keep me grounded in both the short term and long game. Zillow supports this mindset; it’s evident through feedback sessions, open conversations with leadership, and the culture of cross-functional collaboration that makes it easy to explore new areas.
I’ve learned that it’s OK not to have all the answers. You can try something new and realize it’s not for you, and that’s still progress. Zillow embraces a mentality of “think big, try things, and pivot if needed,” which has helped me grow. I’ve also learned it’s OK to slow down sometimes. Growth can mean going deeper, building new skills, or focusing on what excites you before jumping into what’s next.
How would you “sell” working at Zillow to a potential candidate? What skills and characteristics do they need to succeed?
If you’re curious, collaborative, and love solving problems, you’ll thrive here. Zillow is a place where you can build, grow, and reinvent your path over time. It’s not about having it all figured out—it’s about being open, asking great questions, and wanting to try, learn, and pivot.
One of the best parts about working here is the people. You’re surrounded by smart, kind teammates who want to see each other succeed. The work is meaningful and constantly evolving, so it’s a great fit for someone who enjoys—and can thrive on—change.
To succeed, you need a mix of grit and humility. Be willing to roll up your sleeves, raise your hand for the unknown, and stay grounded in your why. Be curious about your work, your coworkers, and the problems you’re trying to solve. Maybe most importantly, stay true to who you are. Zillow is the kind of place that values your whole self.
What’s the best advice you received at Zillow thus far? How have you applied these insights to your current role?
Something that has stuck with me is that what matters most isn’t what people say about you when you’re in the room—it’s who’s willing to speak up for you when you’re not. That’s been a guiding principle in how I show up, lead, and support others.
I’ve also learned that building trust, investing in relationships, and being someone people want to advocate for are vital. That goes both ways. I try to be that person for others, championing people even when they don’t know I’m speaking their name in a room.
In my current role, I’m reminded that when you focus on uplifting others, your path naturally evolves too.