Compelling mission, vision and market opportunity
Pros
Amazingly cool technology that’s having a massive impact on organizations around the world. The impact DataRobot is having on organizations of all types – from Fortune 5OO and Global 2000-level companies to government agencies is extraordinary for them – and inspiring to company employees. Predictive insights derived from our software are helping guide decisions for some of the most important problems in the world today. I can’t imagine many other companies today whose products have the level of transformative impact as DataRobot’s technology does. If you listen to what some of these customers have shared in all company meetings, video testimonials, or at customer webinars and events, you can’t help but be amazed and inspired by what we’re doing for them. CEO’s technical vision for the company of engineering a more intelligent tomorrow. When you hear our customers speak, it’s clear that we really are unleashing the full potential of human and machine intelligence to the benefit of business and society. Great people who work hard and really care about doing a great job. I really like the people around me, who invariably are smart, passionate, and highly committed. For a recent set of initiatives, people were working and have been working nearly around the clock to exceed the ambitious goals set and they did it because they wanted to and have believed strongly in the purpose of what we were doing, not because anyone made them do it. The sense of accomplishment by the team and pride in pulling off something nearly impossible was amazing. CEO genuinely wants everyone in the company to be happy and productive. On many occasions, when he hears of employees dealing with difficult personal or family situations, he’s offered assistance or support. I’ve experienced this same level of caring and concern myself, when on several occasions he got word of a family medical situation I was dealing with, and he reached out immediately to give his support - and he followed-up to be sure all was OK. I’ve never seen this level of concern by a CEO in any other company. Opportunities for people to take on new responsibilities outside of their core area and that might stretch them beyond their past experiences. People who excel as individual contributors can become managers, people who might not have the perfect background on their resume for a particular role can get the job and have the chance to grow into the role. Having the right aptitude, drive, attitude, and willingness to dive in an learn gives you a fighting chance at getting a role, which gives people opportunities to grow they might now have in other companies. I’ve found tremendous support for my area of responsibility – with budgetary and people resources as well as support for my ideas. I’ve pitched ideas for things we’ve never done before and found they got tremendous support across the company. New AppDynamics people have brought fresh ideas and are helping drive a more effective GTM. I’ve liked all of the AppD people who have joined the company and find we are aligned philosophically and they’re highly supportive of my ideas and initiatives. New focus on a smaller number of high impact strategic initiatives is very positive.
Cons
The AI space is changing quickly, so priorities here can change quickly. The company is also at an inflection point where a number of changes are taking place in the company as we scale beyond a start-up to being an well established 1,000+-person enterprise software company serving the needs of the largest companies and government agencies in the world. Some of those changes will be tough on the whole company, but they’re necessary for us to go through, and I feel confident we’re making the right changes to be an even stronger and more successful company in the future.