Departing Lime and what’s next

Last August I left what I’ll always look back on as a dream job: leading the design team at Lime. It was a role where I was responsible for software design and overarching experience of the global micromobility leader. That included working closely with our hardware team to get the experience right on the vehicles themselves.

I’ll never forget the collaboration with that crew on the gen4 scooters and bikes that have now become the benchmark of quality in the industry. All of that was done during the depths of the pandemic. We had huge weight on our shoulders. The company’s livelihood depended on us accomplishing success.

There aren’t too many design roles in the world like the one at Lime. I’m forever grateful to the folks that brought me into the company in 2019. I’m also proud to have worked with so many incredible folks day in and day out.

One of the scooters I grew particularly close to. This little guy is a London based Gen 4 that I threw into the back of a rental car…

…and took to Bristol to do some sound design work in late 2022 with the incredible Karl Sadler. This scooter is a Lime legend!

Deciding to walk away from the role was a hard decision. It always seems to be, no matter whose blog post you’re reading.

For me, when a team is in a good spot, it’s a good signal that it’s OK to step away. It reminds me of being at Uber in 2017. I considered departing during all of the turbulence that was going on at that time. I ultimately decided that I felt an obligation to stick to the company that had given me so much. I wanted to be a part of the solution, not run away from a problem.

That decision worked out well, at least for my self-conscious. Uber got into a better position and when I left a year later, my departure was on a high note. This doesn’t mean, especially in 2024 with all that’s happening in the industry, that I’m advocating for excessive loyalty to a company. Rather, be true to yourself. Project into the future and think about how you’ll look back on the circumstances surrounding your departure.

Lime’s future is bright. The company is profitable. We survived the most difficult period the industry should ever face. There’s a great roadmap ahead. A capable team will execute the plan. And, I was able to leave the seat open for another terrific design leader to pick up the mantle. Someone else deserves to have as much fun as I did throughout my journey. I’m sure they’ll push the experience to even greater heights. I hope they’ll succeed where I wasn’t able to quite get things to where I wanted.

What’s next for me? First, I spent a couple of months taking a break to recharge some. Then in October, I started diving into customer development work with some old friends from Uber. Now that we’ve learned a great deal about a new space, things are coming into clarity in the new year. I’ll have more to share soon on the new, independent project.

I’m excited for 2024! I’m excited to keep growing.