Sheila Vashee on finding her dream job

Dropbox’s product marketing lead shares her path from investment banking and corporate strategy to launching new products.

What did you do before Dropbox?

I worked in investment banking, then in corporate strategy at Gap Inc. for several years. Finally, after business school and a summer at Apple, I joined Dropbox — the best decision of my life.

What made you decide to move from finance to technology?

In investment banking, I got a chance to work with early stage tech companies on financing and IPO strategy. While I enjoyed the analytical rigor, I really wanted to understand what went on behind the data, and influence the products that have a positive impact on people’s lives.

Why did you decide to join Dropbox?

I’ve always loved Dropbox as a product — it’s simple, reliable, and empowers people to accomplish great things. I first wanted to work here because there’s nothing more fulfilling than marketing a product that you really believe in. Then, once I got a chance to meet the incredible people that work here, the decision was a no-brainer.

What surprised you about Dropbox when you joined?

At Dropbox, very small teams have a huge impact — the work each person does is seen and used by millions of users every day. I knew that before I got here, but I was still amazed by the enormous responsibility and ownership given to each individual.

At Dropbox, very small teams have a huge impact — the work each person does is seen and used by millions of users every day.

You’ve been at Dropbox for over two years. What’s changed and what’s stayed the same?

The company has grown quite a bit since I joined, and we’ve expanded into many different areas, like business, photos, and email. The best things haven’t changed, though, such as the incredible work ethic, collaborative culture, and relentless dedication to our users. These values are at the heart of the company, so they’ll always be a part of everything we do.

What’s a typical day at Dropbox like for you?

On any given day, I’ll start by sitting down with the product team to discuss an upcoming launch and discuss the go to market and messaging strategy. Then, I’ll meet with the design team to talk about brand and naming, visual identity, and how we’d represent this product or feature in collateral. Next, I’ll meet with the user research team to set up meetings with users to beta test and gather feedback from users. And finally, the product marketing team will meet to pull it all together!

What’s unique about doing marketing at Dropbox?

Getting a chance to market and sell a product that millions of people love is incredibly rewarding. When we reached 100 million users, we created a campaign and asked users to tell us about how they used Dropbox. I still remember the outpouring of love we got back from that campaign — people couldn’t wait to tell us about how much they love Dropbox, and how it helps them in every part of their lives. Our challenge is to live up to that love with marketing and tell the amazing stories of our users.

I still remember the outpouring of love we got back from that campaign — people couldn’t wait to tell us about how much they love Dropbox, and how it helps them in every part of their lives.

What have been some of your favorite moments at Dropbox so far?

Our major Dropbox for Business launch in November 2013 was an incredibly rewarding experience. It was the biggest launch we’d ever done, and before we even went live, we did a beta test with over 1,000 customers. After that, we held an event in our office, reaching out to analysts, press, and customers, and got an incredible response. After that, I knew anything was possible.

What is something that many people don’t know about you?

I’m an expert on medieval British history! I can recite the list of Plantagenet kings, starting from Edward III, and get into the minute details of the Tudor monarchs. I’ve always had a passion that borders on obsession for history.

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

Thoughtful: Tons of consideration is put into everything we do. We sweat the details — from the color of our logo to the smallest product details — and it shows.

Genuine: Everything we do is based on what’s best for the user. This comes through as authentic and honest in the product and in our marketing as well.

Collaborative: We’ve got an incredible group of people working together to solve hard problems.