I have been thinking a lot about what makes work meaningful. It is not only a question of what kind of work I want to do, but of who I want to become, who I want to work with, and what kind of environment brings out my best.

I have worked across different companies, teams and stages of growth. Looking back, the most meaningful lessons were rarely about skills or promotions. They were about freedom, responsibility, gratitude, courage and character.

This first piece is about the kind of work, and the kind of environment, I am looking for. A second piece, Four Years at Meta, collects the lessons that shaped those views.

The environment I thrive in

I want to work with people who know their craft and know how to get things done: professional, thoughtful and rigorous, but also kind. People with ideas of their own, who speak up, take ownership and work through problems rather than pass them on.

I value people who are simply a pleasure to work with: capable, dependable, curious and fun to be around.

I also believe that high standards and psychological safety go hand in hand. I want to work with leaders who give people room to experiment, encourage them to try what has never been done before, and stand behind them when things don’t go to plan.

For me, a great working environment rests on six things.

  • Ownership and autonomy. The freedom to decide what to work on, who to work with, and how to organize my day.
  • Flexibility. Working when I have energy and focus, and resting when I need to recharge. I care more about outcomes than appearances.
  • Trust. Being given meaningful responsibility, and having people seek my advice because they value my judgment.
  • Belonging. Feeling connected to a team and a shared mission, even without a fixed desk or a permanent place in the office.
  • Growth. Knowing that the company and I are both evolving, and that every year I understand a little more about the world and about myself.
  • Abundance. Having enough security and freedom to think beyond paying the bills: to explore, to create, and to contribute to something that makes the next generation’s world a little better.

I want to be proud of the company I work for, of the things we build, and of the people I build them with, and to believe in the work I put into the world.

So, what makes work worth doing?

I want to do work that challenges me, teaches me something, and contributes to something meaningful.

I want the autonomy to make decisions, the trust to take ownership, and the space to experiment and grow.

I want to work with people who are capable, kind, ambitious and generous: people who take their work seriously without taking themselves too seriously.

And I want to build a life in which work and life complement each other, rather than compete for every available hour.

Perhaps the biggest lesson is that a meaningful career is not only about how far we go or what we achieve. It is also about who we become along the way, how we treat the people around us, and whether we still recognize ourselves in the person we are becoming.

I hope to stay ambitious without losing gratitude, independent without losing connection, and successful without losing perspective.

Most of all, I hope I always enjoy the process of learning, building and becoming.