Danny Gross

Cohort: 15
Meta, Content Engineer

To start, if I approached you at a picnic and asked what you were up and enjoying these days, how would you answer?

You’ve asked me this question at a time in my life when big changes seem to be the theme! Not only did I start a new role at Meta as of mid-July, but I also recently turned 40. These two events have encouraged me to both look back to see what I’ve learned, but also to look forward to see what I can imagine for myself in this new decade. I enjoy using my birthday as an excellent excuse to spend a lot of meaningful time with my friends and family, and I have equally enjoyed diving head-first into my new job at Meta Superintelligence Labs. Both of the experiences have been energizing and rewarding in their unique ways. 

The theme of this newsletter is career pivots, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on moving between companies and roles, as you’ve held roles at some of the most recognizable brands out there. What advice would you give younger Comm Lead alumni about how to approach a career change and what you’ve learned over the years on how to see pivots as opportunities, not liabilities?

I have so many thoughts, but I’ll spare my fellow alumni the long-form version and try to keep it pithy. I have indeed moved in, out, and through different roles at different organizations across the private and non-profit sectors and have tried to do that as thoughtfully as I can. 

Before I go any further, I want to explicitly address the idea/phrase “career pivot.” I do not think of my career as a series of pivots; I see my career as an evolution. With each new phase, I’ve taken the knowledge, skills, and experience that I’ve accrued and have applied those things to new problems. I’m fortunate to say I’ve had some success in doing so. That evolution has been marked by success, failure, growth, set backs, and most importantly, learning. Especially from my failures. How could those things ever be described as liabilities? I certainly don’t think of them in that way, nor is that story I tell myself about my career, or to my colleagues, recruiters, future employers, or anyone else who wants to hear about my professional world. 

If I had some practical advice to give here, it would be to examine the story that you tell yourself, the story that you tell future employers, and understand that the language you use to do those things has significant power over the outcomes you’re hoping to see.

(And yes, the common wisdom of relationship building, networking, being a good communicator, demonstrating your impact, thinking creatively etc. all apply too, but I’m sure you’ve all heard about those things many times over.)

Now let’s chat about your latest career pivot to Meta. What inspired this shift and what have you learned this far? Anything surprising?

This is a fun one because this wasn’t something I was expecting nor actively seeking. A Meta recruiter reached out to me through LinkedIn and I found both the role and the opportunity attractive, otherwise I wouldn’t have taken it. That said, I don’t think it “just happened.”

Four years ago, I left the non-profit sector to pursue new learning, and back then I had been attracted to how AI was transforming our world in meaningful ways. That curiosity led me to my next position where I would get an initial understanding of how that technology was shaping our world, and I was determined to follow that curiosity.  Over the next three years, I would continue to deepen my knowledge of how this technology works. But understanding wasn’t enough, I wanted to solve real problems. Again, applying my skillset in new ways to solve new problems. In many ways, this new role, while unexpected in its timing, seems to be a natural extension of the evolution of my career. 

If I’ve learned anything within my short time at Meta, it would be this: people who can creatively leverage the power of language, apply systems thinking, and bring rigor to developing evaluation and measurement experiences, can find a place in the current state of generative AI.

What’s one of the best pieces of career advice you have received?

Do not make decisions out of fear. A fear-based mindset is one that second guesses itself, doesn’t trust itself, and doesn’t ever truly allow for growth. Challenge that fear, and see just how much you grow from it. 

Finally, what’s a favorite piece of content—anything goes!—you’ve been hooked on lately you think Comm Lead alumni might enjoy? 

This is easy, and serendipitously, very relevant to the topic at hand!

One of my all time favorite podcasts is Hidden Brain. The show blends science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that shape human behavior, decision-making, and relationships. It uses psychology, neuroscience, and social science research to explain why we act the way we do—and how we can make better choices. The most recent episode just happens to be all about how we can make better choices that align with our career goals!