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.
Identity in the Workplace, Faith and Career, Authenticity, Tech Industry, Values-Driven Leadership
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
Video Highlights
1. Maintaining your identity (religious, ethnic, etc.) is important in the workplace, especially in environments like Silicon Valley that can be 'soul sucking'. Don't let your job take away from who you are.
2. It's beneficial to connect with others in technology who are confident in their own identities, including founders and those of different faiths or spiritual backgrounds.
3. Individual exceptionalism can delude people and cause them to lose their human side; it's important to stay grounded and connected to one's values and beliefs.
Transcript
As someone who identifies as Muslim, how has that impacted how you've navigated your career?
I think religion and your relationship with God, specifically when working within technology in San Francisco, is a very hard thing for people. I'm mostly talking to people who do have this relationship with God, and for those who are curious, or for those who just want to learn about my story or just hear about working with anyone.
What was truly interesting to me is seeing how we have this idea of individual exceptionalism in this society where people try to be above others. People try to inspire to be like Elon Musk or Sam Altman. While they are very high-achieving people, I think it can delude people into their own madness. They get lost in what they're building and lose their human side.
Again, I'm talking to people who want to start companies here. What was very interesting to me is I went to this one talk by a man named Pedro. I can't remember his last name, but he is a really great guy. He's also from Berkeley. He didn't have a great GPA, but now one of his main companies is helping inspire women in Peru to get jobs.
They are also knitting alpaca scarves and selling them to companies like Intuit. He's doing other really cool jobs and is part of the World Economic Forum. He is a young entrepreneur who is always curious and has a strong relationship with God. He is very outward about it.
I think it's important to represent your identity when it's important to you, and not let your job take that away from you. For me, calling myself a Muslim, my relationship with God is extremely important, and that's not something I'm going to back down from within the Silicon Valley or San Francisco startup scene.
I think anyone who has any identity—if they are Black, white, Mexican, Chinese, LGBTQ+, whatever—and they truly think that's who they are and who they want to be, then don't let anyone take that away from you. Be confident in it.
It is scary to be confident when others want you to conform to their ideas and ideologies. I say this because, at the end of the day, even though you spend eight hours a day working, it is just a job. You'll find your path. Be accepting of your own identity and don't let people subjugate you.
That's not a healthy relationship and will add a lot of stress to your life. You'll feel so much better when you are comfortable in your own skin. For me, that's being a Muslim. It's connecting with other Muslim founders here in San Francisco, and connecting with other Christians, Jewish people, and other spiritual people.
I've had so much more fun when I've met other people within technology who are confident in their identity. This is especially true in a place that can be soul-sucking, which is technology.
My advice is to be confident in who you are and don't let people take that away from you. You'll find a lot more success outside of work, and hopefully at some point inside of work, because you were able to stand up for your beliefs.