Whatever next!

Some thoughts on working from home, and some news to share

There’s a book that I love reading to my daughter Lucia, titled “Whatever Next!”. It is about a bear that wants to go to the moon while waiting for bath time. I strongly recommend you to read it, its a nice story (for kids around 2-4 years old). I thought the title was appropriate for this post.

If you worked with me ever since the pandemic, you likely know that I am a strong advocate for the remote first, or even fully remote philosophies. I think that if you have the right set of people, you can do anything. And I believe it is possible to balance remote work with intentional togetherness, and with that build great things.

After 4.5 years working from home, I decided this model is no longer working for me personally though. I will expand on this point because I think many extroverts might be feeling the same, and perhaps haven’t yet noticed what is going on just yet.

As an extrovert, I love being amongst people. I thrive on connection, and I recharge connecting with people. When I do not see people regularly, my mood gets lower and lower, I feel less and less motivated and more prone to being grumpy to those around me. In a bad mood, concentrating on things costs me more energy. I get very distracted when I am getting depressed and have the feeling that I start many things, but do not finish any of them.

For me, the informal interactions at the kitchen, or between meetings, or the chitchat at the start of an in person meeting help me fuel to be my best at work. Being my best at work is when I am the most productive, and happiest.

There is a great upside to working from home. I had the privilege over the last 3.5 years to see my daughters growing near me. I followed each of their developmental phases, the first sounds, words, and steps.

The emotional cost of this isolation feeling has been heavier and heavier on me over time. I had to make a change and even hear my own advice from a few posts ago on when to change jobs. When the lifestyle it gives you no longer works for you. Here I am: I'm leaving my CTO role at VTEX.

I feel the timing works for VTEX too: I think my number one accomplishment was to focus on hiring and developing leadership at all levels in the Tech team and that team is rock solid. Together, we have set the foundations that changed fundamentally some of the ways we do things while keeping great aspects of our culture.

For the company as a whole, I have made my contribution to land our numbers, delivering a strong Q3 with great direct contribution of our efforts in Tech, focusing on good quality engineering while still keeping customer focus.

What now?

Until March 2024, I will be still involved at VTEX as their Advisor. After that, I don’t know. I am starting conversations with a few people and companies on some opportunities and possible projects and hopefully soon will be able to update you all. Meanwhile, I am open to chat in person or grab a virtual tea together.