Saul Carlin
Hi, I'm Saul! I'm so happy to be part of this amazing team and still a bit in disbelief that I have the opportunity to shape the future of communication with you all. I've been obsessed with how people express themselves on the internet since the days of GeoCities and phpBB.
About me
What will you be doing at XMTP?
I'll be leading product management across XMTP, which means helping the team make good decisions about what to work on and when. In general, this comes down to maintaining shared understanding of goals as they evolve and keeping everyone unblocked.
Where are you currently based?
San Francisco
What’s your primary time zone?
UTC–08:00 (PT)
Where did you grow up?
I'm from Silver Spring, Maryland, which bleeds into Washington, DC. It's true what they say about DC being a company town; I viewed everything through the lens of partisan politics until I moved to California in my early 20s.
What does your household look like?
My partner Danielle and I have our hands full with 7-month-old twins June and Jonah. June has been outgoing and mischievous since the day she was born. Jonah (older by 1 minute) is a sweet, happy guy who is revealing himself to be quite goal-oriented. Here we all are as Loki variants for Halloween:
Like many here at XMTP, I am a dog lover and hope it won't be long before the twins are ready for us to adopt. Sadly, our 13-year old Maltese, Wampa, passed away in March before he could meet them (RIP).
What keeps you energized?
I love trying my hand at new skills. I find the early part of a learning curve immensely gratifying, and often find myself working long into the night to pick something up. This means I'm pretty handy at a lot of things, but there aren't many that I'd call myself an expert in...
Anything else you’d like to share about yourself?
I enjoy discovering new music and passably play guitar, although my Jaguar hasn't come down off the wall since before the twins were born and I'm feeling pretty rusty. I'm also a bit of a gamer, but similarly haven't had time to play in the last few months. I'm loving being a dad now and it's actively changing how I spend my time, so stay tuned.
Work preferences
Where on the spectrum of introvert to extrovert would you place yourself?
I identify as an introvert. People are often surprised by this, because I can get quite energized in social interactions, but I need a lot of time for myself in order to stay focused and productive.
What’s your preferred way to receive feedback, in terms of speed?
Right away. The S.M.A.R.T. feedback model resonates with me -- specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, timely.
What’s your preferred way to receive feedback, in terms of format?
I think behavioral feedback is generally best discussed live, whereas feedback on work product is most helpful in writing (e.g. inline notes or comments).
What’s your orientation toward conflict?
I'm pro-conflict, because I think if handled maturely it brings clarity and deepens relationships. To that end, I usually play the mediator role in the beginning stages of conflict, and once enough information is out there I'll take a firm position in order to help bring about a clear outcome.
What time(s) of day are you most productive?
I'm most productive later at night, say 9pm-1am. Nowadays, it's a balancing act, because that's the only time Danielle and I have together that doesn't involve looking after two very high maintenance babies.
What do you value more than anything else?
Integrity and authenticity.
What’s your biggest work-related pet peeves?
Conflict avoidance, especially on existential matters. I've seen differences in strategy and values left unsaid for far too long, leading to disastrous outcomes in which people have lost their livelihood.
What does ‘work-life balance’ mean to you?
It means being present in work and present in life. Having the confidence and psychological safety to unplug and know that everything is going to be alright, and the energy to fully show up the next day.
Anything else you’d like to share about what makes for your ideal work environment?
For me, it's all about environments and the mind-body feedback loop. I do my best focus work on a quiet couch, and have my best conversations while on the move. Async suits me well because some tasks, like writing, require a bit of time to build up momentum.
What’s your favorite way to decompress after work?
I try to reserve time to end the day with a short walk or trip to the gym, or if it's Friday, I'll grab a beer or mix a cocktail. It's all about having that ritual that lets my mind reset.