Career Path Of A Talent Principal At A Deep Tech Venture Company
Erica's career journey, beginning with a pursuit of sports marketing, unexpectedly led to a fulfilling career in tech recruiting. Driven by a desire for "all the fun things" startups offered and the ability to "live as someone that didn't before," their path included roles at Asana and Niantic, ultimately culminating in a current position at a Deep Tech Venture Company, a move facilitated by a valued mentor and influenced by market shifts.
Career Exploration, Job Search, Networking, Overcoming Challenges, Achieving Goals
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Erica Kane
Talent Principal
Deep Tech Venture Company
UCSB
N/A
Anthropology, Sociology
Electronics & Semiconductors, Technology
Human Resources (HR)
Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Erica's career path highlights a willingness to explore different fields, showcasing adaptability and a proactive approach to career development. Starting with interests in sports marketing and broadcasting, she transitioned into recruiting and eventually found her niche in the tech industry.
2. Her journey emphasizes the importance of networking and leveraging personal connections. She secured several roles, including her current position at a venture capital firm, through her network and relationships with former colleagues and supervisors.
3. Her career progression illustrates the value of identifying and prioritizing personal goals. Erica consistently sought opportunities that allowed for work-life balance, financial stability, and fulfilling work environments, demonstrating a strategic approach to career choices that balanced professional and personal needs.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Please include any internships or jobs you had before your current role.
I went to school thinking I wanted to do something specifically in sports marketing or broadcasting. I ended up working at UCSB intramural sports as well as rec sports. Through my sorority, I made some connections and started doing production assistant work for ESPN while at school.
Eventually, I got some internships for sports companies, specifically the Clippers and AEG. I moved to LA, but unfortunately, most of those companies did not turn into full-time gigs because it was 2010, and they were cutting internship programs.
I couldn't really find my footing, so I decided I wanted to go abroad. I studied English abroad in Chile for a year. When I came back, some friends were thriving in the recruiting space, which was newer to me.
I decided to pursue recruiting and got a job with an agency through friends. Once I got my footing, I really wanted to work at one of those startups that offered all the perks you hear about, like at Google. This was a driving force for me.
I transitioned into an agency in the Bay Area and then made the jump to in-house at a startup. My first full-time gig in a startup was at Asana. I got all the perks: lunch was provided, and I could bring my dog to work.
I then transitioned into a role focused on making a certain amount of money and having autonomy. I was driven by feeling like I had enough money to live comfortably. I eventually went to a company called Niantic, which made Pokémon Go.
I was one of the earlier employees there. I had a child, and the pandemic hit. I decided to get a job that was more remote-focused, and I ended up working at a SaaS company called InstaBase.
When I worked at InstaBase, my old boss from Asana and Niantic contacted me about working in venture. She recruited me again, which also allowed me to work from home. During this time, the market dipped, and many people in tech were laid off.
I was very lucky to have made the jump to a new company when layoffs were happening at my last one. I've worked at a total of five companies. My driving force and experiences have always been about looking for personal fulfillment that a job can supplement.
The reason I moved into venture is that I love my boss. I've worked with her at four companies now. I personally think it's the best of both worlds; work is a lot easier if you get along with your boss.
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