A Journey Through Tech: How Taking a Demotion Defined My Career Success
With a career spanning over two and a half decades in the tech industry, my journey has taken me through leadership roles at some of the most influential companies in the world, including Yahoo, Google, and Facebook. But perhaps the most pivotal point in my career came from an unexpected decision: taking a demotion.
Graduating from Cornell’s business school in 1999, I faced a choice between the traditional, high-paying paths of consulting or brand management, and a marketing job at Yahoo. The latter, a burgeoning tech company, offered only half the salary of the former options. Despite the raised eyebrows of my peers, my excitement for the tech world led me to accept the position at Yahoo, marking the first of many unorthodox choices in my career.
During my time at Yahoo, and later at other tech giants, I encountered numerous crossroads. One significant moment was when I opted for a general management role within Yahoo, accepting a position that was technically a demotion. This decision, questioned by many, was driven by my desire to explore business management, even though it meant stepping down two levels in my job title. We eventually compromised on a one-level demotion.
This step back turned out to be a leap forward for my career. Within 18 months, I was promoted and given responsibility for six business units. My journey continued through senior positions at Dealmap, Google, Change.org, and finally, to founding my own company in 2020, Rising Team.
At Rising Team, we’ve developed a platform aimed at helping managers build high-performing, motivated teams, encapsulating lessons learned from my experiences across big and small companies. This venture combines my passion for team-building with practical skills I’ve honed over the years, from executive training to my early days as a coxswain on my high school rowing team.
My tenure as a management lecturer at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business complements my entrepreneurial journey, allowing me to share insights on scaling businesses and leading effectively while applying these principles to my own company.
Reflecting on my career, the advice I offer to my students centers on the impermanence of career choices, the importance of relationships, and the value of self-comparison over comparison with others. It’s about learning from each decision, fostering deep connections, and consistently striving to be a better version of oneself.
My path through the tech industry, interspersed with decisions that seemed counterintuitive at the time, highlights the importance of following one’s instincts and the potential growth that can come from taking a step back to ultimately propel forward. It’s a testament to the idea that sometimes, a demotion isn’t a step back but a strategic sidestep paving the way to greater achievements.
