At Chptr, we are proud to have team members who bring not only sharp professional instincts but a genuine sense of purpose to everything they do.

One of them is Elyse Flannery, who moved from enterprise sales roles at large software companies like Celonis and ZoomInfo into marketing and, most recently, customer success at Chptr. A graduate of Babson College, known for its focus on entrepreneurship, Elyse has brought an operator's eye and a deep sense of gratitude to a mission that reaches far beyond a typical tech company.

"Chptr really finds purpose in improving how we notify local communities of loved ones' passings, how we modernize access to obituaries, and how we restore credit and gratitude to the people who are there for us during some of the hardest moments of our lives."

— Elyse Flannery, Customer Success Associate

What skills have carried over from your sales background, and what's different about working at an early-stage company like Chptr?

Working at larger software companies introduced me to fast-paced environments and the need to constantly evolve. Just because a product works doesn't mean it stays that way forever; technology and customer needs shift, and businesses need to move with them. At a larger company, that often meant getting trained on new tools built by teams above you. The difference at an early-stage company is that I actually get to be in the room where those "next move" conversations happen. Younger people in the workforce don't often get exposed to that kind of high-level decision-making or a chance to share ideas on how something should evolve. From my previous roles, I brought over a real gratitude and awareness of the impact I could have at a growing company.

What might people outside the team be surprised to learn about your day-to-day in customer success?

It's a lot more operational than I had imagined, making sure every detail is correct and that our technology is actually working. There's also a real advocacy piece: making sure customers' voices are heard by the rest of the team, because it has a big influence on the direction of our product. And you end up understanding nearly every part of the business, such as how we operate technically, how customers experience us, and the general challenges of the funeral home industry. I don't think people realize how many different angles of the company, the industry, and our process you get exposed to in this role. It's my favorite job I've ever had, because the feedback loop is so direct.

How has your Babson education shaped the way you think about your work at Chptr?

I'm so grateful to have gone to Babson College because it gave me such a unique outlook on the world, and on business specifically. A core idea there is using entrepreneurship to solve almost any problem, and the power behind a passion-driven business. Chptr is no exception. The driving force behind Chptr is the need to honor loved ones through storytelling, while also shedding light on the demanding, often unrecognized role of a funeral director. They're some of the most compassionate, dedicated people I've had the privilege to learn from, and true staples of their communities. Closely following a core mission as a company has shown me how impactful we can be in a specific space.

A perfect example of this is #TheFirstCall campaign, our Time Square Takeover, that recognized and thanked funeral professionals from around the country for their service in our communities. I have never witnessed so much joy and appreciation in one place; it was such a special way to acknowledge their dedication. It truly was one of the most impactful events I’ve ever been a part of. My education at Babson taught me that entrepreneurial thinking like this, can make a real difference, especially when actions are driven by purpose. Chptr embodies that, and it’s made me feel completely at home here.

Chptr's mission is more personal than a typical marketing role. What's a moment since joining that's made this work feel different from anywhere else you've worked?

Starting in marketing at Chptr was such a great learning experience, because the approach never felt business-first or self-interest-motivated. Our brand is built on support, recognition, and honoring individuals in local communities. We live in such an online, social-media-driven world that everything can feel big and impersonal. I think people forget about the importance of the local community, the same individuals who make us feel grounded and connected.

I've felt that personal touch and thoughtfulness in how we communicate and represent Chptr's brand. We're service-first in everything we do, and communicating those values takes genuinely caring about the people we serve. I've never experienced anything this personal and thoughtful at a company before. The team behind Chptr is one of a kind.

How would you describe being part of the team at this stage of Chptr's growth?

My first real exposure to Chptr was in 2023, when my grandmother passed away. She was one of the early heirloom films, and through that process, I attended a memory session with our founder Rehan Choudhry. I remember how caring, personal and passionate he was about helping my family tell my grandmother's story, honor her life, and in the process give us a valuable keepsake I still watch to this day. The impact of Chptr has since stayed with me.

I've been at Chptr for a little over a year now, and I have seen the exponential growth first-hand. The response to what we're doing has been so positive and overwhelming, and it shows in the milestones we've hit. By accommodating growing demand through automation, to going live in over 100 markets, launching our first Spanish-language broadcast, launching a Times Square billboard campaign, closing our Series A funding round, and now having an international presence. I'm incredibly proud to be part of this team. It's an exciting place to be; we see endless possibilities in what we do, and I’m honored to work alongside such ambitious, talented, and purpose-driven individuals.

Final Thoughts

Elyse's path is a reminder of how much perspective shifts when purpose becomes part of the job. We're grateful to have her on the Chptr team, bringing both operational rigor and genuine care to the people we serve every day.