A Slack Story Podcast

• Just Like Starting Over

  0:38 — The Official Photo and Slack launch event at Trinity College Dublin1:22 — Meeting the Irish Prime Minister, cultural observations2:32 — Media questions: jobs, hiring, and Ireland’s expectations3:01 — The importance of PR and community in Slack’s early success3:30 — Expanding the story for a broader audience, tech status in Europe4:52 — Slack’s recognition in different cities and challenges in Europe5:24 — What is Slack? Shifting the story to employment and growth6:02 — Tech industry size in Dublin, yet battling local skepticism6:49 — Outline of Slack’s European expansion strategy7:16 — Building teams, market groupings, and EMEA offices7:43 — Lessons in global market sizing and Europe’s complexity8:10 — The US market advantage, cultural unity9:02 — Pockets of Slack adoption in Sweden, Lithuania, Russia, UK9:23 — Challenges in less receptive European markets10:13 — Meeting LVMH in Paris, cultural nuances10:49 — Berlin IT conference: demos, user engagement, and presentations12:55 — Frankfurt: learning from German family businesses (Tand)13:09 — Selling to skeptics, Bosch, Volkswagen, and progressivism13:31 — Flashbacks to early Slack days, present challenges13:52 — Helping customers build internal cases for Slack14:12 — Presenting to a secretive client in London14:33 — The Sovereign Military Order of Malta: unique client, no deal14:56 — Realization: being used for a “bake off,” lessons learned15:22 — Lessons: pre-qualify opportunities, know your customer16:24 — Hostility to new software, communication concerns16:47 — Relational tactics: comparing Slack to texting and news alerts17:08 — The Maya principle: recalibrating “most advanced yet acceptable”17:30 — Flailing, finding footing, and sales challenges in EMEA18:09 — Next challenges: hiring expertise to change the leaderboard18:30 — Bonus story: interviewing Ciaran Cheney, Slack’s future office manager19:13 — Ciaran’s hiring, celebration at The Long Hall20:09 — Looking ahead: hiring Irish hybrids, finding and addressing biases This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slackstory.com

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• Culture Carriers in Dublin

  Introduction: Moving to Dublin, settling in, and the challenge of starting over.00:30 — Adjusting to a new city: Finding housing, coffee shops, and routines.00:54 — Working from the Guinness Storehouse, feeling like a traveler.01:21 — Balancing old and new: Letting go of Vancouver responsibilities, focusing on Dublin.01:41 — "Culture Carrier" role: What it means and why it matters to a new office.02:51 — The many hats of Culture Carriers.03:16 — Translating company culture: Connecting Slack’s values to Dublin’s context.03:44 — Introducing Hanni: Her energy, background, and partnership.04:33 — The Fridge Incident: The struggle to get a fridge for the new office.06:11 — Lessons from the fridge: Teamwork, regret, and learning to see others’ needs.08:19 — Building a Dublin office: Weekly leadership meetings, office culture, and hiring.09:43 — The challenge of newness: Overwhelm, adaptation, and family life in Dublin.10:11 — Appreciating colleagues: Hanni’s initiative and the value of partnership.10:32 — Creating local culture: Adapting Slack’s values, painting the office, and working to create a sense of belonging.11:06 — Don't call it a remit: Balancing duties with whatever it takes to succeed.12:16 — Embracing the "yes, and" role: Flexibility, learning, and holding onto essentials.13:21 — Up next: Preparing to launch Slack in Europe. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slackstory.com

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• Boom Times, Not Boom Times

