A first-person account of working with a global publishing team
When I accepted the role to help launch Finder's US business in fall 2016, I was working from a cabin in the rural mountains. That setup seemed bizarre at the time, because we had a New York office waiting to be filled with publishers. We quickly started filling our office and realized that hiring remote was now a necessity if we wanted to attract employees fast. We were making a hybrid company before WFH was cool.
Timing is everything
Going hybrid in 2016 wasn't just practical; it was necessary. Of course, no one told me that would mean laughing during 4 AM calls with Sydney, learning British slang, and having dumplings for lunch at the NYC office every month or two.
When you're working with teams across the globe, someone's always starting their day while another's ending it. Prepare to bookmark and use a meeting time zone planner to make calendar syncing easier.
This can be a huge benefit – there is 24 hour coverage on the website in case anything happens – or a fast track to burnout if you aren't able to "turn off". It's not for everyone, but for those who truly love a "fast pace", it can be exciting. Having strong boundaries can keep burnout at bay.
Global teams mean lots of traveling
I made over 50 trips to New York, countless other US cities, and three trips to Australia during my tenure, and each was surreal. There's something life changing about sitting in a Sydney office with colleagues you've only seen on video. Finder makes a huge effort to bring in remote workers to the offices, and send groups to conferences together to learn and make memories. A rotating yearly summit makes sure that every continent gets to mix and mingle.
Empowering people
Innovation is not just celebrated, it's required. Find new ways to get better results, and you'll get the resources you need to make it happen. It can be frustrating at times to feel like you need to be the loudest voice in the room to get attention, but when you lean on the data to prove your point, it's hard to be ignored. The proactive are rewarded for their grit and perseverance. The hours were unconventional, the pace was relentless, but we truly believed we were building something different. Finder became a fintech success story, growing revenue and going up against big competitors. It felt daunting and also fun.
Looking back, it's the people that made it different. We got through covid together without layoffs, we laughed a lot, we stayed in touch even years later, we celebrated home purchases, new pups, & babies, and many went on to bigger and better things in new roles elsewhere.
The five years I spent working with the team were the wonder years of my career – fast growth, lots of responsibility, and the trust to get results. It made working that hard, that much more enjoyable.
