Moving on…
…There must be a life after Apple…*
Saturday,December 19, 2010
Greetings—
Long time no see—my office has been dark and deserted for the longest time—during the last 6 months, while I was nesting at home, because I had a baby: since June 2010, I have been on medical and later on maternity leave to bond with my baby daughter Ayla Aqua B. (now 4 Months old, on the left). I am immensely thankful for the generous support that my Apple team has provided me during the last several months during my pregnancy. The good news is, that my daughter was born perfectly healthy. I also opted for a long baby bonding leave, during which I was able to spend precious ephemeral moments with Ayla Aqua and her big sister Miriam, (6).
As in life, I feel simply blessed at work with enormous fortune in being a participant and witness of a decade of transformation at Apple. I am very thankful for the professional and personal development that I received at Apple and how everyone here on all levels has supported me to make a difference through design and design leadership—over the last nine years—as both individual contributor and hiring manager. I consider Apple and just about everyone, I have met here to be friends—if not almost family, considering what we have been through together—of mine now, and rest assured I will miss you all, when I leave Apple next week: yes, life has taken a different direction in the past couple weeks: In the last month I was—very unexpectedly—recruited by eBay, Inc. and PayPal and got an offer that was impossible to not accept.
With stepping into the role of Vice President of Global Design in January, I have been given the “once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity” to pursue one of my primary passions: design leadership and management for all touch points of the company’s brand, services and products, by unlocking its potential at the cross-section of design and technology. My beginning focus will be innovation, rebranding and the crafting of user experiences and the creation of a unique look and feel for multiple platforms, including cloud computing and multi-touch devices.
Despite the bright prospects of my future career, the hardest part for me is leaving behind the relationships that I have built over the many years with the ProKit, Final Cut Studio, Logic Studio, iLife, Aperture, iWork, and MobileMe, and “secret” R&D teams over the years. It is my hope that we continue to stay in touch. I wish you and the design and engineering teams my very best. I do hope our paths cross again in the future.I would have preferred to share my news with many of you in person so much more, however, I can’t possibly get a hold of you in person—within the next couple of days.
My contact information is included on the left sidebar. Please do send me yours and let’s stay in touch.
A transition of all my design work happened months ago, when I went on my leave in summer.
My last day in the office (VP1) will be this Tuesday, December 21st. I can’t believe it, but by that date, solstice, I will leave Apple.
Time to leave the comfy nest…
P.S. *There is really a life after Apple. This is what my mentor Guy Kawasaki (an Apple alumni and Apple’s first Evangelist) told me a few weeks ago, when I visited him at his home and asked for his advice about what to do. His answer was plain and simple. Go and follow your heart. He should know best.
With gratitude and in friendship to you all.
Ayla Aqua B. Born 8.17.2010
