Thank you, Yahoo!

I don’t know how to start this farewell. I am listening to Frank Ocean to try to come up with the words. I walked into the Yahoo office in June of 2018. I didn’t know what I was walking into. I honestly didn’t know much about the job I accepted. At the time, I needed a truly fresh start. Yahoo was that for me.

Four short years ago I was working two jobs trying to make ends meet. I worked at a place where I thought I was going to make a career and succeed. I was also working at a local grocery store, my mom helped me get that job. There were days I didn’t see my daughter, wife, or had time for myself. I’d start one job at 7am finish my shift at 4pm and immediately go to the second job until 11pm. I was exhausted. I had had enough.

After a few instances I noticed that I wasn’t going to move up the career path at my full time job, I began reaching out to my network to see if there was any openings where they worked. Yahoo’s name kept coming up, I didn’t know much about advertising, but “Lets get it!” I said. I studied the Gemini platform, did mock interviews, and bought a new tie. Let me tell you, walking into a tech job with a full three piece suit was extremely uncomfortable.

Thank you, Justin and Kevin for opening that door to Yahoo. I will forever be indebted to you. Love.

After a long 6 months of back and forth, I got the job! It could not have come at a better time. I was in a dark place, waking up hating going to work, despising those around me, being a pain to my managers, having zero patience for my family. As a man, when you aren’t providing, you feel worthless. Thankfully I was aware of the person I was becoming. I was able to use our EAP benefits and I signed up for therapy. I felt like I needed to talk to someone about the roadblocks I was facing. My therapist and I hit it off, now it has been a little over 4 years and we are still together. She helped me work through my pains about work, understand my worth, and built my confidence.

Yahoo was also a part of my growth. Yahoo accepted me for who I was, supported me, and appreciated me. I didn’t know what to expect from Yahoo. I came in with a sense of apprehension. Free food? Beer carts? Foosball tournaments? Oh and of course, so much swag! “Is this what the corporate life is?” I asked myself, I quickly adjusted. I was refreshed, my manager wanted the best for me, connecting with other Directors and VPs was easy, building up a network in the office came with ease.

I felt accepted. I felt wanted. I felt like I was home.

Recently, I have seen many people say that leaving Yahoo is hard because of the people that you meet and how they become family. I can confirm, that has been the hardest part of leaving Yahoo. The people you work with who become family. You hear their pains, wins, losses, you’re there for all of it. Some become parents right before your eyes, others become your best friends, others become your go to for everything sneakers. Most importantly, they’re there. Caring for you as much as you’re caring for them.

Yahoo has amazing people in its company. I will miss them all dearly. Specifically the Omaha office. You opened your arms and gave me a big hug. You laughed at my corny jokes in the Slack channel, some of you loved when I found your water bottle, and all of you enjoyed our United ERG events. You fulfilled me. You gave me a reason to love my job. Hearing your weekend stories, your laughter during lunch, grabbing that cold beverage out of the fridge on a Friday afternoon. Those are the moments I enjoyed the most.

Yahoo gave me the opportunity to do what I was passionate about. Working on diversity initiatives was special to me. Being able to be a part of a team that made changes not only in the Omaha office but Globally was important. I did that, I was recognized for it. I was pushed to continue to do more. I was blessed enough to be on a team that developed a new diversity pipeline that our HR department currently uses to recruit.

All of the moments where my imposter syndrome tried to take over I just showed it what I had done. Yahoo was a proud sponsor of Immigrant Legal Center’s “Food Truck World Tour” a fundraiser that helps Nebraska immigrants with legal fees. That was an important partnership for me because of what my father went through when he was deported. I was proud. I am proud of being a part of Yahoo’s Alumni.

Our work with United ERG (Employee Resource Group) made the Local News countless of times, we were even featured in a local magazine. We did so much together. Free haircuts and back backpacks to kids during back to school time, donated bicycles, adopting families during the holidays, and most importantly, giving back to the community with our masks and personal hygiene giveaways during the height of the pandemic. WE DID THAT.

It takes one person to believe in you and give you that opportunity you need. Thankfully, I have thousands of people that believed in me and allowed me to be, well, me. The guy who isn’t polished or professional, wears his emotions on his sleeve, and has a little too much LA in him. Thank you for accepting me. Thank you to those who were my mentors. Thank you to those who helped with my passion projects. Thank you for joining the softball team. We haven’t won a game yet, but we will soon. We are 0–8 (I think). We have grit.

Yahoo, thank you.

P.S.

To Keri, Leslie, and Bill.

You three made the Omaha office run smoothly through any tumultuous event. No matter how many people were in the office after the height of the pandemic, you always had a smile on your face. At times you were the only people I physically saw and spoke to. You are a blessing.