With a career spanning hospitality, international consumer brands, and nonprofit organizations, Rebecca Ball combines a passion for understanding people with a mission to help consumers improve their health and quality of life through personalized sleep solutions. At iSense, she is helping redefine the future of sleep through adjustable comfort technology that recognizes every sleeper is unique.

Can you point to one event that triggered your interest in your career?

I don’t think there was one defining moment as much as a series of experiences that all pointed me toward marketing. Growing up on a horse farm in Kentucky, I became fascinated with observing behavior. Every horse was different, and success depended on understanding each one’s personality rather than treating them all the same. That curiosity eventually evolved into a fascination with why people make decisions and how brands can create experiences that genuinely improve people’s lives.

What about this career choice did you find most appealing?

The best marketing doesn’t convince people to buy something they don’t need. It helps people discover a solution they didn’t know was possible.

Today, at iSense, that is especially rewarding because we’re not simply selling mattresses—we’re helping people sleep better. Many consumers believe poor sleep, aches, and discomfort are just part of getting older, when often they simply haven’t found a mattress designed for their individual needs. Being able to help people discover that better sleep is possible makes the work incredibly meaningful.

What steps did you take to begin your education or training?

I worked my way through college while beginning my career as an Art Director in outdoor advertising. That experience taught me how to communicate a compelling message in just a few seconds—a lesson that has stayed with me throughout my career. Every position since then has added another layer of experience, from hospitality and international brands to nonprofit organizations and now sleep technology.

Along the way, were people encouraging or discouraging?

I’ve been fortunate to have mentors and leaders who encouraged me to stay curious, ask questions, and never stop learning. I’ve learned that innovation rarely happens by simply following the crowd.

Today, I’m especially grateful to work alongside Paul and Denay Longman. Paul’s relentless curiosity and willingness to challenge conventional thinking have led to innovations that are genuinely changing how people experience sleep, while he and Denay share a belief that people shouldn’t have to compromise on comfort simply because every sleeper is different. That commitment to improving people’s lives through personalized sleep is one of the reasons I love being part of iSense.

Did you ever doubt your decision and attempt a career change?

Not really. My career has evolved through several industries, but the common thread has always been marketing and customer experience. Whether working in hospitality, nonprofit organizations, or now sleep technology, my passion has always been understanding people and helping organizations better serve them.

When did your career reach a tipping point?

Joining iSense was definitely a turning point. It brought together everything I’ve learned throughout my career—branding, consumer behavior, customer experience, product launches, and growth strategy—with a mission I genuinely believe in.

We’ve accepted personalization in almost every part of life, yet many people still believe they have to settle for one mattress that works “well enough.” I don’t think they should have to compromise on the place they spend nearly a third of their lives. Being part of a company that’s redefining an entire category has been incredibly exciting.

Can you describe a challenge you had to overcome?

One of the biggest challenges has been helping consumers rethink long-held assumptions. Most people have accepted that mattresses come in a few firmness options and you simply choose the one that feels “close enough.”

Helping educate consumers that sleep can actually be personalized—and that adjustable comfort can adapt as your body and needs change—requires patience, education, and trust. Changing perceptions isn’t always easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding when customers tell us they’re finally sleeping comfortably after years of discomfort.

What single skill has proven to be most useful?

Listening.

Whether you’re leading a team, developing a product, or speaking with customers, listening provides insights you simply can’t get any other way. The best marketing starts by understanding people—not making assumptions about them.

I’ve learned that the best decisions usually begin with better questions. I love the process of discovering something I didn’t know before: following a question, uncovering patterns, and building a stronger understanding of the people we serve. Those insights become the foundation for better decisions, whether I’m developing a growth strategy or helping someone discover the life-changing impact of personalized sleep.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of helping build brands that genuinely improve people’s lives.

At iSense, we have the opportunity to help people experience better sleep through personalized comfort, whether that’s reducing pressure points, accommodating different sleep preferences between partners, or helping customers realize they don’t have to settle for restless nights. Knowing our work has a meaningful impact on someone’s daily life is incredibly rewarding.

I’m proudest when the work we do genuinely changes someone’s life. One of the things I love most about iSense is hearing from customers who had accepted poor sleep or chronic discomfort as just part of life and then realize it doesn’t have to be. Better sleep isn’t just about feeling rested. It changes how people show up for their families, their work, their health, and the things they care about. Knowing we’ve played a small part in that is incredibly rewarding.

Any advice for others entering your profession?

Stay curious.

Curiosity has a remarkable way of keeping you humble. The moment you think you’ve figured people out is usually the moment you stop learning.

Also, don’t be afraid to take an unconventional path. Some of my most valuable lessons came from growing up on a horse farm, starting small businesses as a teenager, and working across different industries. Every experience teaches you something that can shape the leader you’ll become.

Above all, find work that aligns with your values. When you truly believe in your company’s mission—as I do at iSense—your work becomes much more than a career. It becomes an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. 

You can learn more about the mattresses and other sleep products at www.myisense.com

Photo credit – isense