I joined MediaMath in early 2018 after a one-year sabbatical. It was great. The perfect time to decompress, build stronger bonds with my loved ones, and reflect on my life accomplishments. Unfortunately, good things always come in short supply, and a few months in, a question kept creeping in my head: what was my next career move?
Thus, I started looking for a new job. Between the kid’s soccer practice, and the piano recitals, I developed criteria to evaluate job opportunities:
1) I wanted a company on growth mode, global focus, and with a clear and attainable vision.
2) I wanted to be part of a product organization. While I was not necessarily looking to be a product manager, I wanted to leverage my experience in this area.
3) Lastly, I wanted a company with a smart, solid and diverse team of leaders and peers. I wanted a company with people I could have fun with, learn from, and value what I could bring.
Fast forward to late 2017 when I get a call from a recruiter working on behalf of MediaMath. While MediaMath checked most my boxes, one was still unclear: what’s the team like? How did they operate, and what kind of work environment would I expect from them? The answers to these questions came surprisingly fast.
Over the course of several weeks, I interviewed both in person and over the phone with many people at MediaMath. Everyone I met were really friendly but at the same time they didn’t mince words. There was a common trait among them, a drive. They knew what they wanted, and more importantly, they knew what they needed help with. And while they didn’t always have answers to my questions, they were always open and humble. And boy, do they move fast. Soon enough, and in the midst of the holiday season, I had a verbal offer, which I gladly accepted.
So, to answer your question. Why did I join MediaMath? The quick answer: its people.
Looking for a new job is never easy. A friend once told me that finding a job is like buying a car. You research the car you want, you test drive it, you may even get the best deal, and chances are…you’re buying it! But in the end, you’ll never know whether or not you bought a lemon until you have it for a while. To me, it is the people you work and spend so much time with that makes all the difference at work. Five weeks in, I am glad to report that things are going very, very well.
No surprises, no regrets.