Claire Yoon

At Scale AI, I learned that having a big vision isn't enough. What actually moves things forward is execution and the ability to step back, look honestly at what's happening, and pivot deliberately instead of being reactive. The hardest part was balancing what the business needed right now against what was coming next. I want to work with founders who can hold that tension.

Everyone has a plan A. I look for founders who question conventional thinking, are deeply curious, and approach problems from first principles. The ones who've thought through B, C, and D, and can tell me what would actually make them switch. Not generic backup plans but specific triggers like, "If our X doesn’t hit or improve in 3 weeks, lets look back to see what we can do better and see if we can change Y”. Businesses change constantly and that specificity shows they're genuinely thinking ahead, not just answering the question. 

What I care about most is whether they've already done the work of asking themselves the hard questions. I enjoy working with people who want to be pushed on their thinking, not because they have perfect answers, but because they're also self-aware enough to surround themselves with people who complement their skills. You don't need to be perfect. You need to know where you're not and have built a team that fills those gaps too. The best founders know when to stop and ask: are we still headed in the right direction?

Focus on who you're surrounded by and the work itself, not your title. Early in your career, the people you work alongside shape you far more than anything on paper. It is often the late nights grinds alongside the people that rigorously question the path forward that will stick with you most. 

You often don't see your own potential as clearly as your peers or mentors do, which is why choosing people who will challenge and invest in you is valuable. You're spending a third of your waking hours with your colleagues, so surround yourself with the right people that you want to learn and grow from/with.