Wow, years later, even after her de facto demotion at Google, people still think she's some kind of product genius? http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1028615 This is a hilarious situation.
Aren't you getting "We've temporarily limited requests for old items." for that link?
Google’s Marissa Mayer Tapped as Yahoo’s Chief
131–140 of 366 posts
Re: Google’s Marissa Mayer Tapped as Yahoo’s Chief
#132Earlier quoted context omitted.
The risk of her reputation. Once you have money, reputation is of the things that keeps you going every day. Right now her reputation is golden.
And if she had stayed at Google, what would be the next step for her career-wise? She went from vice president of search products to overseeing location and local services. Now she's CEO. You don't think that'll motivate her?
I think it not surprising that she left Google to be a CEO somewhere, it was just surprising that she picked Yahoo. Another one of those VP -> CEO jumps that was interesting to watch was Ed Zander (Sun Micro -> Motorola).
What I was expecting was that she would leave and start some sort cross between 'solve a world issue' with 'easy accessibility' kinds of UI. At Google her strength was having a clear idea of how to speak to users through UX, The Yahoo gig can use that, certainly, but watching the succession of failures and missteps at Yahoo the issues aren't primarily UX or users, it seems like Yahoo is in a major identity crisis about what exactly it actually is.
When one of their recruiters was trying to convince me to join the pitch was this:
"Yahoo is the premier digital media company
Yahoo! delivers amazing personalized digital content and experiences, across devices and around the globe, to vast audiences. We provide engaging and innovative canvases for advertisers to connect with their target audiences using our unique blend of Science + Art + Scale."
To which my response was "Really?", if someone were to ask me what the "Premier digital media company" was I don't think I'd respond "Yahoo!"
Hence my surprise.
Re: Google’s Marissa Mayer Tapped as Yahoo’s Chief
#133If she tries to make Yahoo be exactly like Google circa ~2007 it will be a massive success.
How so? They have to compete with the current Google.
Re: Google’s Marissa Mayer Tapped as Yahoo’s Chief
#134Earlier quoted context omitted.
For the rank and file 2 weeks is standard. For upper level executives as soon as you resign you're escorted out the door by security and you're not allowed to touch anything. The level of access you had was so high that they don't want you learning anything more about the company's plans and want you out asap. I doubt anyone cared that she resigned by phone.
She should have done it by G+ hangout (my opinion)
Or Yahoo 360. What? It never launched?
Well, she could do it on Yahoo Mash. Huh? Got shut down?
Or she could post a link on Yahoo Buzz. What's that? Also dead?
Crud, maybe she could post it to facebook.
Re: Google’s Marissa Mayer Tapped as Yahoo’s Chief
#135Earlier quoted context omitted.
No, that's exactly how I took it. Oblig car metaphor: That's like saying hey, as an alternative to a free Lamborghini Aventador, you can have an old Pontiac Fiero chassis, and a Chevy 350 with a blown head gasket. If you're really lucky and amazing you might make something worth 1/10th what the Lamborghini is.
Well in this case it's an original Lamborghini, but it was in a horrible wreck and has been sitting at the bottom of the sea for about ten years... So you can dredge it up, and perhaps restore it to it's original glory...or you can go out and build your own, new dream car from scratch. Either way it's going to be a TON of work to get to a truly valuable (and fun to drive) vehicle...
Also even if you restore the Lamborghini you will own way less than 30% of it.
Re: Google’s Marissa Mayer Tapped as Yahoo’s Chief
#136"Ms. Mayer resigned from Google on Monday afternoon by telephone. She starts at Yahoo on Tuesday." - That's quick.
It's nearly always "same day" if you are going to a competitor. Whether you're the CEO or the front desk clerk.
Re: Google’s Marissa Mayer Tapped as Yahoo’s Chief
#137Doug Crockford gave a great keynote address at the HTML5 conf this year titled "What would Crockford do?" It was basically not about HTML5 and all about what he'd do if he were Yahoo CEO. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cukFl7gpjE (Crockford takes the stage ~5:09 )
Remixed with the slides: http://youtu.be/8HzclYKz4yQ
Re: Google’s Marissa Mayer Tapped as Yahoo’s Chief
#138That's might be really good news for Google users: I think products that she used to run, like local business reviews on Android maps have a new chance now.
Care to elaborate?
Re: Google’s Marissa Mayer Tapped as Yahoo’s Chief
#139I'm optimistic as long as she is given enough freedom to do what she wants to do.
Wonder if there will be a "Why I Left Google" blog post :)
Re: Google’s Marissa Mayer Tapped as Yahoo’s Chief
#140Earlier quoted context omitted.
Corrected. Poor phrasing on my part. I was suggesting a likely alternative for her would be starting a company, not that Yahoo is anything like a startup.
No, that's exactly how I took it. Oblig car metaphor: That's like saying hey, as an alternative to a free Lamborghini Aventador, you can have an old Pontiac Fiero chassis, and a Chevy 350 with a blown head gasket. If you're really lucky and amazing you might make something worth 1/10th what the Lamborghini is.
The appropriate analogy would not be a free Lamborghini, but the chance to drive one (with 2 bad tires) for a while. Or, go buy/build your own car and own it.
I think it's a great move, and Google is probably in favor of it.