Role: Head of Finance
Months active: as of June 2009 - 36 months
Startup #: 1
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Gigs: What startups have you've worked at?
KG: Just Inventables.
Gigs: What's your role?
KG: A little of everything. I've done product development, finance strategy and management, sales, customer service, and Director of Research
Gigs: Why did you work at a startup?
KG: I'm addicted to variety and get bored easily. At a startup every day is a new day and it's very intellectually stimulating. When I see an issue I can speak up and we do something about it--it's great to have an impact right away.
Gigs: What was the best part about your startup experience?
KG: The best part is how the team pulls together in times of adversity. When we've got our backs to the wall and things look like they could collapse is when everyone fights hardest to keep the company afloat. That builds a really strong camaraderie, and in retrospect it's kind of fun. For better or worse, you're right at the heart of the organization.
Gigs: What was the worst part about your startup experience?
KG: There are some days where you just wish it was all figured out and you could just clock in and do a well-defined, structured job and then clock out again. It can get exhausting to always have to create something out of nothing--on some days. On most days (for me) it's exhilirating.
Gigs: What kind of people do you think are best suited to work at startups?
KG: You have to be comfortable with ambiguity and low data decisions, and be ready to act now. Also, you'd better be willing to work--there's nowhere to hide.
No comments:
Post a Comment