Austin Dear’s Post

🌟 Celebrating 4 Years at Meta 🌟 Reflecting on my journey, from a moment of uncertainty to finding my stride at Meta, has been a challenging experience. In 2018, I encountered skepticism and self-doubt, with doubts lingering about my professional worth. Despite these challenges, I persevered, channeling my passion for social media into relentless self-improvement. Transitioning from self-doubt to determination, I seized the opportunity at Meta, embracing every learning opportunity and defying odds to secure a role as a contractor. Amidst uncertainties, I remained steadfast, leveraging my dedication and drive to ultimately join Meta's ranks as a Full-time Employee in March 2020. Throughout this journey, I've grappled with Impostor Syndrome. I choose to express my journey openly to inspire others by illustrating the complexities of the path to self-belief. By revealing the challenges I've faced, I aim to offer solace to those navigating similar struggles, underscoring the importance of having a supportive presence during moments of doubt even if you are not a new hire anymore. It is a reminder that even those who appear strong may have endured their own battles. As a culture ambassador, mentor, and friend, I've cultivated a culture of compassion and empowerment, recognizing the value in uplifting others. Meta has not only provided professional fulfillment but also introduced me to lifelong friendships and the opportunity to relocate to Austin, a journey for which I'm profoundly grateful. In life's ebb and flow, we inevitably find ourselves in need of support, underscoring the significance of surveying the corners of our existence. It is paramount to discern if someone amidst us grapples with self-doubt, beckoning us to extend our hand and stand steadfast in their corner, offering solace and fortitude. Extending a compassionate hand in such moments not only fosters a culture of empathy but also serves as a beacon of support amidst the tumult of uncertainty. I stay grounded in gratitude and I am driven by a commitment to improve others' well-being and to inspire growth and authenticity while always surveying the corners, ready to extend my hand. I believe in the power of stories to help others.

Wow, it's hard to believe that after a decade at Meta, today is my last day. Starting as a contractor and transitioning to a full-time employee (past 8 years), it's been quite the journey. But the time has come for me to hang up my cleats. Reflecting on my time at Meta, it's amazing to think that I spent more than 25% of my life at the company. And truthfully, I have no regrets about it. Whenever someone asks me why I've stayed for so long, my answer never wavers. There are three fundamental reasons that kept me rooted: 1. Meta embraces our authentic selves, allowing me to bring my true self to work every day. This has had a significant impact on my career and contributions. 2. The incredible culture at Meta has nurtured my personal growth. Instead of pushing me outside of the company when I outgrew my roles, I was supported in finding new and exciting opportunities internally. For this reason, I had the privilege of working on three amazing teams across four distinct roles (IC and Manager). 3. Last but certainly not least, it's the people who have truly made this journey remarkable. I've been incredibly fortunate to collaborate with some of the brightest and most genuine individuals. Each has had a profound impact on my time here, and I'm grateful for the connections we've forged. Sports, media, and pop culture have always been my passions, and working at Meta has been a dream come true. Leaving is a tough decision. Supporting and protecting creators is my calling, and I'm grateful for the chance to continue advocating for them in my next role. It would be impossible to individually thank every person who has influenced my career during my time at Meta. But please know that you all have taught me so much, and I'm truly grateful for that. We all know that the tech industry is smaller than it seems, so I genuinely hope our paths cross again in some capacity down the road. #meta #badgepost #tech #growth

In late July, I wrapped a decade-long chapter at Facebook/Meta to pursue a new challenge. We have a tradition called the ‘badge post’ that we share internally so I wanted to share a bit from it here… The past ten years fulfilled me, challenged me, and helped me grow in more ways than I could have ever imagined. And that’s thanks to the people I was surrounded by throughout - the smartest and kindest people I was fortunate enough to call colleagues and friends. As I reflected on my time, a few lessons stood out. Some I learned through exceptional leaders, some through failure (thank you for the hard conversations and grace along the way), and some through success. - Take care of your people: The company, my managers, and fellow team members cared for me in personal highs and lows and I tried to do the same daily. When people feel cared for, they can feel like they belong - and only then can they reach their full potential. - Be a protagonist: When faced with a challenge, the most powerful thing you can do is ask how you can make the situation better. When you think you’re a victim, you’re stuck in reactive defense; when you embrace your own agency, you’re in proactive offense.  - Calm the waters: When times get tough, a calm and clear leader is the ultimate enabler; they can enable everyone to focus and execute. - Embrace your strengths: One of my favorite parts about working at Meta was the focus on strengths-based work. Know your strengths, lean into them, and empower others with work that matches their strengths (and therefore be insatiably curious about others’ strengths).  - Practice gratitude: Gratitude is a force multiplier. Many of my best memories included pausing to appreciate the people, the partners, and the opportunity around me. And, as you practice gratitude toward others, you just may turn around someone’s day/week/year. As I carry these lessons forward, I will forever be rooting for Meta. I know the future is incredibly bright. THANK YOU to my team who continually raised the bar on both high performance and caring for each other, to my managers for believing in me and coaching me, and to our partners in the travel industry for your collaboration and candor.

