DROdio’s CEO Manifesto

These are the commitments I make to every new hire that joins our crew [1].

Want To Join Us?We recently raised a $40M Series C, and we’re hiring for many positions. Get a peek behind the curtain of life at Armory.

As CEO of Armory, I have four top priorities:

1) Craft and communicate why Armory exists:

Armory Unlocks Innovation by Making Software Delivery Continuous, Scalable and Safe. This is why I come to work every day.

Want to dig in more? Armory is commercializing an open-source project developed by Netflix & Google (called Spinnaker) that helps Global 2,000 enterprises ship software with safety and velocity.

The average low-performing enterprise ships software 12x per year. Netflix, on the other hand, ships software 7,000 per day (not per year). We call that the “Innovation Gap.” The average lifespan of enterprises on the S&P500 has shrunk from 61 to 24 years (and is expected to further shrink to 12 years). Half the S&P 500 will be replaced in the next decade. Enterprises must digitally transform to Thrive (not just Survive). Armory is bringing Spinnaker into Global 2,000 enterprises to help them unlock innovation through software delivery.

2) Hire and retain exceptional talent:

We do not compromise on our Armory crew. We prioritize our crew through our actions, not just our words. It is my job to surround myself and each of you with people that are smarter than the people already here. The smartest person in the room is the one who ensures s/he has smarter people around them. I am also deeply personally committed to creating the most diverse and inclusive company in Silicon Valley.

Each of you has access to me. I am here to help ensure your success. You will never be told by a manager “you cannot talk to DROdio; you have to go through me first.”

We will always work to increase the caliber of our crew, and that means not being shy about quickly moving non-performers out of the company. We will be transparent about how well each of us is performing so there are no surprises. [2] That goes for me just as much as any of you.

3) Ensure there’s enough money in the bank to achieve our Vision:

Cash is the oxygen that enables us to execute, and it’s my job to make sure you don’t need to worry about it. [3] Here’s your main responsibility in this area: When you spend the company’s money, do it in a way that generates the maximum possible impact (try for at least a 10x ROI) for each dollar you spend. It’s that simple. A one-sentence expense policy.

4) Communicate and enforce our Core Values:

Armory has core values that we deeply believe in. At the most fundamental level, we are unlocking innovation for the world, through code. For us to successfully build a platform that enables safety and velocity for our customers, we have to live the values ourselves.

Footnotes

[1]: Startups are, by definition, impossible — otherwise someone would’ve already done it. It takes a crew, not just employees, to overcome the impossible nature of a startup. We– and the families that support us– are a crew (just like “crewing” a boat to get it to a destination). The important people in each of our lives are the ones that enable us to succeed and we celebrate their contribution to our crew. Our events are family-friendly. We offer unlimited PTO because we focus on your output, not your inputs. We continue to vest your stock options when you go back to school and return to our crew afterwards. Once you’ve been at Armory for three years, we give you 10 years to exercise your options (instead of the standard 90 days) to recognize the effort you’ve put into building value with us.

[2]: We are a continuous learning organization.  A manager’s #1 job is to ensure the success of his or her team.

[3]: More broadly, my job when we’re in startup mode goes beyond fundraising: To ensure each of you can succeed at your jobs without having to think about anything that distracts you from doing so.