I’m leaving TheLadders….and launching Proof!

“Go to the edge of the cliff and jump off. Build your wings on the way down.”
— Fahrenheit 451 author Ray Bradbury

 

 

It’s a new year. And even though it’s mostly an arbitrary point in time, there’s a distinct you-should-do-something-important-right-now feeling to this time of year. Coincidentally, I’ve been thinking about making some changes for quite some time.  As the title of this post alluded to with zero subtlety, I’ve resigned my position as Director of User Experience at TheLadders. I’ve spent a rewarding three and a half years over on Varick St. helping make the job search and placement world a little bit more effective, efficient, easy to use, friendly and hopefully successful for hundreds of thousands of job seekers and employers. In the process I’ve built an amazingly talented team (of whom I’m incredibly proud), integrated UX as a core discipline, built and honed an effective Agile UX methodology and earned a seat at the management table. I’ve learned much during my tenure and the time has come to take those ideas to a broader audience.

I considered many options when thinking about the next thing and, not surprisingly, it was the entrepreneurial spirit of TheLadders that inspired me to start my own business. Along with two ridiculously talented and smart partners, Josh Seiden and Giff Constable, I’m thrilled to announce the launch of Proof. Proof is a product innovation and design studio applying lean principles to traditional product development. Our goal will be to work with corporations seeking innovative product design but unsure how to achieve it within their current processes. We will be product focused (not deliverable focused – no surprise there) and intent on not only building products but also teaching the process along the way. In addition, we will offer workshops and coaching for select clients.

 

I’m very excited about this new venture and what 2012 holds in store for us. It’s a new set of skills to master and a new way of working from which to learn. Like every other entrepreneur out there, our success is in our own hands.

 

I’ll miss the friends I made at TheLadders and the camaraderie that grew out of my time there. I wish them the best of luck. Time for me to build some wings.

 

If you’d like to work with us or just learn more, email me at jeff@proof-nyc.com and please follow Proof at @proof_nyc so you can keep track of what we’re up to.

 

Happy new year!

 

[Jeff]