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Max, Head of Growth at 3DNS: Advize Career Interview
From doorman to Head of Growth at 3DNS, this professional's journey is a testament to embracing unexpected opportunities and the power of continuous learning.
After college graduation just before Covid, the career path took an entrepreneurial turn through tech recruiting, sparking a deep dive into AI, Web3, and decentralized finance.
Responsibilities quickly grew beyond initial recruiting, encompassing business development, marketing strategy, and even community engagement through gaming.
A typical day involves extensive meetings, partnership outreach, and managing international contractors, requiring skills like patience, communication, and creativity. The most rewarding aspect?
Bridging the gap between engineers, marketing, customers, and partners, despite the challenge of managing diverse personalities.
The Web3 industry's collaborative, content-driven environment is a major draw, particularly for those with strong technical skills or a knack for online community building.
Crucial advice includes building your Web3 knowledge, proactively networking with STEM students, and standing up for what is right in the workplace, all while maintaining your identity and sense of self.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Max Ronquillo
Head of Growth
3DNS
UC Berkeley
Economics, Political Science, American Studies
Technology
Business Strategy
Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Greek Life Member, Transfer Student
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Career Path of a Head of Growth at 3DNS
After graduating college right before Covid, a "big scramble" ensued as job prospects vanished, leading to an initial role as a doorman that sparked an entrepreneurial spirit and ultimately led to a tech recruiting position where AI and machine learning became areas of focus. From there, curiosity about Web3 led to a pivotal opportunity with a fraternity brother's Web3 domain infrastructure company, allowing one to wear many hats and cultivate skills in recruiting, business development, content creation, and strategy, which ultimately paved the way to becoming a Head of Growth at 3DNS.
Main Responsibilities of a Head of Growth at 3DNS
Max's responsibilities as Head of Growth at 3DNS evolved from recruiting backend and front-end engineers, where "got to learn a lot about technology", to content creation and community engagement, culminating in a role encompassing business development, customer service, and marketing strategy where their efforts led to significant growth, exemplified by a 20% increase in Twitter following through activities as unconventional as "play[ing] video games with our community members."
A Day in the Life of a Head of Growth at 3DNS
A Head of Growth's day at 3DNS varies greatly, but can involve extensive meetings, especially around product releases, sometimes consuming six hours of the day, alongside outbound outreach via email, Twitter, and Discord to secure partnerships, one success being "getting a semi large or medium sized PDR organization to then come and then push our...product launch". Max's role also includes managing international contractors for business development and content creation, and the lucky opportunity to host community livestreams.
Most Important Skills for a Head of Growth at 3DNS
For a Head of Growth role like at 3DNS, Max emphasizes the importance of skills such as "patience," "people management," and "good communication skills," but also highlights the need for creativity, persistence in messaging, and ego management, especially within the unique environment of Web3 and technology companies. Max views the job as "paid education," emphasizing the value of continuous learning and skill enhancement for career growth.
Favorite Parts of Being a Head of Growth at 3DNS
Max enjoys the customer interaction inherent in a B2C model, as it provides valuable feedback on the product's quality, and the role allows for working on many different projects, which means "talking to engineers, talking to marketing people...talking to customers, talking to partners" to bring everyone together. Ultimately, Max sees the role as being "the middleman" and enjoys managing time, work, and deadlines to ensure effective communication and success for the brand.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Head of Growth at 3DNS
As Head of Growth, Max's biggest challenge is "managing egos" from various stakeholders: customers, marketing, founders, and even the CEO. This involves navigating difficult conversations, especially when disagreeing with technologically gifted CEOs, while also advocating for customers because "the customers are king no matter what."
Favorite Parts of Working in Web3 and Crypto as a Head of Growth
Max enjoys the collaborative and casual nature of the Web3/crypto industry, particularly the opportunities to create content with others, like the "really lame, but really funny" NFT livestream about turtles that garnered significant attention for both 3DNS and its partner. This environment fosters learning and networking, highlighting the unique and dynamic potential for growth and engagement within the field.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Web3 Industry According To A Head Of Growth At 3DNS
In the Web3 industry, those who thrive are either "front end engineer[s] that's really good at designing" or backend engineers proficient in Go/Golan, especially given its prevalence in both Big Tech and startups, where one can "make really complex systems"; furthermore, marketing professionals with a strong Web3 presence on platforms like Twitter, capable of consistent content creation and building partnerships, also find success due to the industry's global and remote-friendly nature. One can "work from wherever you want" so long as one works hard.
What A Head Of Growth At 3DNS Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Crypto Industry
As a Head of Growth at 3DNS, one thing Max wishes to have known more about before entering the industry is decentralized finance (DeFi) and the broader applications of crypto, as partners can "sniff it out pretty quickly" if one isn't familiar with the lingo, especially when advanced DeFi applications have been in development for a long time. Gaining more knowledge in this area would improve communication with both customers and partners, especially in the domain security space where 3DNS operates.
Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Heads of Growth
For those seeking entry-level Web3 positions, particularly in growth or marketing, Max suggests roles in business development, tech sales, or even recruiting within the tech industry to build a foundation in finance or backend technology, with a focus on "connecting with people along LinkedIn [and] Twitter" to learn the space and gain experience in a disciplined, organized role. Max emphasizes that building a network and educating yourself on Web3, paired with hard work in a related field, can lead to opportunities, noting that "if you really wanna get into Web3... the energy will come back."
Significant Career Lesson From A Head Of Growth At 3DNS
Max emphasizes the importance of "standing up for what is right" in the workplace, even when facing power dynamics or difficult superiors, and highlights that coupling this with hard work and viewing a job as "paid education" ultimately garners respect and enables professional growth. By advocating for oneself and customers while consistently delivering high-quality work, Max's experiences illustrate a path to influence and positive impact within a company.
College Experiences That Helped a Head of Growth at 3DNS Succeed
Max credits success to a combination of community college programs and Greek life. Community college programs like the Puente program and the honor society helped get to Berkeley, and the fraternity provided experiences in managing people, budgets, and influencing others, which translates directly to current role as Head of Growth where "I manage people overseas" and bring different stakeholders together.
How Identity Has Influenced a Head of Growth's Career at 3DNS
Max believes it's crucial to maintain one's identity, including religious identity, in the often "soul-sucking" tech environment of San Francisco, emphasizing the importance of not letting a job "take that identity away" and advocating for confidence in who you are, regardless of external pressures to conform. Connecting with others who are also confident in their identities, particularly fellow Muslim founders and other spiritual individuals, has been personally fulfilling and has led to more success both inside and outside of work, fostering a sense of comfort and authenticity in their career journey.
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