Daniel Parascandolo

Senior Product Designer at Buffer

Questions for me - anything I can clarify, or anything you’re interested in that you want to discuss?

I did write a few questions to have something.

Things I took note of even when onboarding. To be honest I maybe should have asked before. One of the things that resonated when I came across Buffer.

A world with more small businesses that do good while doing well.

Even saying, let’s not rush it. Be sustainable. These are not words you hear in the tech industry.

Helps me understand, that I wasn’t seeing 100% before. In a way we are an inspiration to smaller businesses that you can remain small and be successful.

I think the message is quite clear, though I think. From what I’ve heard from All Hands, Threads, that sort of thing. We obviously want to grow, for the business to thrive. Markets change and also, many factors. But at the same time, let’s not just grow for the sake of growing.

Topic Note Idea - Natural growth as an organization

Small business aspect. At the same time, the strategy is to go down and wide. Small businesses, what they offer, is often a bit more boutique.

• Flexible
• Anti-retention patterns

AI. Tough day today, don’t feel like writing something. Get you started, at least a foot in the door.

Consumer-grade. We talk a lot about it. Curious to hear directly from you. There’s a spectrum in my mind.

Easy to use. Hard to break.

• Quality
• Playful

What have you most enjoyed working on in your 90 days?

The dynamic of working with a design team and people here. My team, there were some teething issues. Joining the team, didn’t feel like they were 100% in motion. And then having a new member makes it even a little more difficult too. Though I feel we’ve made great progress there, we’re hitting our stride.

I don’t think I’ve worked in a design team that worked so closely together. Design team was more associated with the squad or the team they were on, silo’d. I think Martin is doing a great job of keeping us close together, and also Sofia and Ismail have been great at sharing feedback. I’ve been really enjoying that experience.

In terms of the work itself, the AI space, wasn’t something I had looked closely at. It’s been interesting to dig into this. More exciting in the sense of it’s something totally new. Also hard, things change so fast. Very interesting from that challenge of trying to understand the pieces of the puzzle, how we can use it and create something scalable.

Also, access to you as the CEO. And seeing how the company handled a hard situation with Twitter.

What did you find the most confusing in your first 90 days?

I think initially, the hardest I had was getting my feet on the ground to start doing actual work, because there was a bit of confusion of what the priorities were. They shifted a bit in the beginning. Working with Diego. How design handles their files, the design system, collaborating with people outside the team. A week later it changed again, and a week later it changed again. So there was a bit of that there.

Fixing stuff around AI. Came with its own baggage in terms of the first implementation of AI. Understanding the history.

Working remotely, but across so many time zones. So I don’t end up constantly working later hours.

When it comes to onboarding, I feel it was pretty well thought out. Left some thoughts with Caro, on maybe some information that conflicts or is out of date. Really enjoyed having a buddy system. Role and culture. Never had the culture buddy. Maya was really honest and open on both what’s fun and what can be a challenge.

How is Martin as a manager compared to your previous experiences?

To give some context. As a direct design manager I only had one. I’ve always been in smaller teams where my manager has been the founder or a colleague, or I was working more as a freelancer or contractor. Compared, I really enjoy working with him, he’s really helpful. I just mentioned this today, because we just spoke about his manager up review. One of the reasons I felt comfortable joining Buffer was speaking with him in the interview process. I value a lot the type of people and the relationships, because at the end of the day yes, the product is important, but the interactions and having fun doing it is the people around you. When I started interviewing, Martin felt like a great person to do that, and the designers felt that way too. So far, has delivered. I feel very comfortable speaking with him about difficult situations. Previous manager, I would have brought it up but he would have somehow turned it around on me, and make the problem my own. It is my problem I’d have to deal with it. But he wouldn’t carry it with you. And I appreciate that in Martin in the sense he’s realistic, down to earth. Not overly positive in the sense it becomes fake. He says it as it is. And find a way to overcome it, and the optimism to get over it. I like working that way. Let’s say the situation as it is.

On one side, understanding AI. Finding customers to speak directly and test with them. No one specifically reached out to say let’s add AI to Buffer. Whereas with other features where people are more responsive.

• Go a lot deeper. Understand use cases.
• Come up with the opportunities.
• Discord / community.