Life Coming a Full Circle: A Meta Journey
 Story time. My journey at Meta started when I was pursuing my master's program and took an exchange semester in Singapore. As a part of my school’s company visits, I visited the Meta APAC HQ office (picture below). Instantly, I was captivated by the culture, the people, the products, and it felt like the dream workplace. I hoped a day would come where I could work there. Little did I know, this wouldn’t be my last visit. Fast forward four and half years later, I stepped into the office again, but as my first day at Meta (picture below). During my tenure, I've had the opportunity to work on incredible products and programs like Instagram, WhatsApp, Business Messaging, and Facebook to help businesses grow in JAPAC. It was more than a job; it was a profound learning experience where I saw firsthand how brands are built—an experience I will forever cherish! And now, as I bid farewell to Meta after nearly two impactful years, it's a moment of reflection.
 Looking back, I can piece together the different aspects, conversations, and lessons learned that brought me to this point. Every challenge, every success, and every person I worked with, they all played a part in shaping my journey. So, a big heartfelt thank you to all my colleagues and partners. I couldn't have done it without you. I hope we can partner again soon in the near future! ❤️ As one chapter ends, another begins. I'm excited to share that a new adventure awaits. The decision to put my papers down wasn't easy, but I recall the words my brother once said to me: “The day a man fixates himself to a pinnacle in the past is the day he loses the sight and will for another.” Grateful for the experiences at #Meta and eager for what lies ahead. Stay tuned for updates on the next chapter! 🚀 #CareerJourney #NewBeginnings #Reflections

🌟 Exciting Update Alert! 🌟 Since my journey as a contractor at Meta (Facebook) concluded on April 16, 2023, life has been a whirlwind of discovery and growth! 🚀 Leaving behind an incredible chapter at Meta has opened doors to new opportunities, allowing me to delve deeper into areas I'm passionate about and explore fresh avenues in the tech world. 🌐 Embracing Change: Transitioning from Meta has been a catalyst for personal and professional growth. I've embraced change wholeheartedly, leveraging my experiences to fuel my next steps. 🔍 Exploration & Learning: The post-Meta phase has been an enriching learning experience. Exploring diverse industries and collaborating with talented minds has broadened my perspective and skill set. 🚀 New Ventures: I've embarked on exciting ventures that align with my core values and aspirations. These endeavors have allowed me to contribute to meaningful projects and make a tangible impact. 🌟 Personal Growth: Beyond professional strides, this phase has been instrumental in my personal growth. It's empowered me to refine my goals, foster resilience, and reinforce the importance of adaptability in today's dynamic landscape. I'm incredibly grateful for the invaluable experiences and friendships cultivated during my time at Meta. Now, I'm eagerly looking forward to new horizons, ready to apply my skills and passion to create meaningful change in the tech space. I'm excited to connect and explore potential collaborations, partnerships, or simply engage in conversations about the evolving tech landscape. Let's connect and continue this incredible journey together! 🤝✨ #NewBeginnings #TechExploration #CareerGrowth #EmbracingChange #LinkedIn #ConnectWithMe

It’s been a long day and I’m running on fumes. My heart is heavy with the news of Meta layoffs that have been going on since November last year, with the most recent one happening today. BUT, something has to be said about the people that were impacted by the layoffs at Meta. I know there seems to be a massive layoff in the news every other week, but this one is personal, I know many of these folks and can vouch for them! These are rockstars, the top 5% of their generation. The criteria for the Meta layoffs is NOT performance. It is driven by level and function. Most people impacted have exceeded or greatly exceeded expectation in their performance reviews, and many were recently promoted to managers with bright bright future ahead of them! I know the current talent market is dominated by buyers. But stop looking, the chances of you finding a better talent than the Meta folks are slim to none. When you review candidate resumes, make sure you put a giant star next to any ex Meta employee! DM me if you need a game changer!

