You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. - Wayne Gretzky
When asked about how I ended up at Union Square Ventures, I tell the truth: “I fell backwards into it.”
In the fall of 2012, I was working on building Incline. Our inaugural class was in session and I was spending 90% of my time working with technology companies in NYC to fill their open positions with technical veteran candidates. By the end of the class we had 80 hiring partners signed up from the fastest growing startups to established media companies, like the New York Times and Time Inc., who were growing technical teams.
A few days after Thanksgiving I got a simple email from Joanne Wilson, an amazing supporter from my gtrot days and beyond, introducing me to her husband Fred Wilson. The email said, “He is interested in talking to you about some possible opportunities.”
Our email exchange:
Fred: “We are seeking to hire someone to run the USV Network
I realize you have your own startup and aren’t looking for something new
But we would love to talk to you about this opportunity.
Would you be willing to come to USV this Friday to meet with my partner Albert and me?”
Me: “Not quite the email I expected. Friday morning works for me or I can adjust a few things in the afternoon.”
Fred: “yeah, i was pretty sure it would strike you as ‘out of left field’”
I quickly scrambled to learn more about the opportunity which was never listed as an open position. The only mention of the role was the from two years prior when they hired the first GM of the USV Network.
I immediately emailed Christina who just finished her two year rotation at USV. She was kind enough to hop on the phone to answer my questions. She also put me in touch with Gary, the current GM of the USV Network who was leaving to start his own organization. Gary met me for coffee the next day and shared more about the role (while stealthily using the time as an interview).
The 48 hours between getting the introduction email and showing up at the USV offices to interview for a job were strange. I never applied to a job or really thought about joining a VC firm. And to be honest, after starting my own company, I really didn’t really know if I would ever be able to work for anyone else.
I asked why they contacted me. Fred and Albert told me they never posted the job but asked their existing portfolio for referrals where my name came up a few times. I was flattered. I credit it to knowing a number of people in their portfolio through my work with Incline at the time.
After a great discussion about the role, the firm and the option to continue running Incline on the side, I decided to join the firm.
I’ve now worked here for 14 months and I love what I do. The GM roles are no longer rotational like the 2-year analyst roles, so I’ve got a few more big things I hope to accomplish here.
What’s funny about this to me is that looking back, I don’t know if I would’ve applied to the GM role if it were posted. I don’t think I would’ve picked myself. I would’ve convinced myself I wasn’t ‘right’ or didn’t have the skills or pedigree from an Ivy league school.
Thankfully it wasn’t up to me to decide if I was right for the role. I could have very easily missed the opportunity to learn so much from the USV team and USV Network at the hand of my own fear.
Don’t miss out on a job, a new venture, a degree, or an opportunity because you don’t pick yourself. Be bold.
If you are interested in joining the team at USV, we are running an open process for the next analysts. We don’t require a resume, just that you tell us more about yourself in two quick video answers. I hope you pick yourself or encourage someone else who wants to contribute to NYC Tech and USV. Apply here.