About

Curiosity got me here.

I wish I could tell you there was a master plan. There wasn’t. I kept learning from smart people, following the questions that interested me, and saying yes to problems that felt a little bigger than I was ready for.

More than twenty years later, that is still my favorite way to work.

Justin Vanning at a mountain overlook

The path here

From early-stage startups to the Fortune 100.

I’ve worked inside early-stage startups, public software companies, marketplaces, digital health businesses, and Amazon Prime. I’ve seen 10x wins, big misses, and plenty in between. Seeing growth up close in that many environments taught me to spot problems early and get to the real one fast.

I’ve been the person building the first growth team, the executive scaling an established engine, the interim leader walking into a transition, and the advisor asking the question nobody has answered yet.

Across all of those companies, the same patterns kept repeating: assumptions nobody challenged, customer signals that did not travel across teams, growth programs compensating for product or pricing problems, and talented people working hard in different directions.

Check out some career highlights, numbers included

Justin holding Moka, his Bernedoodle
Justin cooking with family in the kitchen
Justin snowboarding with Mount Rainier behind him
Justin inside a light installation

Outside of work

I’m usually building something.

Sometimes that is dinner for family and friends. Sometimes it is a landscaping project that somehow became three weekends. Sometimes it is helping a friend think through a business problem that has nothing to do with my day job.

In my spare time, you will usually find me playing tennis or pickleball, hiking or camping, cooking or grilling, or spending time with family, friends, and my dog. I also have a habit of getting deeply curious about things most people would probably let go.

I like understanding how things work, whether that means businesses, people, technology, food, or why my dog suddenly won’t eat the food she’s eaten for 2 years. That has probably shaped my career more than any plan ever did.

I grew up in the Philadelphia area, spent thirteen years in Seattle, and these days Greenville, South Carolina is home.

What I’m like to work with

Curious enough to keep asking. Practical enough to build the answer.

Curious.

I will ask why one more time, especially when the first answer sounds too easy. I’m comfortable saying “I don’t know.” It is usually followed pretty quickly by “let’s find out.”

Candid.

I would rather have respectful disagreement in the room than polite agreement followed by an honest hallway conversation. The best teams I have worked with disagree well.

Hands-on.

I enjoy building the plan, running the experiment, reviewing the work, and helping the team solve the problem together. I would rather do that than leave behind a deck explaining what they should do.

People-first.

I care about clarity, trust, and helping talented people do the best work of their careers. I want to be someone they would choose to work with again. Life is too short to work with brilliant jerks.

“He created a culture of trust and transparency among the team that allowed people to do their best work.”
Jacob RushfinnFormer direct report at WordPress.com (Automattic)
“He welcomed diverse perspectives, encouraged honest conversation, and trusted us to make big decisions.”
Kathleen SkirvinWorked on Justin’s team at Spring Health

Let’s start with a conversation

If this sounds like how you like to work, let’s talk.

A few good reasons to reach out

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