Leaving Google, by Jeffrey Veen

Leaving Google

Today marks my last day at Google and an end to a truly remarkable period in my life. If feels like just yesterday we were signing the papers, telling our friends, and announcing to the world that our team had been acquired.

We were nervous, of course. Acquisitions can be tricky - different cultures, different values, different technology platforms can all conspire against successfully merging companies. But moving to Google couldn't have been a better fit. We immediately jumped into the Analytics team and started working with them on a redesign of their product. Their openness to rethink every aspect of the app still amazes me. It's one of the most meaningful professional collaborations I've experienced in my career.

I also had the opportunity to work with Google's User Experience Team - a shockingly talented and effective group of designers and researchers. I wish I could talk about all the amazing things they're working on; all the ways they're changing how we'll connect to the world's information and to each other.

The decision to leave was a tough one. Google clearly is an amazing company to work for. After consulting with many companies during my time at Adaptive Path, it's clear that Google is like no other: they move fast, think clearly, and push strategic decisions out to the people closest to their users. But in my career, I've always swung between the big and the small and it's time for another shift.

So what's next for me? I've got a couple of small projects in the works, but mostly I'm going to take a little break, travel a bit, and catch up on some serious miles on my bike. It's been a crazy couple years ... I could use a nap.

This entry was written by Jeffrey Veen and posted 2 May 2008 at 3:26 PM. It was filed under Personal. | View blog reactions

Comments

1. On 2 May 2008 at 3:32 PM Marc Hedlund wrote:

Congrats on the big step! I'm really looking forward to seeing what you do next, too. After the nap, that is. Please let me know how I can help.

2. On 2 May 2008 at 4:22 PM Raanan Avidor wrote:

Good luck!

3. On 2 May 2008 at 4:34 PM Dave wrote:

Good luck and God Bless, Jeff. We'll be following your next adventures.

4. On 2 May 2008 at 4:48 PM Mark Williams wrote:

Good Luck. I've followed the output of your work at Google with much interest.

As a user of google products, I'll be sorry to see you go. Good luck in the peddles and with your next venture.

5. On 2 May 2008 at 4:59 PM Steve Portigal wrote:

Cool exciting surprise in my Google Reader this afternoon. Congrats and enjoy the decompression. Looking forward to more news...

6. On 2 May 2008 at 5:04 PM Andrew wrote:

Congrats and great job with Analytics, looking forward to future work. Cheers

7. On 2 May 2008 at 5:06 PM Michael Harrison wrote:

Best of luck to you in the future, Jeff, and thanks for all the great work on GA and Measure Map. Enjoy the time off!

8. On 2 May 2008 at 5:26 PM friend credit wrote:

Good luck!

9. On 2 May 2008 at 5:35 PM Amy wrote:

Congrats, Jeff! We're proud of you!

p.s. could you grab me a couple free lattes on the way out??

10. On 2 May 2008 at 5:55 PM TheBrad wrote:

As the man said (1), "Just keep moving on. Anything you do, let it come from you--then it will be new. Give us more to see." Congrats and all best.

(1) http://twitter.com/veen/statuses/793062951

11. On 2 May 2008 at 6:01 PM Brady Forrest wrote:

congrats!

12. On 2 May 2008 at 6:26 PM Ken Norton wrote:

Best of luck Jeff. Great working with you and I wish I was joining you on the bike.

-- Ken

13. On 2 May 2008 at 7:14 PM Lea de Groot wrote:

Darn, there goes my campaign for you to redo the adsense reporting interface :)
Good luck - let me know if your travels bring you to the area, I'd love to catch up again.

14. On 2 May 2008 at 9:14 PM Nobuya wrote:

"Otsukaresama", good luck!

15. On 2 May 2008 at 10:12 PM Dan Harrelson wrote:

Allez! Let's go ride...

16. On 3 May 2008 at 12:04 AM Anne Downing wrote:

Wow, I've been at Google almost a year and half and never got the chance to meet you. No doubt you'll be dearly missed. :) Good luck with whatever comes next for you!

17. On 3 May 2008 at 1:25 AM Nick Finck wrote:

Keep amazing us, Jeff!

18. On 3 May 2008 at 3:36 AM zeldman wrote:

Very happy for you.

19. On 3 May 2008 at 4:07 AM Joe wrote:

Good luck Jeff - you've done us proud!

20. On 4 May 2008 at 2:25 AM Will Sullivan wrote:

Congrats on the awesome product you've created, enjoy your break and good luck in the future!

21. On 4 May 2008 at 7:28 PM Lou Rosenfeld wrote:

Congratulations Jeff! Can't wait to see what's next...

22. On 4 May 2008 at 8:49 PM Colin Scroggins wrote:

Congrats! Hope this means we can look forward to more frequent blogging, as well.

23. On 4 May 2008 at 9:37 PM Charles Frith wrote:

If Analytics is your team's output then the collaborative atmosphere you talk about contributed to one of the best and most abundant web apps ever. Apart from Google search of course. Enjoy that break.

24. On 5 May 2008 at 9:57 AM Jason Cook wrote:

Congrats, Jeff -- best of luck in your new endeavors & hope we get a chance to work together again!

25. On 6 May 2008 at 2:40 PM kathryn kuster wrote:

All the best to you, Jeff! After sourcing candidates for the UX team at Google, I know that you are admired and respected so very much! :-)

26. On 7 May 2008 at 6:08 AM Tom Coates wrote:

Well done old chap. Would be lovely to catch up now you've got a little more time! I'm just down the road, after all...

27. On 7 May 2008 at 7:33 PM don Koehler wrote:

Jeff: Thoroughly enjoyed your presentation at WDW Chicago on Monday. Best wishes on the new turn in your life. All the best - Don

28. On 7 May 2008 at 7:33 PM don Koehler wrote:

Jeff: Thoroughly enjoyed your presentation at WDW Chicago on Monday. Best wishes on the new turn in your life. All the best - Don

29. On 8 May 2008 at 3:14 PM Gloria Antonelli wrote:

Looking forward down the bike path of life - can not wait to see your next turn.
Congratulations!

Gloria

30. On 9 May 2008 at 12:58 PM Andy Jewett wrote:

Really enjoyed your talk at Web Design World Chicago this last week... best of luck in your future endeavors... enjoy this rest.

31. On 9 May 2008 at 11:05 PM Suave wrote:

Good luck ^^

32. On 12 May 2008 at 9:27 PM Adel wrote:

Today is my second day as an intern at Google (India) and the first thing I did after getting my system was to look you up in our internal employee search tool just so that I could call you and tell you how much I admire your work in Analytics (apart from the fact that I was hoping I'd get to work with you!) I'm sad to learn that you've quit Google just when I've been accepted. Hope you find success and happiness in whatever you choose to do next and will always look forward to learn about your future endeavours. Cheers and good luck!