Director
I interviewed with LiftLab for a senior Marketing Science leadership role beginning in late July 2026 and ultimately progressed through the full process, including multiple interviews and a substantial final case study. I spent more than four hours preparing the case and approximately 45 minutes presenting it on September 4, in addition to roughly 90 minutes of prior one-on-one interviews. Throughout the process, I received strong signals that I was being seriously considered. Several members of the team connected with me on LinkedIn, and my final work received extremely positive feedback, including praise from the founder for how robust it was. However, the candidate experience did not match the expectations LiftLab publicly set. Their careers materials stated that they personally review candidates and that, when someone appears to be a strong match, they will “reach out” and “move quickly.” Their hiring materials also emphasized qualities such as care, curiosity, confidence, intellectual honesty, transparency, and ownership. My experience after reaching the final stage was very different. During my case-study presentation, the head of the department attended from a car while traveling to the airport. After my final presentation, I received no communication from LiftLab about my candidacy or the status of the role. I followed up on September 15 and again on October 1. I received no response and was never given a final decision. More than six weeks after my September 4 presentation, I ultimately learned that the position had been filled and that I was not selected—not because anyone at LiftLab contacted me, but because I discovered it myself. My issue is not that another candidate received the job. Rejection is part of interviewing. My issue is that after asking a finalist to invest substantial time in interviews, preparation, analysis, and a lengthy presentation, LiftLab did not provide even the basic courtesy of closing the loop. That experience felt particularly inconsistent with a company that publicly emphasizes transparency, care, ownership, and moving quickly with candidates.