E
Advice from the Top 1% of Software Engineer | Exaltitude Jean Lee
@ EO
01/03/24
Takeaways
JL
Jean Lee
01/03/24
@ EO
I was the 19th engineer to join WhatsApp, and we had around 20 million users at that time, which grew to 1.2 billion active monthly users by the time I left.
JL
Jean Lee
01/03/24
@ EO
Every engineer wants some kind of influence, whether it's to get a promotion or to change jobs, and influence is about likability and credibility.
JL
Jean Lee
01/03/24
@ EO
When I think of someone like Peter, I know he will deliver and is dependable, which makes him pleasant to work with; likability plus credibility brings a lot of influence.
JL
Jean Lee
01/03/24
@ EO
If I'm building a startup, I think of people with both likability and credibility, as those are the ones who will be top of mind for my team.
JL
Jean Lee
01/03/24
@ EO
I recommend that even if you're good at many things, choose one thing to be known for, as it helps in establishing your personal brand.
JL
Jean Lee
01/03/24
@ EO
Blindly following trends is a recipe for failure; instead, be inquisitive and explore your passions to find what you enjoy doing.
JL
Jean Lee
01/03/24
@ EO
At WhatsApp, we focused on core utility features like messaging and calling, rather than gimmicks, to ensure quality and reliability.
JL
Jean Lee
01/03/24
@ EO
I interned at a startup where I loved the ownership and autonomy, but I felt a lack of direction, which led me to join IBM for mentorship.
JL
Jean Lee
01/03/24
@ EO
WhatsApp struck a balance for me between ownership and mentorship, allowing me to see the impact of my work while learning from experienced founders.
JL
Jean Lee
01/03/24
@ EO
The success of WhatsApp was key to holding on to our values during our transition from 20 million to 1.2 billion users, supported by a unique engineering culture that focuses on simplicity and prioritizes core features over many tasks.
JL
Jean Lee
01/03/24
@ EO
To achieve simplicity, it's crucial to ruthlessly prioritize a few core offerings rather than trying to excel at multiple tasks.
JL
Jean Lee
01/03/24
@ EO
User experience is a priority, ensuring that even users in remote areas with poor internet can effectively use the app.
JL
Jean Lee
01/03/24
@ EO
A guiding principle for feature prioritization was whether a user, like a grandma in a remote area, could easily use the feature.
JL
Jean Lee
01/03/24
@ EO
As an engineering manager, I communicated our long-term goals to my team, enabling them to prioritize their work independently.
JL
Jean Lee
01/03/24
@ EO
Simplicity through prioritization was key to WhatsApp's success, especially during its acquisition by Facebook for $19 billion.
JL
Jean Lee
01/03/24
@ EO
The acquisition of WhatsApp was surreal; I struggled to comprehend the magnitude of a billion dollars and what it meant for me personally.
JL
Jean Lee
01/03/24
@ EO
Many successful individuals, like Bill Gates, continue to work because they find meaning in their work rather than viewing it as a job.
JL
Jean Lee
01/03/24
@ EO
Financial freedom can be confusing, prompting a need to redefine the meaning of work and how to spend time meaningfully.