Brandon Chu (@BrandonMChu) / X

Brandon Chu

1,941 posts

Brandon Chu

@BrandonMChu

building @tryeveryai. Dad of two boys in Toronto 🇨🇦. Ex @shopify. Wrote blackboxofpm.substack.com a long time ago

Toronto

Joined April 2009

Pinned
Brandon Chu
@BrandonMChu
Aug 19, 2018
I just published "Product Management Mental Models for Everyone", a latticework of ideas for building products blackboxofpm.com/product-manage… Also coming to you in tweet form: 1⃣-4⃣: 💰 Figuring out Where to Invest 5⃣-🔟: 🎨 Designing and Scoping 🔟➕: 🚢 Shipping and Iterating
Brandon Chu
@BrandonMChu
Mar 11, 2022
"Swinging the Pendulum" is my favourite operating principle @Shopify. I learned it here and used for many years in leadership. It's a metaphor we used to communicate when we need teams to start optimizing for the other end of the spectrum. Here's how it works:
Brandon Chu
@BrandonMChu
Oct 27, 2019
Want to build a better mint.com... where it might have been today if it never got acquired and left for dead in 2009: - ML classifying that actually works - Privacy-first (paid, no ads) - 3p apps (tax, calcs, etc.) - FIRE mgmt - mobile 1st What else should it do?
Brandon Chu
@BrandonMChu
Aug 23, 2019
PM is an awesome job: make big decisions about the product, often be the face of it in presentations/meetings, etc. I haven't been one for years now and have since led almost every other function, so I feel like I can share a different perspective freely... PM is the worst job:
Brandon Chu
@BrandonMChu
Jan 13, 2020
Applications for Shopify's #DevDegree close Feb 17 - work @Shopify & earn CS degree in parallel - WE pay tuition & salary, ~$160k over 4 yrs - after grad, u have: $(vs debt) + CS degree + real world exp The best opportunity in education on the planet.
devdegree.ca
Dev Degree
Earn a computer science degree at Shopify through a learning and placement path that’s unlike any other program. Our innovative work-integrated learning model provides hands-on experience across a...
Brandon Chu
@BrandonMChu
Jan 12, 2021
I once vented to a C-level about all the problems I was facing with reports/peers/stakeholders, and how I feared politics was taking over the culture of the company. "Brandon, the only antidote to company politics is growth." that really stuck with me over the years
Brandon Chu
@BrandonMChu
May 9, 2021
Brought a new baby into the world on Thursday and got vaccinated today, both stellar experiences. Thank you 🇨🇦 health system and front line health care workers
Brandon Chu
@BrandonMChu
Aug 23, 2019
Replying to @BrandonMChu
To be clear, PM is an awesome job and it's a privilege to be able to determine product direction. But in my experience, PMs get zero empathy day-to-day despite being some of the hardest working/impactful ppl in a company So next time you see your PM, give em a hug 🤗 and say thx
Brandon Chu
@BrandonMChu
Jan 14, 2019
The Dev Degree from @shopify is open for applications. In 4 years students get: 1. CS degree 2. 4,500 hrs work experience at a tier 1, global company 3. Salary, vacation, and a solid network This is the most zero-downside, massive-upside opportunity in education today👩‍🎓💻🤑📈🤝
Shopify Engineering
@ShopifyEng
Jan 14, 2019
🚨 Applications are now being accepted for the Fall 2019 @devdegree_ca cohort. The application window closes on February 18, 2019, at 11:59 PM EST. devdegree.ca/apply-now
Brandon Chu
@BrandonMChu
Jan 20, 2021
While I've always loved investing & have managed my portfolio for 20 yrs, I wouldn't call myself a good investor. It's so hard to be good that I don't even try - instead, I've devoted most of my learning to how to avoid being bad. 1/x How to Not be a Bad Investor (thread) 💸:
Brandon Chu
@BrandonMChu
May 13, 2023
every time I come to Silicon Valley, I’m reminded that being the right-sized fish in the right-sized pond is the most important career decision for most ppl
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Brandon Chu
@BrandonMChu
Jun 24, 2024
The Science Center shut down seems like it’s the LEAST polarizing issue this city has seen in a decade People love it, and no one wants it to move. That viewpoint seems to cross cultures and socioeconomic classes. The ppl aren’t dumb- everyone knows something sketchy is up.
Brandon Chu
@BrandonMChu
Jun 22, 2024
If the public raises $6M, can we keep the science center open? @oliviachow @fordnation I’ll personally commit $10k if you commit on your side and we raise enough.
21K
Brandon Chu
@BrandonMChu
Jan 16, 2023
After an unreal 7.5 years, I decided to hang up my @Shopify bag at the beginning of this year. It's hard to process all the memories, but when I reflect on my time here I think about the words: ambition, resilience, kindness, and growing-up...
222K
Brandon Chu
@BrandonMChu
May 12, 2019
Had my 1st night at home as a new dad last week. The baby started crying, and I kid you not, I deliriously said: "Hey Google, stop."