After 7.5 years, I said goodbye to Airbnb today. This end of a chapter also marks the start of a new and exciting one, but brings with it many emotions. I am sad to leave so many friends behind, and though I am sure some will stay in touch, it is certainly going to be different, without the cadence of work to bring us together. I am sad to leave, knowing I will not be part of this smart and passionate group of people who are building the future of Airbnb. I am also proud of the part I played in building the payments system at Airbnb, and improving the engineering culture here. I am happy to have been a strong advocate for diversity, and to know that others will continue on that path. And I’m excited to be taking a long break to do what I’ve wanted to do for a very long time - travel.
In the coming weeks and months, I also want to experiment with writing. I want to reflect on stuff I encounter along the way, but also share some thoughts about software engineering and tech in general, from my perspective as a 20 year silicon valley veteran. I’ve never done this kind of writing before, and I’m not sure how it’s going to go. You are welcome to subscribe if you want to come along for the ride, and if you do, I’d appreciate any feedback you have.