"It’s kind of fun to do the impossible": Reflections on moving on after ten years at The Muse

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible”

Right when my co-founders and I were starting The Muse a decade ago, I came across a little placard with this famous Walt Disney quote. Quotes and mantras aren't usually my thing, but something about it spoke to me: I knew what we were embarking on was going to feel impossible at times, and the stats were there to prove it. More than 90% of startups fail, and less than 3% of venture capital goes to female founded companies. If I were playing the odds, the rational part of my (very rational) brain knew that this was a game I wasn’t likely to win.

And yet, in this unshakeable and profound way, I had a deep conviction that what we were building was needed. That we had to start The Muse. I also knew that despite how hard it was going to be, we were going to have some great times willing this idea into existence. So I quit my job to jump into the unknown world of startups. And that placard sat on my desk at every office The Muse ever worked out of, a reminder of where we started.

Today, after 10 years of blood, sweat and ramen—and lifechanging experiences working with the most incredible people—today is my last day full-time at The Muse.

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I could not be more proud of the work we’ve done to transform the job search space. 

When we launched our company profiles in early 2012, it was the first time you could see inside an office with authentic photo and video, and hear from employees about what it was like to work there. Investors told us that only startups would be comfortable being that transparent and this would never be adopted by larger employers. Today you can also see inside the offices of companies like Apple, Deutsche Bank and Anheuser-Busch on The Muse, alongside companies of all shapes and sizes.

Near final designs for the company profiles launch in Feb 2012, in our “office” (apartment) in SF.

When we published some of the best career advice on the internet, many investors we pitched in the early years told us to decide: a “blog” or a job board, but not both. We listened to our users instead and continued to answer their most critical career questions with answers they could trust, and over 7 million people now visit The Muse each month for job search and career advice. We’re the #1 answer on google for “interview questions”, “first time manager tips” and “how to negotiate salary”.

When we beat the drum of authenticity and company culture, we heard that all that mattered was the number of clicks and resumes you drive, and how cheaply. We knew that who applied mattered, and that employers really want just enough of the right candidates, not a mountain of resumes from people one-click applying to every job under the sun. Today our values-based job search interface lets our millions of users look for jobs at companies whose people, perks, and values align with their individual professional needs.

The Muse perks and benefits search interface. Want a role with paid parental leave, commuter benefits and flexible hours? You can find that on The Muse. Why on earth in 2021 should we still be searching just by title and location anymore?

And The Muse still has so much ahead. More ways to search, deeper forms of employee content, and a fully personalized career experience based on your unique values and professional needs.

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So why am I leaving? Because I’ve completed my mission. I’m a builder, and I have spent the last decade at The Muse making our bold vision a reality and launching so many of our major product offerings. I’ve worn more informal hats than I can count: COO, Office Space Scout, Head of Product, Recruiter, Hack Day Organizer, Excel Spreadsheet Builder, Chief Cat Herder, President, and living encyclopedia of what the Muse has ever done, tried, failed at, dreamed of and tested.

I can’t say the decision wasn’t hard. I’m as passionate about our mission as ever and love this company—I could stay here forever. But as I look at what’s ahead, it’s the right time for the incredible leaders we have in place alongside Kathryn to take the company to the next level. And in order for me to grow, I need to push myself to be uncomfortable and tackle a new challenge.

Building this company and working to make job search more human has been the privilege of a lifetime. Doing so alongside such a passionate, smart and motivated team has made it that much more special. To our current Musers, I’m going to miss you so much. To the many former Musers who have left a mark on my career and my life: thank you. I’m so proud to have been on this journey with you. Thank you also to the many loved ones, friends, advisors and investors who believed in me and in The Muse: you made the ups and downs of startup life better.

Team Retreat, 2017.

Some of the Muse team on Zoom, 2020.

And Kathryn: thank you for being my ride-or-die partner through this last decade. I often tell new founders that it's better to be a solo founder than to have the wrong co-founder, but if you find the right one, it's magic. I could not have been luckier that we found each other all those years ago. We are different in how we work, but we have always been on the same page in terms of our vision for the company and commitment to the mission and culture we wanted for The Muse. Thank you for going on this incredible journey with me ten years ago. There is no one else I could imagine doing this with.

With Kathryn at the Muse launch party, 2011.

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What’s next? I'll remain involved with the company on our board of directors, and continue to bleed Muse blue. I’ll take a break and enjoy the summer with my family. And after that, I’ll sit down at my desk at home, placard in place, ready to seek out my next adventure.