  Boom Times, Not Boom TimesArriving in Ireland, first impressions, and the legacy of the Celtic Tiger.0:31 — The Celtic Tiger era: Irish attitudes toward the boom years and the real estate bust.0:59 — The aftermath: Bank bailouts, national debt, and the business context we found as we moved to Ireland to open Slack’s AMEA HQ.1:22 — Learning Irish business culture: Distrust of wealth and the influence of Catholic history.1:55 — Money and Irish identity: Tension between enthusiasm for success and fear of collapse.2:18 — Reading up: Michael Lewis on the Celtic Tiger and the mythic importance of land ownership.2:42 — The Irish play the field: Land, history, and the new tech-driven boom.3:04 — The new boom: US tech companies, Slack’s role, and Irish identity.3:37 — Rich and poor: Tax avoidance, emigration, and the evolving Irish diaspora.4:30 — A changed Ireland: Return migration, new opportunities, and a maturing economy.5:25 — Dublin’s transformation: Housing shortages, digital nomads, and Slack’s diverse team.6:24 — Irish hidden culture: Home counties, accents, and university traditions.6:54 — Upward mobility: Dublin’s draw, real business, and the flow of venture capital.7:38 — Tech’s impact: 10–20% of Dublin’s workforce in tech, joining a new world.8:02 — Real estate stories: House prices before, during, and after the crash.8:48 — Lingering effects: The Celtic Tiger’s hangover, corporate and personal taxes.9:14 — Taxes in Ireland: High rates, deductions at source, and a sense of shared burden. An automated tax system: No returns for most, a mix of relief and helplessness.10:04 — Playground conversations: Meeting locals, signs of a new boom.11:45 — Exploring Dublin: Buses, the zoo, and the city’s layered history.12:19 — Glimpses of hardship: North side poverty, abandoned buildings, and urban contrasts.12:44 — Dublin in transition: The city’s past and future, setting up the next story.13:20 — Closing: Thank you and a teaser for the next episode. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slackstory.com

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• Stone Upon Stone

  Stone Upon Stone[0:00] Opening Slack's Dublin offices at the Guinness Storehouse.[0:21] Reflections on the unique character of The Liberties neighborhood, its working-class history, and vibrant street life.[0:59] Descriptions of the old Guinness warehouses, cobbled streets, and its transformation into a startup hub.[1:45] Stories about local shops, markets, and the quirky details of daily life in Dublin.[3:28] Discovery of a poem, "Stone upon stone upon fallen stone," stenciled on a high wall, and its connection to the area's history.[5:23] Personal experiences navigating Dublin's winding streets, learning the city by foot and bike, and the challenges of orientation.[6:22] Observations on the Dublin contrast between The Liberties and the more tourist-oriented city center.[7:13] Family adventures: playgrounds, bus rides, the Dublin Zoo, and the Viking Splash tour.[8:16] Insights into Irish culture, including local naming conventions and the spirit of the city.[8:56] The journey of settling into a new home, embracing both the familiar and the unknown.Next episode: Learning about Ireland, starting in Dublin, exploring its history—some well remembered, some purposefully forgotten. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slackstory.com

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• Leaving for Dublin

  Leaving for Dublin00:00 — Introduction: The Big Move, a new position in Dublin, the decision to move, and the challenges ahead.00:36 — Becoming the First and facing the unknownThe family prepares to be the first to make this kind of move at Slack, with new responsibilities and uncertainties.01:03 — Family sacrificesSaying yes to big changes, including my wife leaving her job and our son leaving his routine.01:29 — Packing up and letting goLeaving our long-time home, selling possessions, and preparing for a new life.01:56 — Logistics and unanswered questionsManaging the move, selling items, and dealing with the unknowns about returning and succeeding in Dublin.02:51 — Arriving in Ireland: new beginningsLanding in Dublin, adapting to new routines, and the importance of small comforts like the family stroller / buggy.04:12 — Farewells and reflectionsSaying goodbye to colleagues, the emotions of leaving, and the support from the Slack YVR team.05:47 — Acknowledging inequalityReflecting on the sacrifices made, the challenges of balancing careers, and the realities of modern work and family life.07:18 — Looking back, moving forwardConsidering the decision in hindsight, the risks involved, and the desire to live and work internationally.08:22 — Striving for balanceSecuring work permits for both, making decisions together, and aiming for fairness in the family.09:05 — On ongoing journeyRecognizing the ongoing imbalance, the hope to rebalance in the future, and the broader context of gender roles.09:49 — Up nextA preview of what’s next: opening Slack’s Dublin office, finding poetry in the city, and gratitude for the journey. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slackstory.com

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