If you ask Jason Miller to describe his company in one word?
“Resilient,” Miller said, noting that getting to see startup data analytics company Starburst grow and transform over the last few years has been thrilling.
“Startups are an exciting journey filled with opportunities, challenges and everything in between,” Miller added. Miller is Starburst’s director of sales development, which means he spends a lot of time sharing the story behind Starburst.
The company was founded by the minds that built Trino and Presto — data analytics tools that have since become incredibly popular. Starburst’s Built In profile even notes, “we were founded in a rather unusual way as we bootstrapped the business with customers and revenue from the very beginning!”
The team now works on a platform that allows users to discover, organize and consume data without the need for migration projects that are a heavy lift.
Built In spoke with Miller about the company’s growth and how he has witnessed it explode over the years.
Starburst hopes to dismantle the status quo of data silos and vendor lock-in through a data lake analytics platform.
Describe your company culture in one word. What made you pick the word “resilient” to describe your company culture?
At Starburst, we are gritty, determined and in it for the long haul. Angela Duckworth, an American psychologist and popular science author, defines grit as the combination of passion and perseverance, and she often highlights how resilience is a key trait of gritty individuals. I personally live by this mindset, and I see it reflected in my team every day.
Resilience is at the core of our culture and an essential trait for a great sales development representative. Sales development is both an art and a science, but above all, it demands a strong and resilient mindset. Making calls, sending emails and reaching out to people we’ve never met requires persistence and a long-term outlook. Each small step — each call, email and LinkedIn message — brings us closer to our goals. No matter the challenges, we adapt, push forward and continue striving for success.
No matter the challenges, we adapt, push forward and continue striving for success.”
How long have you been with the company, and what professional growth or development have you seen in that time?
I have been with Starburst for five months, and in that time, I’ve been grateful to see our people and culture team thoughtfully evaluate and revamp our company mission and values. This shift has directly contributed to my growth as a director, helping me develop into an effective leader as quickly as possible.
It has given me the confidence to be myself, lead authentically, and better motivate and align my team with company goals. The clarity in our values has created a strong foundation for decision-making and team collaboration, making it easier to drive impact and progress.
