Pros
Working at CZI is a chance to tackle some of the most substantive and substantial problems facing our generation and the ones to come. I found the underlying mission and long-term objectives to be deeply motivating. It is also an organization filled with intelligent and curious colleagues, who were also some of the kindest and most caring I've had the opportunity to work with in my career. The work itself is fast-paced. CZI is a young organization that has a growth mindset, so change is really the only constant. That can be both unsettling, and exciting.
Cons
The flip side of the fast pace of change is that the change can be distracting. It is a small and young organization, with all the expectations of a large and established company, given the resources and reputation attached. My main advice for those joining, or considering joining, would be to tune out the change, to the extent possible. The leaders - and specifically Priscilla and Mark - have a long-term mindset, with a strong clarity of vision. It's the path there that is messy and hard to predict. As CZI continues to grow, I think there will be more and more structure and focus, which will be helpful for thinking about priorities within the work, career growth, and work-life balance.
