In 2010, I was weighing a heavy decision. I had two compelling job offers. Do I return to the Ads Product Marketing team at Facebook, where I had interned and continued to work part time during grad school? Or do I join Google as a Product Manager?
I joined Facebook in 2010
I chose Facebook because it was the less certain, higher beta path. I was beyond impressed with everyone there and fell in love with the energy at 1601 California Ave. I was also at a place in my life where I wanted to take bigger bets. I didn’t want to miss out on what could be a once in a lifetime company.
But I’ve always wondered what the other decision would have been like. To join Google. Now I’m about to find out. I’m joining Google to lead a team of product managers in Ads Measurement, an area I’ve been working in for almost a decade. The greater team works on products like Google Analytics, which I’ve been a consistent user of since 2006. I have no doubt that Google will continue shaping the future of this industry and I’m excited to be a part of it.
Leaving Facebook after 7 years was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made
I loved my time at Facebook. I grew from an intern, to a full time individual contributor. Then a manager and ultimately a manager of managers. I got to take retargeting mainstream via Facebook Exchange and Website Custom Audiences. I was a founding member of the Ad Tech and Measurement organizations. I made an appearance in Chaos Monkeys. I worked with some of the best people in the business from Buenos Aires to Stockholm to Singapore and many places in between. These years are comprised of career experiences I never imagined myself having.
But earlier this summer, I realized I need a change to help me continue growing. To get out of my comfort zone. I had been performing the same function in the same domain at the same company for many years. I was also the most tenured Ads Product Marketer at Facebook.
Why I’m joining Google
I’ve always had massive respect for Google, and coincidentally they reached out about a role as the summer wound down. After a few months of conversations, I realized there was a very compelling path to growth. A new, but related function (product management) in a different company. But in a similar domain (ads measurement) and location (SF Bay Area). This was what I needed to take the next step in my career and begin a new chapter.
2017 was an amazing year of personal and professional growth, but I can’t wait for 2018.