Chasing the Winds of Change: A Conversation with Andy Chen, Chief Product Officer at Glassdoor
Andy Chen, Chief Product Officer at Glassdoor, has a knack for identifying industries ripe for disruption. With a background in aerospace engineering and experience in online travel and online dating, Andy has developed a keen sense of spotting opportunities where technology can drive change.
The Art of Identifying Disruptive Opportunities
When evaluating industries for potential disruption, Andy looks for areas where technology has enabled significant changes. He searches for patterns and analogs in one industry that can be applied to others. Andy is particularly drawn to ideas that few people believe in, as he believes these often have the greatest potential for growth. He cites his experience in online dating, where he saw an opportunity to connect people despite the initial skepticism.
From Online Dating to Job Search: The Power of Community
Andy’s move to Glassdoor was driven by the company’s mission to bring transparency to the workplace. He saw parallels between online dating and job search, where people were seeking connections and insights. Glassdoor’s community-building initiative aims to generate richer insights through conversations, rather than relying solely on one-sided reviews and salary information.
The Role of Community in Delivering Insights
At Glassdoor, community is seen as a way to deliver insights that go beyond traditional reviews and salary information. The company’s “Bowls” – essentially subreddits or groups – provide a platform for professionals to connect, express themselves, and engage in discussions. This community-driven approach enables Glassdoor to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the workplace and salary landscape.
Measuring Success: Engagement, Retention, and Frequency of Visits
To measure the success of Glassdoor’s community initiative, Andy focuses on engagement, retention, and frequency of visits. The goal is to increase stickiness and retention, encouraging users to return more frequently than the current twice-a-year average.
Maintaining a Vibrant Culture and Slowing Down Churn
At Glassdoor, Andy emphasizes the importance of articulating the company’s purpose and values. He also recognizes the need to address burnout and ensure that employees feel efficient and autonomous in their work. By prioritizing these aspects, Glassdoor aims to maintain a vibrant culture and slow down churn.
The Four-Legged Stool: Organizational Structure and Team Dynamics
Glassdoor’s organizational structure is built around the “four-legged stool” concept, which comprises product, product design, engineering, and data. Each product team has a stakeholder or leader from each of these four legs, ensuring a sense of ownership across the entire product development life cycle.
Product Management: Strategy, Stakeholder Management, and Curiosity
Andy believes that product managers should focus on product strategy, stakeholder management, and curiosity about how things work. With the rise of product design, product managers can focus on tying product to business outcomes, unblocking, driving clarity, and connecting the dots between stakeholders.
By embracing these principles, Glassdoor is poised to continue driving innovation and disruption in the job search and workplace transparency space.