The Bay Area is a magnet for newcomers — and has been for more than a century.
During the California Gold Rush of 1849, San Francisco Bay was a port of entry for many fortune seekers. After arriving via boat, those people often decided to stay, leaving their ship to sit empty in the harbor. Some of those abandoned boats became warehouses, others became saloons and floating hotels. There were so many ships that remained anchored in the bay that, according to the National Parks Association, historians described the area as a “forest of masts.”
The remains of many of those abandoned boats lie beneath San Francisco still to this day. Those that didn’t sink to the bottom of the bay were stripped apart to build homes and businesses nearby.
Whether underneath the earth or providing structure to the burgeoning metropolitan area, the ships that once filled the bay quickly became the foundation of a rapidly expanding city.
Today, most tech companies probably aren’t using the wood from old ships to build a San Francisco headquarters — but they, like the Bay Area as a whole, have created a spot that draws employees in and encourages them to unpack and stay for good.
Built In spoke with three teammates at San Francisco companies about what makes them feel like they have landed somewhere they can call home.
Thumbtack’s app helping millions of people confidently care for and improve their homes by connecting them with local home improvement professionals.
Describe your company culture in one word. What made you pick that word?
I would describe Thumbtack’s company culture as “open.” As a company, Thumbtack embraces openness — whether it’s change or feedback. We welcome new ideas and process improvements and we leverage technology to achieve our goals. For example, our annual Make Week provides employees with an opportunity to create and deliver something they are passionate about that can drive impact. A lot of employees’ innovations have made it into our product — like improving our search and scheduling processes. I’m encouraged to embrace an open mindset, and the way we collaborate makes Thumbtack a really fun work environment where everyone has the opportunity to make an impact.
“I’m encouraged to embrace an open mindset, and the way we collaborate makes Thumbtack a really fun work environment where everyone has the opportunity to make an impact.”
What’s the coolest project you’ve worked on recently, and how did it help you grow professionally?
I stay at Thumbtack because of the opportunities for personal growth and the ability to make an impact. I’ve been on multiple high-impact teams throughout my tenure. My most rewarding experience was working on a project that introduced an enhanced process for customer verification. I was a part of the decision-making process, iterated acceptable metrics, planned for mitigation on possible scenarios and ideated on technical possibilities. Playing a critical role in the launch of this project taught me a lot. It was also valuable to gain greater visibility into our decision-making processes as well as follow the lifecycle of a really impactful feature.
Taskrabbit is a marketplace platform that conveniently connects people with Taskers to handle everyday home to-dos, such as furniture assembly, handy work, moving help and more.
Describe your company culture in one word. What made you pick that word?
“Togetherness.”
This word defines the way we achieve our goals at Taskrabbit. For example, during the IKEA integration, I saw firsthand the level of teamwork required to bring our mission to life. This wasn’t just about logistics — it was a continuous exchange of perspectives that helped us anticipate challenges and stay aligned. Taskrabbit’s culture fosters an environment where we celebrate each contribution, creating a strong sense of belonging and shared purpose.
“Taskrabbit’s culture fosters an environment where we celebrate each contribution, creating a strong sense of belonging and shared purpose.”
How long have you been with the company, and what professional growth or development have you seen in that time?
This year, I’m celebrating five fulfilling years with Taskrabbit, where I’ve had the privilege to grow both professionally and personally alongside some of the brightest minds in tech and business. Starting as a data analyst and growing into a staff data scientist, I’ve learned that the journey is never complete, and I’m staying fearlessly curious. In our values-driven, agile environment, I love having the autonomy to make a direct impact and create real value for our users. At Taskrabbit, building both technical and personal skills feels natural because it’s driven by meaningful work.
HoneyBook is a fintech software company supporting independent service-based businesses with the tools they need to be successful doing what they love.
Describe your company culture in one word. What made you pick that word?
The word I’d choose to describe HoneyBook is “belonging.”
From day one at HoneyBook, it felt like coming home. When I joined HoneyBook in Tel Aviv, the team welcomed me with open arms — everyone was genuinely interested, friendly and deeply passionate. It wasn’t just a workplace; it was a community united by a purpose beyond daily tasks. There was this wave of excitement and shared vision that swept me up, a palpable energy connecting us not only to our work but to each other’s lives and ambitions. Belonging at HoneyBook means being part of something greater, a culture where each individual contributes to a collective, meaningful impact.
“There was this wave of excitement and shared vision that swept me up, a palpable energy connecting us not only to our work but to each other’s lives and ambitions.”
How long have you been with the company, and what professional growth or development have you seen in that time?
I’ve been with HoneyBook for over two years, starting as a senior product marketing manager in Tel Aviv, and quickly advancing to lead our first-to-market AI product launch. Competing in such a dynamic space was challenging and rewarding, especially as we refined our go-to-market strategy to deeply resonate with members and achieve our 2024 targets.
After a year, I transitioned to our San Francisco office, stepping into a new senior product marketing manager lead role to launch HoneyBook’s financial product suite, a major evolution in our brand. I also built out our team, recruiting two amazing senior product marketing managers focused on member-centric products. These transitions strengthened my leadership, deepened my expertise in AI and finance, and allowed me to help shape our brand and HoneyBook’s growth trajectory.
