Seth Currie-Rose on scaling an international IT team

As the first IT hire at Dropbox, Seth shares what he looks for in building a team that keeps up with rapid growth.

Why did you decide to join Dropbox?

I was the first IT hire, and as I was interviewing I saw an opportunity to take all of my knowledge and bring that to a world-class company. I knew and used Dropbox personally and professionally, but the ability to support all the great people that make Dropbox was something I just couldn’t say no to. Dropbox had a lot of growing to do at that point, and a unique culture that made the opportunity even more exciting.

What team are you on and what do you do at Dropbox?

I’m on the corporate engineering team — otherwise known as IT. We handle all things IT for our corporate offices, and make sure everyone has the resources they need to do great things and build great products. I lead the team that delivers local and remote support for all users at all Dropbox offices. If you have an issue with your laptop, we’re there to help. We also make sure that all the technology you rely on every day is working, like the printers, smartphones, and the video conference tools.

You’ve been here for several years. What kind of changes have you seen, and what’s stayed the same?

Dropbox has doubled several times since I joined — so a lot has changed. The rapid growth keeps us on our toes while deploying and maintaining the solutions people use everyday. However, we still are a close-knit company and want everyone’s opinion to be heard. I love that people at every level have impact across the company. Change is inevitable, but a solid company culture keeps us all grounded.

As your team grows, what are the qualities you’re looking for in the people you hire?

We’re looking for experienced individuals across many disciplines, who want to make an impact, and can help us scale as we grow internationally. We have a need for professionals to support user requests as well as administer and maintain hardware and software we use to run the company.

What have been some of your favorite moments at Dropbox?

No matter how much you try to plan ahead, things will still break. It’s inevitable. So one of my favorite memories is getting paged during a holiday party due to a power outage in the office. I ended up working until 2am to get the office back up and running. It may not seem glamorous, but moments like that are what really make me love my job. Having a great team to work with makes it easier to tackle hard issues when they arise.

What are you looking forward to next, for yourself and for Dropbox?

I’m excited to help further the expansion of Dropbox by building a strong team to deliver exceptional customer service globally.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I grew up in Montana, hunting and fishing and enjoying what nature offered. My family did a lot of white water rafting, and the best trip I went on was 21 days on the Colorado river through the Grand Canyon. I never thought I would end up working in San Francisco at a leading tech company.

If you weren’t working in a tech company, what would you be doing?

I would be selling fried egg sandwiches from a cart on the street. I like people and I like food.

How would you describe Dropbox in three words? Why these three?

Fresh, consistent, and productive

Dropbox as a product is “fresh,” and has been doing things differently since the very beginning. We’re keeping it fresh with forward-thinking ways to deliver new and exciting products.

“Consistent” because I’m consistently impressed with the culture here, and the amazing working environment. And finally, Dropbox enables productivity in many ways. First, as a product used by millions. But also because as an employee, I’m given the freedom to help others do great things by thinking of new and creative ways to empower productivity.