I left a Fortune 100 for a Startup. Here’s what I learned.

One of my best jobs was working as a producer for NBC. I shot stories all over the US, even reaching as far as Alaska and Hawaii.

But then video became streamable on mobile devices, disrupting the traditional broadcast industry. 

I was eager to be on the cutting edge of digital and multimedia. And so I accepted an offer to work at Twig Education, an EdTech startup in the UK. 

Here's why I took this big risk and what I learned from the experience.

A seat at the table

Large companies have incredible reach and resources. I learned a ton from my amazing colleagues at NBC. But sometimes, working for a huge company can feel like you are just a cog in a machine. It's difficult to gain a broader perspective of the business when there are layers upon layers of hierarchical management.

Working at a disruptive digital startup gave me a seat at the table. I was able to play a vital role in building innovative digital products. Seeing how finance, marketing, tech, and production all worked together was a huge learning experience.

Bigger isn’t always better.

Twitter. Spotify. Uber. AirBnb. LinkedIn. Khan Academy. Slack. 

These were all unknown brands not too long ago. What do they all have in common? They were started by folks who had a vision for how a new approach and technology could disrupt the market. 

The big edu players like HMH, Scholastic, Pearson, and McGraw Hill struggled (and still struggle) to produce great multimedia experiences despite their enormous resources. There was a real need to do better.

Twig Education, with its partnership with the BBC, was creating fresh, educational content that was blowing the competition out of the water. Companies like Twig may not have the brand recognition, but they can pivot quickly to adapt to market trends. They have fewer industry "dinosaurs" in the way and are better enabled to put creativity and innovation first. 

Resourcefulness

It's true that some startups newly minted with fresh investment can foolishly waste money. WeWork is a prime example of this. However, most of the time, there's a need to create something from nothing. Lemonade out of lemons if you will. 

In my case, I helped create a whole new style of content for Twig using motion graphics. Within a year, our production value skyrocketed while successfully differentiating ourselves from established players in the field. I also led a new multimedia initiative sponsored by Imperial College London that provides classrooms with free science news and related content.

Perseverance and Agility

A startup in the media industry is like a tug boat in stormy seas. The market can be volatile, and new technologies continually disrupt business models. Working at a startup can, therefore, be super challenging. It requires agility, perseverance, and a stomach for risk. But if you hold on tight enough and have a clear vision for the path ahead, then great rewards will be gained.

Learning from Failure

The first product I worked on at Twig Education failed. After tons of research and creative work, the product never launched due to an inadequate business case. There just wasn't a strong enough market for a multimedia history product. Initially, I was crushed. But later, I realized how much I learned from that experience. Startups have a unique relationship with failure. And I'm glad I got a taste of it and applied those lessons to later products that won several awards.

Step Up. Take Ownership.

One of the things that enticed me to leave a big company for a startup was the chance to take on a lot of responsibility. Working at a startup will allow you to take on as much as you can handle. I was excited to be on a steep learning curve. I learned just how important taking ownership is when positioned in a leadership role.