After 7.5 years at Meta, it is time for me to close this chapter. As of June, I’m no longer a Meta employee. I made this decision in March but took me a while to reflect and process the whirlwind of emotions that come with such a significant transition. This was the longest time I worked at any company and one of the most rewarding chapters of my career in every possible way you can imagine. What made it different, you may ask. The answer, albeit cliché, is true: it was the people. Everyone was kind, competent and put in an effort to do their best. That kind of culture brings the best out of me as well. From working on Core Growth (bringing 1B+ MAU to FB) to building the Account Center product and eng org from scratch, it's been a ride. We braved the odds, faced the unexpected, including a global pandemic, and emerged victorious. However, every journey must have its pauses. Since the beginning of the year, I realized I was not learning or growing the way I used to. The work started feeling more like a burden than a joy. I knew it was time to step back, reassess, and take a breather. This decision was difficult. Leaving Meta was like separating from a part of my identity, with a side dish of imposter syndrome and self-doubt. But once I recognized my need for change, the fear subsided. Now, I'm embracing an unstructured time, taking a break to recharge, learning about the latest in AI, working on some side projects, and exploring options as they come. I'd like to share some of the lessons I learned at Meta: - Decisions should be evaluated based on available information, not eventual outcomes. - Principles should guide decisions, not fear. - Go deep. Always ask the 'why' until the root cause is uncovered. - Be an ally for the underrepresented and amplify their voice. - Do not delay decisions if they’re not one way doors. Move fast, learn faster. - Do not “overcorrect” based on a small sample size (usually 1).  - Substance over form. It's the spirit, not the letter, that matters - Assume good intent - There are no dumb questions. There’s at least 1 other person in the room thinking about the same question. - Have a playbook but never execute blindly based on a playbook. Every case is unique. Special thanks to everyone who believed in me, my mentors, my managers and my peers. But most importantly to my wonderful team, you have my heartfelt gratitude. To my colleagues at Meta, I hope you remember me as a kind and competent engineering partner, someone who was always there to support you. And so, as I leave my Meta days behind, I’m excited and ready to write the next chapter in my career journey. Here's to embarking on fresh starts with openness, and a lifelong passion for learning and growth.

Last Monday marked a significant milestone as I completed 10 years at Meta, coinciding with the day I began my journey at Meta New York. It may sound like an April Fool's joke given that I started at Meta twice on April 1st but ten years apart, however it's indeed true. This period has been transformative for me. Despite potential criticism from GenZ for expressing gratitude for an employer, I consider myself very fortunate to be part of this place. I want to share two remarkable aspects of my time here. First and foremost, I am grateful for the people I have had the pleasure to work alongside. I joined Meta at the young age of 24, and much like the company itself in its early stages, I also was still developing. Throughout this process, many experienced leaders provided invaluable guidance from the outset. However, it wasn't just managers and leaders who contributed to my growth; colleagues who started their Meta careers around the same time as I did played a crucial role in my development. These individuals not only helped me hone my skills but also became some of my closest friends. We worked hard and had so much fun that sometimes we couldn't believe it was true. The company evolved, grew more mature and changed, and so did I. I have come to understand that hard skills can be learned, but it's often the people you work with and the soft skills that truly make a difference in your career. While some of these friends have embarked on new adventures outside of Meta, our friendships remain strong. Others continue to stand by my side and play an indispensable role in my journey. As for managers and leaders, they have come and gone due to reorganizations or when I changed roles, but I am deeply grateful to each and every one of them who coached and believed in me. Special thanks go to Nicole, Flavia, Leticia, Andie, Romain, Jeanine, Lauryn, John, and P. Rikhi. Surrounded by brilliant people, you naturally aspire for more, and indeed Meta is home to countless talented individuals. After a decade, it can be easy to overlook the privilege of working in such an environment. The second noteworthy aspect of my time at Meta has been the fast pace at which the company operates. Although many organizations claim to move quickly, it is rare to find one that can shift priorities and adapt to new goals with such speed and agility. Admittedly, it takes time to adjust to this environment, but doing so has been one of my most valuable lessons. This fast-paced atmosphere encourages quick action, resourcefulness, and adaptability, while also providing opportunities to explore diverse areas. As I kick-off my new decade at Meta, I do so with a significant change – moving to a different country – which in itself is a huge challenge. However, being surrounded by the best, I'm excited for the opportunities that lie ahead. While the path forward may become increasingly more complicated, the rewards are well worth the effort.