On day 1 as CEO, some thoughts on the future of LinkedIn

This morning I sent the following email to LinkedIn’s employees as I start my first day as CEO. I also want to say thank you to everyone who is part of this community on LinkedIn.

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It’s very rare that doing good for the world and doing well in business go hand in hand, but we’ve been fortunate to spend the last 11 years building LinkedIn at that intersection. I’ve been fortunate to work on every part of our ecosystem — from the largest global professional community to the 5 distinct businesses built around it. I’ve been fortunate to learn from true visionaries like Reid and Allen. I’ve been fortunate to have a front-row seat to a master class in scaling and leadership from Jeff. And I’m fortunate to keep building the next generation of LinkedIn with all of you.

I’ll be the first to tell you I never imagined I’d find myself stepping into my new role as CEO during a pandemic. I am also taking this role at a time when persistent, systemic racism in the U.S. has been laid bare yet again. The challenges in front of us are significant, and yet I feel more strongly than ever that there is no job I would rather have.

That's because our company exists to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce, regardless of their background, zip code, race, gender, sexual orientation, or other choice or preference. Now, more than ever, that means connecting people to one another and to the jobs, information and skills they need; it means enabling companies to connect with their customers and employees virtually as effectively as they did face to face; and it involves helping governments build their economies for the future.

The honor I feel in assuming this position is coupled with a feeling of great responsibility. We play a unique role in helping to define the future of work, and doing it in a way that is both innovative and equitable. What gives me incredible confidence is knowing that we all share that responsibility together. Our culture and values have been the foundation of our success to date and they will be a galvanizing force as we write our next chapter together.

We have always sought to stay ahead of the world that professionals are entering, and right now is no different. The changes we have seen in the last five months will create new needs from our members and customers, many of which we are uniquely positioned to help meet:

• Interactions and work that were previously done in-person are being done remotely, and virtual communities will play an increasingly important role connecting people professionally and socially  
• Workforces are becoming more globalized and diverse, as people no longer need to cluster around the same geographic location or time zone
• Access to truthful, trusted, timely news and views is becoming mission critical as people and companies navigate paradigm shifts and need to make quick decisions that have lasting impact 
• The success of virtual learning, virtual selling and virtual events is forever changing what people need to do physically
• Front line workers and those lacking the skills of the future will be displaced and face lasting unemployment/under-employment. Now, more than ever, we need to double down on our skills marketplace efforts to help these workers re-skill and transition to the roles of the future

We play a fundamental role in shaping all of these paradigm shifts. But embracing this opportunity, and living up to this responsibility, requires us to increase our pace of innovation. The LinkedIn Ecosystem is an unrivaled tool in providing economic opportunity to the world’s professionals. And now, more than ever, we need to ensure we are working as #OneLinkedIn against the most critical problems we need to solve. Everyone needs to understand how their work maps to the strategy and function of the company. We must be intelligent in where we invest, where we put focus, where we build, and where we stop building. There has never been a more important time to listen to what our members and customers need because we exist as a company to help them connect and navigate the world of work.

As we build the next generation of LinkedIn, we have the distinct advantage of being a part of the Microsoft ecosystem, one of the world’s greatest innovation engines playing a meaningful, positive role in every corner of the world. I am personally grateful to work alongside Satya and the Microsoft Senior Leadership Team in realizing our visions to empower people and companies and living our core beliefs in the power of technology as a force for good.

And as it relates to using technology as a force for good, the abhorrent acts of racial injustice in the U.S. over the past few weeks serve as a clear reminder that we have an important role to play in creating a more equitable future. I am committed to standing with all of you and using our scale and platform to address the systemic challenges and help make meaningful change. We’re a stronger team because of our differences. As we come together, driven by our vision and united by our values, there is no question in my mind we will succeed.

Alan Kay observed that “the best way to predict the future is to invent it” I couldn’t agree more. 

Let’s get started...

RR