#ThankyouUber for a hell of a ride.
By: Tito Goldstein
Tags: Product Design, Quitting A Job, Memories, Uber, Designer

#ThankyouUber for a hell of a ride.

Night at the Uber Greenlight Hub in Sydney Australia

In many ways, more than I can count, I’ve stumbled into something special at Uber. It feels too good to be true, especially reflecting now and knowing the hundreds of people I’ve interviewed whose dream it is to be a part of this company.

I don’t think I’ve paused for long enough to appreciate that fact. Now as my time at Uber comes to a close, hopefully, I can make up for it a bit here. It feels fitting to reflect on change within a company defined by change and to dwell a little longer on the countless stories I’ve accumulated and lifelong friends I’ve made. I’m thankful for this company’s effect on my journey and I hope those reading can appreciate the uniqueness of their own situation.

For a little context…

Before I joined Uber I could only call myself a “fraud designer”. I never intended a career in design, and I’ve never taken a design course. I’ve only read a design book or two to digest some of the lingo, and prior to Uber my only legitimized experience in design was hacking my way through product design at a small 10 person startup. At times, I still refer to myself that way to denote that design is often labeled something different than I define it.

But when I joined Uber as a designer, I saw what a unique opportunity it was, and it completely re-drew the path I saw in front of me. I was immediately surrounded by an incredible amount of skillful thought. From the former IDEO and Frog designers, to the Salesforce and Apple designers, PMs, Engineers, plus roles I had never heard of and working in so many formats, and processes, it was paralyzing. Honestly, I was terrified, but I tried my best to sponge up as much as possible.

I think anyone who joins these big brand companies at any level has a healthy amount of imposter syndrome, an understandable fear in the unknown. Even if their products are universally approachable, working at them is pulling back a curtain. Removing the veil on a company that has become so distinct that it has become a verb in society: Google, Uber, AirBnB, Facebook. Before you enter you can only guess: “What would that be like?” As time goes on, these unknowns become checkboxes. These checkboxes get checked, and where anxiety once filled every aspect of your day, you can now walk confidently in hallways where you once were nervous to roam freely.

In 3.5 years I went from a designer working on internal tools used by a few hundred colleagues around the world, to defining roadmaps for major company initiatives, to spinning up new products and features, and working with some of the most talented folks in the world, to mentoring designers from all corners of the company as I continued to sponge skills and learn as much as I could (mostly and more often from more junior designers).

These achievements are in no way my own, but a mixture of luck, collaboration, and hustle. In that collaboration came the most valuable thing that Uber gave me these past 3.5 years: a series of memories and moments that I can still bring up to those who were present and receive a unanimous smile, hug, or belly laugh.

A few of my favorite…

My second week at Uber: falling asleep in the dark, warm usability lab in Beijing, China. Thank you Jeremy, and Eric for “getting a nUber to China”.

Arjun and Jeremy walking through the Forbidden City, Beijing China

I wish I could convey what it’s like to watch Arjun dance with a breakdancing crew in an Indonesian night club in Jakarta.

Playing cricket with a group of boys in the hills around Jaipur, India.

A group of boys watches as we take turns subbing into their cricket match.

Celebrating Yizzy’s birthday in Mexico City.

Mexico City with Yizzy and Jake

Thinking every time my badge stopped working in the elevators that I was fired without my knowledge.

But most of all working with some of the brightest folks I may ever work with, through tears, frustrations, anger, and confusions.

Drawing on the office Windows in Mexico City

So it goes… #GoodbyeUber

A few years ago another hashtag was trending and the company I’ve called home for 3.5 years now was setting out on a journey of change. I hadn’t even completed a year yet and maybe I was in the eye of the storm, but in those moments when others saw a tornado of bad news and drama surrounding the company things began to quiet for me. I began to feel comfortable. I had developed a partnership and a playbook that was working and delivering results.

I feel somewhat defined by those moments, carrying a metaphorical badge of honor to have lived through that change. Perhaps it is fitting (or maybe even ironic) that change is also now the constant pushing me away from the company I admire; a company I will still watch eagerly to see a bright future fulfilled, fueled by some amazingly talented people.

After working on Internal Tools, Rider, Eats, Bikes & Scooters, Customer obsession (support), Safety, Voice Assistant, Uber.com, Uber Pool, and Uber 4 Business, it is time to take the next leap, to jump into the hacky, jack-of-all-trades entrepreneurial deep end from which I was lucky enough to emerge from once before.

Thank you for the chance. Thank you for the constant change. Thank you for the challenge, and thank you for the ride of a lifetime. 5 stars. Maybe we will get matched again on another trip down the road.

#ThankYouUber