What a Head of Business Development at Xsolla Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Startup Industry
Maurice, Head of Business Development at Xsolla, emphasizes the fast-paced, "startup" environment at a 17-year-old company, highlighting the need to be prepared for a constant shift in priorities—"every day is just, you're working on something different"—and embracing the "fail fast, fail hard" mentality. This rapid iteration, while familiar from Maurice's previous startup experience, contrasts sharply with their 12 years in a traditional corporate setting, providing valuable insight into the demands of a dynamic, evolving business.
Fast-Paced Environments, Adaptability, Problem-Solving, Startup Culture, Executive Leadership
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Maurice Scarborough
Head of Business Development
Xsolla Holding Company
University of Missouri - 2010
UCLA Anderson School of Management, MBA
Creative Writing, Journalism
Gaming
Sales and Client Management
Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. The fast-paced, ever-changing environment of a startup is a key characteristic of this role. Be prepared for a dynamic workload with frequent shifts in priorities and projects.
2. The role demands adaptability and a willingness to embrace trial and error. A 'fail fast, learn fast' mentality is crucial for success.
3. Experience in a startup environment or a clear understanding of its unique challenges is highly beneficial. If you prefer a slower, more measured pace, this might not be the ideal setting for you.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you started?
To be fair, I probably already kind of knew this because I had previously worked within a startup environment. We operate very much like a startup, even though we've been around for 17 years. Some of the businesses within our portfolio are a little bit on the younger side.
I would say, just be prepared for the pacing and the pace of work. Every day, you're working on something different. It can be overwhelming, but not in the wrong way. There's just a lot going on at any given moment.
The change of pace is significant; it just moves fast. You have to be ready to move on from issue to issue, team to team, or product to product at a moment's notice, day to day, week to week. This is inherent in any startup environment because you're focused on figuring out what's working and what's not. You pivot from things that aren't working and lean into the things that are.
This comes through trial and error. You figure it out through execution. The mantra of our founders is "fail fast, fail hard." Figure out what's working, and if it's not, move on. Use that learning and keep iterating.
The pace is familiar because I worked in a traditional corporate environment for 12 years. Transitioning from corporate back into a startup environment was the big change. I knew about it going in, but now being in it day to day makes me realize, "Oh yeah, that's right, that's what this was like."
It's not a bad thing; it's something I was looking forward to personally. I would tell anyone considering a startup to be aware that you're moving fast. If you prefer a slower, more measured pace, you might at times wonder if it's the right environment for you.