It's Tech Week in NY, and I'm reflecting on my journey in the tech world in this amazing city. If you had told me 15 years ago when I first moved to NYC that I'd be leading HR for an AI company, I wouldn't have believed you. But that's the beauty of careers and this industry – they rarely follow a predictable path. It's a path that has taken me from tiny startups to large pre-IPO companies and now full circle back to the startup hustle.
Here's a look at how I fell into it all:
When I first arrived in NYC fresh out of college, I had zero connections and very little idea of what I wanted to do career wise. Fortunately, a friend who was couch surfing at my apartment helped me get an interview for an office manager role at a small tech consulting company (👋🏻 Pivotal Labs!). It was my first exposure to the fast paced tech world and I loved the energy and excitement of being part of building something. I rolled up my sleeves, got scrappy, and got exposure to as many things as possible.
I never intended to stay in tech; I had planned to go to law school. With the LSATs complete and applications submitted, I was ready to plan for my exit. Luckily for me, everything took an unexpected turn when my then manager convinced me to give HR a try and defer law school for a year.
What happened next was nothing short of lucky. Our consulting company got acquired by a tech behemoth, and I had the privilege of learning from a mature people team. I built a robust technical HR knowledge base that complemented the scrappy fundamentals I had already learned – something that to this day is my superpower.
I spent the next decade at various high growth, pre-IPO companies, developing deeper HR specialization and managing bigger teams and budgets. I had the privilege of managing through two IPOs and being on both sides of various acquisitions. Ultimately, while the resources were more plentiful at a large company, I did miss the roll-up-your-sleeves startup mentality. I also felt somewhat removed from being as connected to the core product and mission.
A few years ago, I started to explore the return to a small, scrappy startup. When I was presented with an opportunity to join Wizard AI, an early-stage venture-backed startup, I jumped at the chance to get back to my roots.
It's been a healthy challenge applying my big company wisdom through a new startup lens. From reinstating an ownership mindset to moving at lightspeed with limited resources, I've embraced relearning the startup hustle. But this time, I have more tools in my arsenal.
Looking back at my career journey, I'm grateful for the opportunities I've had to experience different company stages and environments. The contrast has made me a more well rounded people leader.
From startups, I gained grit, resourcefulness, and the ability to be a utility player. Larger companies taught me how to build scalable programs, processes, and develop specialization. Now, I get to put it all together into a unique perspective perfectly suited for the startup world.
No matter where you are on your own career path, embrace the twists and turns. The zigs and zags make us resilient, more versatile, and better equipped to add value in any situation.
June 4, 2024