Leaving Datadog
I left Datadog this past April. A couple months in, with some distance and quiet, I finally have the space to write about it.
At my 4 year mark, I felt like it was time to start on a new adventure. I took a personal break and spent time with my little one before jumping into what’s next.
Looking back at those 4 years, I am very proud of everything I’ve been able to accomplish. From the programs I built, the teams I got to learn from to the voice I found in the industry along the way through sharing the stage at conferences, speaking on panels and writing for publications I’ve long admired.
As I reflect on the overall experience, I thought I’d share my learnings here briefly.
Lessons
- As much as solving problems yourself commands leverage, making those problems less likely to exist in the first place amplifies leverage.
- Some of the most meaningful progress is invisible while it’s happening.
- As your experience compounds, you get less interested in having the right answers immediately and more interested in asking the right questions.
- Organizational constraints aren’t personal ceilings.
- Selectively ambitious means knowing what you’re not chasing as clearly as what you are.
Final thoughts
Four years went by faster than I expected and shaped me more than I realized while I was in it. Onward to the next chapter.