Advice from the Top 1% of Software EngineerㅣExaltitude Jean Lee

Summary

The speaker reflects on their growth from the 19th engineer at WhatsApp to witnessing its user base swell to 1.2 billion. They emphasize the importance of influence through likability and credibility in the tech industry, advocating for genuine skill over trend-following. The success of WhatsApp is attributed to a focus on core utility and quality over gimmicks, and the speaker highlights the balance between autonomy and mentorship they found at the company. The acquisition by Facebook for $19 billion was a life-changing event, prompting reflection on the true meaning of work and financial freedom.

Takeaways

• 🚀 The speaker was the 19th engineer at WhatsApp, which grew from 20 million users to 1.2 billion active monthly users during their tenure.
• 🤝 Influence in the workplace is about a combination of likability and credibility, which can lead to more opportunities and recognition.
• 🛠️ The speaker emphasizes the importance of being able to learn new things and adapt, as programming languages and technologies evolve rapidly.
• 🌟 Success is not about following trends but being inquisitive and following one's passions and strengths.
• 🔩 WhatsApp's philosophy was to focus on core utility features and quality, avoiding gimmicks and unnecessary features.
• 📢 The company aimed to ensure that even users in remote areas with poor internet connections could reliably use their app.
• 🧩 Balancing autonomy with mentorship was crucial for the speaker, which they found at WhatsApp with its experienced founders.
• 🌱 The growth at WhatsApp was managed with a focus on maintaining the engineering culture, emphasizing simplicity and prioritization.
• 🏆 The acquisition of WhatsApp for $19 billion was a life-changing event for the speaker, highlighting the impact of such a significant financial transaction.
• 💡 Money can bring fulfillment and stability, but it's also important to find meaningful work that goes beyond financial gain.
• 🛑 The speaker had to redefine the meaning of work after achieving financial freedom, exploring how to spend time meaningfully.

Q & A

How many users did WhatsApp have when the speaker joined, and how many when they left?

When the speaker joined WhatsApp, they had around 20 million users. By the time they left, the number of active monthly users had grown to 1.2 billion.

What is the importance of likability and credibility in the speaker's view of influence?

The speaker believes that likability and credibility are key to gaining influence. Being dependable, pleasant to work with, and likable can lead to more opportunities and make one the first choice for teams and projects.

What does the speaker suggest as a better approach than following trends for career success?

The speaker encourages being inquisitive and exploring one's passions rather than blindly following trends. They emphasize the importance of being able to learn new things and pick up new skills.

What was the guiding principle for WhatsApp's feature development?

The guiding principle for WhatsApp's feature development was to focus on core utility features that work reliably, ensuring that even someone in a remote area with a poor internet connection on an old device could use the app effectively.

How did WhatsApp balance between a startup culture and providing mentorship?

WhatsApp provided a balance between a startup culture and mentorship by being a small enough company where an individual could see the impact of their work, while also having founders with significant tech experience from Yahoo to provide guidance and leadership.

What was the WhatsApp engineering culture like, according to the speaker?

The WhatsApp engineering culture was characterized by simplicity and challenging work. The team focused on prioritizing a few core features and ensuring a quality user experience across different conditions and devices.

How did the speaker and the team at WhatsApp ensure that new hires understood the company's engineering culture?

The speaker made sure that every new engineer understood the engineering culture of WhatsApp by clearly communicating the company's values and priorities, and by setting a clear decision-making process for feature development.

What was the speaker's reaction when WhatsApp was acquired by Facebook for $19 billion?

The speaker was initially unsure and confused about the acquisition news, struggling to comprehend the magnitude of $19 billion and what it meant for them personally.

How did financial freedom change the speaker's perspective on work?

Financial freedom allowed the speaker to experiment and redefine the meaning of work, leading to a realization that work should be something interesting and meaningful, rather than just a means to earn money.

What advice does the speaker give about choosing a career path?

The speaker advises choosing a career path based on personal interest and passion, suggesting that successful individuals often view their work as a meaningful part of their life rather than just a job.