When I think about the years since we created Pinterest in 2009, I am most struck by the many reasons our team has to feel proud. We are a company of heart and soul in an industry of brain units and processing, and Pinners love this! That’s why we can now serve over half a billion people each month.
So, as I step away from the table to focus on my next chapter, I want to preserve some of the things I’ve learned for all those who have worked on Pinterest in the past, present, and future, writing about the soul of Pinterest.
Pinterest is inspiration
It took me many years to truly get Pinterest. Initially, I thought of it in Buzzwords: visual discovery, social curator. Eventually, I heard our Pinners say that Pinterest is the inspiration for discovering what our souls desire next.
Inspiration is the secret sauce of Pinterest. Everything it does is to inspire - to evoke feelings. Advertisers value conversions, but the feeling of inspiration is why Pinners sign up, come back, and love our brand.
Inspiration complements what social media lacks. In this time of constant connection, Pinterest connects you with yourself, especially those new parts of you that are hungry for spring. It’s personal, not social media.
Inspiration reveals who we are becoming
Inspiration is my time. It’s hard to take time for ourselves: we can feel selfish, worry we’ll fall behind, or fear looking inward. Although Pinterest is personal, because it is also useful, it sidesteps these internal barriers.
Inspiration fuels us forward. It fulfills our need to share to become more resonant. Inspiration directs us to what matters and compels us to act: it is both the compass and pin of our lives.
Images reflect our souls. They speak directly to our intuition. Pinterest makes us fluent in the visual language of dreams, imagination, creativity - of our future. Pins are an intimate dialogue with a future you.
Inspiration is a mystery
Inspiration is very hard to measure directly. It’s a feeling, not an action. Therefore, at Pinterest, especially behavioral data must be contextualized with qualitative insights. The company must always actively seek out and listen to Pinners.
Inspiration is expressed more easily than said. Our culture lacks the frameworks to share our feelings. Therefore, communicating the value of inspiration is experienced more clearly discussed. "You know it when you see it."
Inspiration needs realism. Aspiration alone can trigger the Pinterest Perfect Pin - the inner critic compares. That’s why Pinners love to find humor in failure, and why Pinterest Champions that you are yourself are not your selfie.
Great leaders inspire
Inspiring leaders need truth. Inspiring leaders anchor with purpose. But purpose requires wisdom and operational excellence. Without these teams, it can grow to value beautiful stories over complex truths.
Inspiring leaders develop evangelists. Companies that truly care about their users create a tremendous asset: products that people love. The leaders of such products know their users are the best storytellers of their company.
Inspiring leaders prioritize meaning. Leaders are clear about what needs to be done. Inspiring leaders are also clear about why this will matter. This turns the work we have to do into the work we can do.
Who Pinterest is becoming
Pinterest is a model of inspiration in business. It is best when it takes its medicine: the feeling of inspiration. Pinterest conducts business rituals, all hands, board meetings, investor calls that are also inspiring.
Pinterest is leading the tech industry. In a breakthrough industry, it has achieved an invaluable leadership role by, simply, caring: by putting Pinners first and honestly owning its mistakes. Pinterest leads best by example.
Pinterest is inspiring the world. It has an extraordinary opportunity to lead billions of people to create a life they love. To model inspiration leadership. To equip the world to envision a more positive future.
Thank you
I can step down because Pinterest is better than ever. A founder only feels okay stepping away when the time is good. I feel grateful that Pinterest has strong leadership, a growing business, and a positive role in society.
Your job now is to make Pinterest the most inspiring company on earth. For everyone at Pinterest listening to Pinners, building a product that sings, teaching the world why inspiration matters, and doing the never-ending work to make the basics great: thank you. With your care, Pinterest will grow its business - and create a more inspiring world.
Love,
Evan
Spring 2024, San Francisco