I’m headed to Facebook 👍

I know what you’re thinking. Another design leader joins Facebook. Let me explain.

First, Authentic Jobs isn’t going away.

On the contrary, Authentic Jobs has a bright future ahead. Adam Spooner, Myles Grant, and I will remain in advisory roles with 100% equity in the company. We’re actively developing new features. We’ve recently hired a new Customer & Community Lead to continue our emphasis on top-notch customer service. And while we’re always open to acquisition offers, our feature roadmap is chock-full for 2017.

Second, this isn’t the first time we’ve crossed paths.

I was first approached by Facebook in 2006. I declined the invitation to interview for an early design position. Julie Zhuo and I might have been deskmates, and my bank account might have several more zeroes had I accepted and remained through the IPO.

But the timing wasn’t right.

Ten years later, the timing is perfect. I wasn’t recruited this time around—I actively sought the opportunity, ready to apply what I’ve learned the past 10 years running Authentic Jobs, working with a team of 30+ designers at a large non-profit, publishing a couple books, and speaking at design conferences across the globe.

I’ll be joining Facebook in November as Design Manager for the Events team under the direction of Jon Lax. Honestly, I can’t wait to be on campus. I couldn’t have been more impressed with the caliber of people I met during the interview process.

California or bust

The biggest challenge ahead is relocating a family of 7 from the Bay Area of Florida to the Bay Area of California.

The good news is I grew up in the East Bay (Antioch) and worked in San Jose at a hobby shop for a couple months after high school. This isn’t entirely unfamiliar territory.

As I type this, we’re in the area on a house-hunting trip. Wish us luck.