A year in review, lessons from going to a big company after many startups
So in March of 2019 I took a big leap. It was a very conscious one. I was just finished my 6th startup, and I wanted to do something different. I’d been through the wringer so many times with the typical startup stuff: demanding investors, crazy charismatic CEOs, and newly formed organizations with all the growing pains that come with it. I wanted to try something new. I wanted to work with people I could learn from, and I wanted to take on a totally different type of product.
So I accepted a role at Loblaw Digital, running product for their upcoming marketplace product that was due to be launched in late 2019. I shocked many people in my startup circles. “Going to a big company? You’ll hate it.”
Somethings were very similar: A crazy deadline that noone thinks you’ll make, small nimble team trying to fight the odds, cutting scope every day in hopes to get there, setbacks, roadblocks and that sweet sweet victory when you do make it. But It wasn’t all the same, It was my first b2c product, at crazy scale (frankly the leap isn’t very hard, don’t let people tell you different). A big company takes getting used to, and here’s my report on what it’s like:
The good things:
There was support for a long term plan, a longer term vision and defined incremental goals to hit. This is the first company I’ve worked at with a 3 year plan. How about 3 months maybe 6.
Support for things like leadership, performance management, actual managing of teams. I’ve learned a lot of things over the last 12 years of managing people but often at my own pace. Most leaders were doing it for the first time and it was hard to get good role models. I now have many people to look up to.
Diversity. sigh, diversity. so refreshing. 46% of Loblaw digital employees are not white (and they are trying to get better). Coming from environments where 80% of staff are white males, I have to say it’s a breath of fresh air. Oh also, Women in leadership positions (other than just me for a change :)). There’s always more to do, and I learn from my colleagues every day on this topic.
Respect, and good people. I had gotten used to being yelled at by a boss on the regular (not all but some). Bad behaviour was often tolerated. Don’t even get me started about sexism. None of that is tolerated at Loblaw, and I am surrounded by really good people. I used to find the good people wherever I was in amongst it all, but here I don’t have to search for them.
Oh yes, and the work is challenging. You can’t just wing it, you have to be data driven, you have to bring your A game. No boys club, no favourites, net net good people who work hard get recognized. I am doing the best work of my career and don’t see it stopping. And to think that in the middle of the pandemic you’re playing a key role of ensuring Canadians get their food, it’s rewarding for your moral compass as well.
Okay Kim, enough sunshine and roses. What’s the bad stuff?
So. many. people.- Gone are the days of knowing everyone you work with. The first few months were kind of intimidating. Who are all these people? I’d make games with myself if I could figure out who the hell the people were in the meetings I was in. But it got better, I found my people, and it started to be easier, but it takes awhile. I’ve been surprised how strong the culture is for a 400 person org, part of a larger 200k org. It’s just different, but good different.
Bureaucracy- Seriously this was my biggest fear going in, and it was pretty unwarranted. Sure there’s reporting up to the mothership, there’s security and privacy people making sure that we don’t release something that would put us or our customers’ data at risk. It’s like a 10% tax, but they’ve gone out of their way to make Loblaw Digital as independent as possible so we can move fast. (and frankly aren’t you glad they make sure we don’t do something stupid? I am :))
Change takes time- When you’re at a startup of 30 people, when you change the process you have one meeting, and it’s changed. Steering a boat of 100-300 people (depending on the change) takes alot of effort. But it’s rewarding.
And that’s kind of it. I have been really happy with my decision. I work with great people, I do work that I am proud of, and I see a path to grow. I really couldn’t ask for anything more.
Oh yeah, did I mention we’re hiring? :) check it out.
