Nick Giovanni’s Post

Stole this from Allen Finn who borrowed the idea from Brian Blum. "You need to master telling your own story. Connecting the dots between experiences positions you as a unique voice, and helps you stand out to potential clients, employers or business partners. Individually, a lot of those experiences probably didn't feel connected at the time. But when you zoom out, it makes perfect sense why you're doing what you're doing. If you're thinking about your next move, might be worthwhile to reflect and complete this exercise." Here's mine: 1. Junior year of college I accepted a job at top M&A advisory, EY-Parthenon, to start post-graduation from Colgate University in 2020. 2. After an unforeseen hot start to my senior season of D1 ice hockey, I signed with an agent with the goal of playing pro hockey. 3. Beat Brown University in overtime in the first round of playoffs, and two days later, the entire season was cancelled because of COVID-19. (Pivotal moment in my life) 4. Closed the chapter on hockey post-college due to uncertainty from the Pandemic and also took the option to defer the EY job for 1 year due to rough macroeconomic conditions. 5. Joined early-stage COVID testing startup that scaled to $50 million in revenue and 800 employees in five months, where I met one of my now co-founders, Kieran Derfus. I still intended to go to EY at this time. 6. Three weeks before my revised EY start date, Jonathan DiOrio connected me with Marshall Osborne to meet for lunch. This conversation would change the trajectory of my life forever… 7. He asked if I had any interest in joining the business development team at Gopuff. My original goal was to get enough corporate experience to join the BD team at a high-growth tech startup, so when the opportunity presented itself, I couldn’t resist. 8. I completed 7 rounds of interviews in 9 days and accepted an offer 12 hours before my first day at EY. I spent exactly one year at Gopuff learning and being mentored by a team of rockstars (cc Phil Mikhaylov Danielle Andrade Matthew Jones). 9. During my time at Gopuff, I built out a business unit called ‘PoweredBy Gopuff’, which was a Shopify app to unlock instant delivery for DTC websites, where I met some of the brightest minds in the DTC/ecommerce world including Bill Shufelt, Christopher Gallant, Nate Harvey, Calvin Lammers. 10. After learning the ins and outs of the Shopify landscape while at Gopuff, I realized that the notion that it's expensive and takes a really long time to build a high-converting ecommerce storefront is a misconception, so I set out to debunk this myth. 11. I joined forces with Michael Keenehan and Kieran Derfus to build what is now known as Platter, which is a theme and app bundle designed to enable Shopify brands to build high-converting, profitable storefronts. From a junior in college with plans to join a consulting firm to a software founder in four years. Not expected, but extremely grateful! What’s your story?

Interesting valuation journey that Instacart has been going through. Once pegged at a whopping $39 billion, it dramatically dipped below $10 billion. But here's the twist: since the IPO things are looking up again. So, what's the scoop? This rollercoaster isn't just about groceries; it's a tale of market dynamics, investor sentiment, and evolving business models. The initial drop? A mix of market corrections, changing consumer habits post-pandemic, and investor reassessment. But since the IPO, we've seen a steady climb. Why? Looks like Instacart's adapting, refining its strategy, and perhaps the market's getting a fresh taste for its potential. This isn't just about one company. It's a lens into the volatile world of tech valuations and the complexities of scaling in a post-pandemic economy. What's your take on Instacart's journey? And what does it tell us about navigating market uncertainties and consumer trends? #Instacart #MarketInsights #BusinessStrategy #TechValuation

Last week we hosted a webinar featuring Matt Birnbaum. He talked a lot about how he approached building a talent team at Instacart. He also discussed frameworks for prioritizing, when you have way too much to do and not enough time or resources to do it. At one point, he talks about the 2 things he cares most about: 1- activity levels 2- conversion rates "I say those are the most important is because if you have an understanding from the top of the funnel to the bottom of the funnel, you're actually able to understand and predict what your throughput is at current capacity. You need to have a baseline there." – Matt Birnbaum, Talent Partner at Pear VC Check out the on-demand version: https://lnkd.in/exMAJ7Da

🎓 Reflecting on Graduation and My Last Day with Gopuff 🎉 As I walked across the stage, diploma in hand, I can't help but feel a surge of accomplishment. Graduation day marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. My time at Gopuff has been nothing short of memorable, filled with growth, challenges, and invaluable experiences. Today, as I bid farewell to my colleagues and friends at Gopuff I carry with me a treasure trove of lessons and insights that will undoubtedly shape my future endeavors. From the fast-paced environment to the camaraderie of the team, every moment has been instrumental in my personal and professional development. As I embark on this new journey post-graduation, here are some key pointers guiding my path forward: 1. Embrace Change: Graduation signifies change, and with change comes opportunities for growth and discovery. I'm excited to embrace the unknown and navigate the twists and turns that lie ahead. 2. Continued Learning: Education doesn't stop at graduation. Lifelong learning is essential for personal and professional advancement. Whether through workshops, online courses, or hands-on experiences, I'm committed to expanding my knowledge and skill set. 3. Networking and Connections: Building meaningful connections and fostering relationships within the industry is crucial. I intend to leverage my network, seek mentorship, and collaborate with like-minded individuals to fuel my aspirations. 4. Passion and Purpose: Pursuing a career that aligns with my passions and values is paramount. I'm determined to channel my creativity, drive, and enthusiasm into meaningful projects that make a difference. 5. Resilience and Adaptability: The road ahead may be fraught with challenges and setbacks, but resilience is the key to overcoming obstacles. I'm prepared to adapt, persevere, and emerge stronger in the face of adversity. As I bid farewell to Gopuff and embark on this new chapter, I am filled with gratitude for the experiences, friendships, and memories that have enriched my journey. Here's to new beginnings, endless possibilities, and the exciting adventures that await! Cheers to the next chapter!

