Despite their reputation as a working generation, millennials are also known for their strong work ethic, collaboration, open-mindedness and adaptability to change in the workplace. With “millennial workers staying at a job for an average of 2 years and 9 months,” according to Forbes, we have to ask, how does someone stay at a company for longer than the average length of time? As a millennial myself, I sat down with Search Ads Business Development Director Andrew Bellach (sometimes known as “Mr. Taboola”) who recently celebrated an exciting milestone of 10 years at Taboola and has defied this millennial statistic Read on to hear what Andrew had to say about how he reached this important milestone and the moments of reflection he’s had along the way.
Q: How has Taboola kept you engaged during your tenure here?
Marsh McLennan notes: “Some generations feel comfortable becoming skilled in just one role. This is not the case for millennials. They feel a great responsibility to do good and be good at what they do.”
To: In my ten years at Taboola, I’ve had the privilege of exploring different roles and functions within the company, transitioning every 2-4 years, which has certainly kept things interesting. In combination, Taboola’s culture encourages authenticity, allowing me to comfortably bring my fun and upbeat attitude to work. Because of this, I have been able to prioritize how I bring value to the company, through individual relationships and progression in multiple roles. From account and product management to running a search ad team, each role has come with its own achievements, challenges, journeys and great co-workers.
However, throughout my roles here, Taboola has invested significantly in my professional development through various training programs, off-site events, conferences and more. With the current focus on search advertising at Native, I welcome the opportunity to build experience and establish myself as a thought leader in this industry, contributing to Taboola’s search vision and strategy.
Q: How have you grown and developed professionally during your 10-year career at Taboola?
Marsh McLennan adds, “Career opportunities that provide personal and professional education tend to be good for millennials. These jobs can include continuing education seminars, new assignments, or certifications in particular skills—elements that lead to talent development.”
To: Over the years, I have attended various training and coaching programs, been invited to speak at client conferences, and changed teams internally a few times, allowing me to improve my experience in each role. When I was promoted from product specialist to account director to oversee a team, Taboola invested in me in more ways than just a professional. A management training team and external coach were brought in to provide me with support and perspective. Even before I dived into the core of skills and learnings, they knew me as someone who first asked me about my lifestyle, where I wanted to improve personally, and helped prepare me for succeed in addressing larger work goals. It’s clear that Taboola sees its people as more than just employees here. While there were times when taking on new roles or managing people felt like a big undertaking, I always had the support and trust of my amazing colleagues. And with the help of executive coaching, I came to a place of autonomy and confidence inside and outside of work.
Q: How does Taboola promote a healthy culture and “work-life balance”?
“Whether it’s hybrid work setups or customized schedules, millennials want more autonomy with their time. They don’t want to be confined to a cubicle.” – Marsh McLennan.
Taboola’s superpower is the culture it has created. Beyond the opportunities and challenges I’ve had over the past ten years, Taboola does a great job of hiring the right people and culture. As I tell everyone I interview, if you are passionate, motivatedi curious, regardless of whether you have a background in ad tech, you’ll find success and a home at Taboola. Through affiliate conferences, sales clubs, and other Taboola startup events, I’ve been fortunate to work with specialized teams and experience these connections in real time across the US, LATAM, EMEA, and APAC regions. And no matter which office you visit, there is an atmosphere and culture that makes the environment easy, comfortable and satisfying to work in.
Also, I’ve always found Taboola to be very accommodating when it comes to work-life balance. More recently, my position has required me to partner with teams globally, and despite work travel and time zones, Taboola respects my personal needs and welcomes autonomy.
There is a reason why many taboolars share their stories and why many have been with Taboola for more than 5 years. Finding purpose, growth and balance at Taboola, as well as working alongside smart and driven people, I’m excited to continue expanding my career here.
Ten years after starting my career at Taboola, I find myself older, wiser and grateful for the opportunities that have made me grow in general. I’m especially proud that the work I’ve come to do in this niche and will continue to do here impacts our industry, our customers, and people across the company.
To learn more about why we’re consistently ranked as a great place to work, check out the Taboola Life blog. Visit our races page and find out your time. #TaboolaLife