Former CEO of a startup acquired by Google testifies 'What will happen if it is acquired by Google?'
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Nome Birdin, who was the CEO of the developer of the map app Waze, which was acquired by Google in 2013, retired from Google in 2021. Mr. Birdin looks back on his seven years working at Google, answering the frequently asked question 'Why did you quit Google?'
Why did I leave Google or, why did I stay so long? | Paygo
https://paygo.media/p/25171
Waze CEO Birdin, who was the CEO of Waze at the time of the acquisition from Google in 2013, has given up much of the company's stake due to a series of failures, and the relationship with company executives is also confused. It was a situation. As a result, Mr. Birdin came to think, 'Isn't it better to work for Google's creator, Larry Page , than the current executive?'
Partly because Google had promised Waze's independence, Mr. Birdin decided to sell the company to Google in order to proceed with the development of Waze without suffering from cash flow. As a result, the Waze members led by Mr. Birdin became Google employees by title, but they were able to continue developing Waze as a team independent of Google.
However, as it was absorbed by Google, it came to face the following unexpected obstacles.
◆ Employees who think of the app as a stepping stone
In a startup like Waze, there is consistency between a company's brand and its products and services, and employees, management and investors share the same purpose. However, for employees working in large companies like Google, individual products are just a tool for career advancement, not something that is passionate or a sense of mission. As a result, Waze's development team had to hire employees who thought 'Waze is not a place to bury bones, but just a stepping stone,' Birdin recalls.
◆ Work-life balance
There was also a big gap in the way of thinking about work-life balance. When Waze started its business, there was no idea of work-life balance at the software development site in the first place, and the Waze development team took it for granted that they would devote themselves to application development. However, Google took it for granted to prioritize personal life, so Mr. Birdin was fed up with reschedule the meeting because he was 'going home early today' and 'yoga classes were prioritized.' It will be done.
◆ Political correctness issue
There was also a problem due to Mr. Birdin's personality. Because Mr. Birdin was a straightforward person in Google, he often slipped. As a result, I inadvertently used inappropriate language at Google events and meetings, and I became glared at by Google's Human Resources department. According to Mr. Birdin, 'Political correctness is a gold standard at Google, and wording is more important than what you say. If you use even one wrong word, the Human Resources Department will tell you. Thunder is falling. '
◆ High desire for working environment
The Waze development team has also become obsessed with Google's corporate culture. Google serves meals in the employee cafeteria, where you can eat healthy and delicious meals for free. Shortly after Waze was acquired by Google, when the Waze development team was having lunch in the cafeteria, I heard Google employees complaining, 'Is it sushi again?', So Waze members Made it a funny story of the inner circle. But within a few months, Mr. Birdin began hearing Waze members complaining about the menu.
In addition, becoming a member of Google has restricted cooperation with other companies, and the number of jobs that do not directly contribute to users such as legal affairs and privacy policy has increased rapidly, which has plagued Mr. Birdin. I did.
On these issues, Mr. Birdin said, 'I was going crazy because of the pile of mischief. At the end of every day, I asked myself,'What did I do for my users today?' But when I realized that I was embarrassed about what I was doing and that habit was overwhelmed, I realized that I was done. '
'I'm proud of what I've achieved within Google and I'm confident that the sale of Waze was a success. The problem was me,' Birdin said of selling Waze to Google. And comment. He revealed that the reason for his retirement was that he was exhausted after seven years of small misunderstandings.
Also, as an advice to myself in 2013 when I decided to sell, I recommend that you do not rush to innovate within Google, but just quit the company and concentrate on creating a team that can achieve innovation. That said, it's easy to say, but difficult for someone who loves your company and its mission. Still, when you decide to sell your company, you honestly admit that your time is over. I shouldn't have thought that I could pull the company. '
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