Rick Pollak's README
About Me
I grew up in Central Florida and now call the greater Chicago area home. When people ask why I made the move, I tell them it’s because of global warming, though I’m apparently about a million years too early. I’m married with two sons, one just finishing college and the other about to start. We also share our home with two rescue cats.
Outside of work, I enjoy playing chess and tennis, reading about cars, vibe coding, and playing computer games with the family. We love warm beaches and discovering great restaurants.
Why I’m at GitLab
My experience at other remote-first, cloud-only companies translates well to GitLab. I’m passionate about building high-performing teams that deliver a delightful end-user experience, removing IT bottlenecks so people can focus on the work that matters. We have a tremendous opportunity to operate more efficiently and effectively, and AI is rapidly reshaping how we work. Embracing that shift and continuously improving our systems and processes will be key to moving faster and staying ahead.
My Communication Preferences
My manager, Manu Narayan, said it best, so I’m unashamedly borrowing his framework:
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Slack: My go-to for day-to-day communication. I’m usually active throughout the day and often check in after hours. If you get a late-night message from me, no need to respond until the next business day unless I say otherwise.
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Documents: I’m a big believer that complex or strategic topics deserve a proper document. It’s how I think, review, and give feedback. Tag me in comments with specific questions and I’ll get back to you.
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Meetings: I have a high bar for meetings. If we can solve it asynchronously, let’s do that. If we truly need to get together, please come with a clear agenda and any relevant pre-reads so we make the most of our time together.
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Text/Phone: This is my 911. Please reserve it for true emergencies or anything genuinely urgent that can’t wait.
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