Introduction
Philip Hsu is a well-known engineer at META. In this conversation, he shares his career journey, from his early days at Microsoft to his time at META and OpenAI. He also discusses his thoughts on career growth, management, and the future of technology.
Early Career at Microsoft
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Fast Promotions: Philip credits his fast promotions at Microsoft to having good managers and teammates, working long hours, and being in the right place at the right time.
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Work Ethic: In his first year at Microsoft, he had a sleeping bag in his office and regularly slept there. He followed Da Vinci's theory of sleeping four hours, waking up, and then sleeping another four hours.
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Luck and Talent: Philip believes that luck, talent, and hard work are the three main factors that contribute to career growth.
Transition to Management
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Cultural Influence: Philip became a manager because he came from a culture where managers were more respected and were thought to have better career prospects.
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Switching Roles: Throughout his career, Philip has switched between being a manager and an individual contributor (IC) several times. He enjoys being an IC but is willing to take on management roles when needed.
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Managing Up: Philip has had four separate times when a previous manager asked to report to him. He believes that this is because he has learned to be a good manager and has some useful skills.
Career Growth and Progression
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Leveling and Expectations: Philip discusses the different levels at META and the expectations that come with each level. He also shares his experience of being re-leveled down from an E9 to an E7 when he switched from being a site director to an IC.
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Qualitative and Quantitative Differences: Philip believes that there are both qualitative and quantitative differences between the different levels at META. He also discusses the importance of having a good coach and getting feedback from others.
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Career Decisions: Philip advises people to be careful when making career decisions and to consider the long-term implications of their choices. He also encourages people to be open to new opportunities and to learn from their experiences.
London Office of Meta
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Starting a New Office: Philip shares his experience of starting the engineering portion of the London office of Meta. He discusses the challenges and opportunities of building a new team and culture.
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Cultural Fit: Philip emphasizes the importance of cultural fit when hiring new employees. He also shares his experience of bringing 12 people with him to London and asking them to commit to two years.
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Leadership and Management: Philip discusses the importance of leadership and management in building a successful team. He also shares his experience of working with some of the top leaders at Meta, including Mark Zuckerberg.
John Carmack and Other Influential People
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John Carmack: Philip discusses his experience of working with John Carmack, a legendary engineer at Oculus. He shares his admiration for Carmack's technical skills and his ability to provide valuable feedback.
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Other Influential People: Philip also mentions some other influential people in his career, including Scott Marlette and Phil Spencer. He shares his experience of working with these people and the lessons he learned from them.
Leaving Facebook and Joining OpenAI
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Leaving Facebook: Philip discusses his decision to leave Facebook and start a B Corp. He shares his concerns about the future of technology and his desire to make a positive impact on society.
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Joining OpenAI: Philip discusses his decision to join OpenAI and his experience of working with some of the top AI researchers in the world. He shares his excitement about the potential of AI to transform the world and his hope that it will be used for good.
Writing and Communication Skills
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Importance of Writing: Philip emphasizes the importance of writing and communication skills in the tech industry. He shares his experience of improving his writing skills and the benefits he has seen as a result.
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Reading and Learning: Philip advises people to read widely and to learn from the best writers. He also shares his experience of reading some of the classic works of literature and how it has influenced his writing.
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Feedback and Improvement: Philip emphasizes the importance of getting feedback on your writing and using it to improve. He also shares his experience of working with a professional editor and the lessons he learned from the process.
The Great Posts Explorer
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Purpose and Function: Philip discusses the purpose and function of The Great Posts Explorer, a tool he created at Facebook to help people discover and share the best posts on the platform.
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User Experience: Philip shares his experience of designing and developing The Great Posts Explorer and the challenges he faced in creating a user-friendly and intuitive interface.
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Impact and Future: Philip discusses the impact of The Great Posts Explorer on the Facebook community and the potential for future development and improvement.
Career Reflections and Advice
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Fast Execution vs. Leadership: Philip discusses the trade-offs between fast execution and leadership. He shares his experience of being a fast-paced engineer in his early career and how he has learned to slow down and focus on leadership as he has grown older.
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Managing People: Philip shares his experience of managing people and the challenges he has faced in dealing with different personalities and work styles. He also shares his advice on how to be a good manager and how to build a strong team.
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Specialization vs. Generalization: Philip discusses the pros and cons of specialization and generalization in the tech industry. He shares his experience of being a generalist in his early career and how he has learned to specialize as he has grown older.
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Career Advice: Philip shares his advice on how to make the most of your career and how to achieve your goals. He emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision, being passionate about what you do, and never giving up.
Conclusion
Philip Hsu's career journey is a testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and a willingness to learn. He has had the opportunity to work with some of the top engineers and leaders in the tech industry and has learned valuable lessons along the way. His advice and insights are sure to be helpful to anyone who is interested in pursuing a career in technology.
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