Instacart announced Tuesday it will lay off approximately 250 workers, or roughly 7% of its total global workforce, as part of a corporate restructuring plan. Most of the layoffs will be completed by the end of March. “This will allow us to reshape the company and flatten the organization so we can focus on our most promising initiatives that we believe will transform our company and industry over the long-term,” Instacart CEO Fidji Simo said in a Tuesday letter to shareholders. “I am confident this will enable us to execute with even more focus and efficiency moving forward.” Instacart’s chief technology officer, chief operating officer and chief architect are also departing the company, Simo announced. All are leaving for personal reasons, CNBC reported. Only the CTO role will be backfilled. This is an interesting change! Driving better results by the Senior Management and Board of Directors - https://lnkd.in/gnhH3wAs   Ethical and Business Processes - https://lnkd.in/gsFVVy6c   Ethics - https://lnkd.in/gnCuyE5D   ESG HR, Human Rights, and Corporate Governance - https://lnkd.in/gE6kU23Y   Corporate and Data Management Ethical Practices - https://lnkd.in/gPw_KUWf   Close, Consolidate and Reporting – https://lnkd.in/gQ5ENXrK   Emergency, Crisis, and Risk Management - https://lnkd.in/ggeeGUtF   Public Sector Governance - https://lnkd.in/g_-685du   IOT - https://lnkd.in/gVMyjPne   Audit Analytics - https://lnkd.in/gjKBFCBB   Data Management - https://lnkd.in/gHBCBShk   ESG - https://lnkd.in/gTvb5_tx   CFO and Cyber security - https://lnkd.in/gmKwR_bK   Generative AI and the Office of Finance - https://lnkd.in/gnViezNd   Microsoft Excel and the Data Journey - https://lnkd.in/geQx52Ce   Facilities - https://lnkd.in/eTRBrYP3   Customer Success Management - https://lnkd.in/gEtSMeep   Biodiversity - https://lnkd.in/gyQX5Ups      

Celebrating DoorDash’s 11th Anniversary with Tony Xu During my 4+ years at DoorDash, I've learned a lot. Here are my top takeaways: - Bias for Action: Move fast and work iteratively whenever possible. - Be an Owner: Ownership brings responsibility. You own the outcome, whether positive or negative. - Relentless: Nothing great happens without grit and persistence.

🥕 On the day of Instacart's IPO, a few fond memories from my time there: • Waking up at 5am every day in my first role to scroll through status pages and manually batch orders, route shoppers, and manage delivery options before we had automated them • Carrying a corporate credit card with a half million dollar monthly limit that I used exclusively to purchase Craigslist ads, using a kludgy homebuilt file uploader to mass post job openings for shoppers across markets • The profitability party, an epic event hosted by Ravi Gupta when we hit gross margin positive unit economics less than a year after burning $16 / order (!) • Building "touchless onboarding" with Bill Babeaux and Michael Righi, perhaps the product I've worked on with the worst name and the best business outcomes, which automated operations and helped us to expand from 30 -> 300 markets in under a year • Amazon-Whole Foods. Chris Cox telling us to stop talking about snacks and go to war with Amazon like FB did against Google+. The whirlwind of major grocery banners that joined Instacart in 2017. • Fall is Coming. Instacart's business had seasonality—back-to-school caused high demand and low supply in the fall. Elliot Shmukler and I started plastering the office with Game of Thrones memes and gearing up our marketing and operations engine to handle the onslaught. • David Hahn encouraging me to take a month off to sit on a beach and think about what I wanted to do with my life, which got me onto my current life path • In February 2020—ready to depart with Lauren Alexander on a year long trip around the world— getting pulled back in to help onboard more new workers than any other company in the American economy at the start of the pandemic It was a wild ride and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Raising a glass of fernet to all of the Carrots out there!

During my time at DoorDash, some people got promoted 5+ times, and others got promoted once (if that) during the same time horizon. Here are 3 things those who got promoted 5+ times did to stand out: 1. They solved the most painful problems. When there is a complex problem everyone is talking about, that is opportunity knocking at your door. Too many people complain about the same problem without taking action to solve it -- make yourself stand out. 2. They did the job before they got it. Want to get promoted? Do the job before you get it. Show your manager that you're capable, and you'll make them look good. This should give them time to focus on more significant problems, which will help them get promoted (opening up the position for you). 3. They solicited feedback regularly. As much as we'd all love to get feedback without asking, that's only sometimes the case. Lean into tough conversations so you can learn and adapt quickly. The faster you know there's a problem, the faster you can fix it. #management #promotion #growth

Back in May 2021, we had the opportunity to have a companywide session with Max Mullen - Co-founder at Instacart. One attendee asked Max "If you were starting a new company today, what are some things you would do differently this time around?" (Instacart was evaluated at over $30b at that time). Among other things, Max gave a million dollar advice, one that must be absorbed and practiced everywhere, he said: "Setting an incredibly high bar for hiring and recruitment....". Easier said than done, but absolutely necessary. Wait for the right person, don't fall for stats of rejected pool, wait for the right attitude, hire for "slope not intercept", create a strong criteria for culture-fit and NEVER give discounts on that. You need team players much more than individual superheroes. And when all of this in place and working, you'll end up having an amazing culture of collaboration and meritocracy.

Did You Ever Stop to Think? There is one thing we all as human beings share equally - 168 hours in a week. How you choose to use those 168 hours determines the richness of the vast quality of the life you lead. As one famous person said in response to achieving his 100th birthday, “if I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of my health.” Choose wisely. Thats worth thinking about today. #acheconnect #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipcoaching #peakperformance #performancecoaching