Vishal Korlipara first featured as a Mobile Hero in 2019. At the time, Vishal had just moved to San Francisco and landed a role at Credit Karma. After a few years in the fintech space, Vishal decided to pursue his passion for fitness—so he joined Future to manage growth and acquisition for their fitness app. We caught up with Vishal to see what he has been working on.
Learn more about Mobile Hero Vishal.
In the last 3 and a half years, I moved across the country, went through an acquisition, moved to the acquiring company, and transitioned to a new startup in a new industry. I also gave up my lease to pursue a digital nomad lifestyle.
It’s been an active 3 years—but I’m not alone. Remote work has led to one of the biggest resignation waves in US history. The Great Depression and the Dot Com bubble led to many layoffs—but not valued employees leaving at their own discretion. Is there something new behind all of this? That I don’t know.
I am not here to speculate on the “why.” Instead, I’m here to help you dive into the next step. A resignation often means taking up a new position and joining a new company. In what follows, I will explain how you can navigate your transition effectively.
Learn, Learn, Learn
Before starting your new job, learn as much as you can about the company structure. Ask your hiring manager and connect with people who make important decisions about your role and the overall company. If your hiring manager isn’t effective in helping (red flag!), don’t let it hinder you. Hop on LinkedIn, reach out to colleagues, chat about your upcoming role, and figure out how the company operates.
For example, knowing your budget is always important. You should already know if the CMO or Head of Finance makes these decisions. If you need to test web landing pages, find out if this lives with the product or marketing team. Preparation sets you as a rockstar on a mission to make an impact. Start the learning early to shorten the ramp-up time—plus, you’ll make a great first impression.
Get To Know Your Colleagues
Take time with colleagues that are not focused on KPIs, product, or marketing. The initial 1:1s with your immediate team, especially your cross-functional team, are set up to help you get to know the people you will be working closely with.
“Do they have a family?” “What did they do before this?” “What are their favorite hobbies outside of work?” Getting to know your coworkers, particularly in a remote environment, is critical for successful collaboration. It is hard to feel like a team and progress towards a goal if you only chat about tactical, work-related items.
Have Confidence. You Are an Expert in Your Area.
Bring your knowledge base, and contribute to the company early and often. They want you for your experience. Start auditing everything, and take copious notes on ways to improve the business. At Future, I put my notes into a spreadsheet and prioritized what will make the most significant impact. I use the ICE (Impact, Confidence and Ease) Framework, but any standard prioritization method will work.
This is a critical setup for your first 3-month plan at any new company. You must have a solid foundation for what works, what doesn’t, and a plan to improve. In mobile growth, we also tie revenue and users to this plan where possible.
Listen More, Especially Early On
Later in my career, I learned to listen more than speak. Everyone has heard the adage “we were born with two ears and one mouth” for a reason. Use meetings to learn team dynamics and absorb knowledge from other team members. Is your team led by more brand-centric people or by DR growth-focused individuals? Where are the common friction points? Who are the leaders in the room? All of this helps you navigate the company culture and impact growth faster.
Everyone has different reasons for staying at a company—or for joining a new one. Prioritize your happiness and the opportunities to challenge yourself in your career. I hope my learnings can benefit you in your new role, wherever that might be. Understand the business structure before joining, get to know your coworkers personally, trust your expertise, and most importantly—listen more than you speak.