Michael Lopp

Energizer
DISC Type : I

Founder at Pro Leisure Circuit

Los Gatos, California, United States

Overview

Michael Lopp is an accomplished engineering executive, known for rapidly scaling teams at high-growth companies like Slack, Pinterest, and Apple. A graduate of UC Santa Cruz, he is also a published author on leadership. Colleagues describe him as an effective, human-centered leader and an excellent "Remover Of Obstacles".

Currently the founder of Pro Leisure Circuit, he is focusing on his passions outside of corporate life. His interests include strategic investments in gravel biking, creative writing, and long walks in the redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains, often accompanied by a martini or Cabernet.

He is the author of the popular leadership blog, "Rands in Repose, " where he has written for over 20 years.

Personality Overview

Informal

Relationship Oriented

Big Picture Person

They are naturally enthusiastic, so take their promise with a pinch of salt.  They excel at seeing the bigger picture, and the long-term impact of their decisions. They are people oriented, friendly and like creating new connections.

Topics They Care About

Engineering Leadership
As a former VP and Head of Engineering at multiple major tech companies, he has written three books and a popular blog on the subject.
Scaling Tech Teams
He has a proven track record of rapidly growing engineering organizations at hyper-growth companies like Pinterest and Slack to meet massive user demand.
Workplace Dynamics
His writing often explores personality archetypes, delegation, and human-centered approaches to management, aiming to improve team effectiveness and communication.

Media Appearances

Michael Lopp - Humans+Tech. Featured in Apple Podcasts

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The One About the Pro Leisure Circuit. Featured in Apple Podcasts

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Work History

9-2025
Founder at Pro Leisure Circuit
1-2020 - 9-2025
Senior Director Of Engineering at Apple
11-2019 - 1-2020
Founder at Pro Leisure Circuit
5-2016 - 11-2019
VP of Product Engineering at Slack
6-2014 - 5-2016
Head of Engineering at Pinterest

Education

1988 - 1992
Computer and Information Sciences from University of California, Santa Cruz

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 37 Location : Los Gatos, California, United States Job Level : Leadership Designation : Founder at Pro Leisure Circuit
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Insights For Selling To Michael

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Talk about their team and how your product will help them do things better and easier
  • Talk anecdotally about the customer experience that your product offers
  • Be friendly and entertaining in your conversation

DONT's

  • Avoid ifs and buts, don’t talk too much about the risks etc.
  • Don’t be excessively objective, be a storyteller
  • Avoid overloading them with too much detail

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Michael is

  • Relationship and trust can be vital with them, sometimes more than anything else.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Michael

  • They are unlikely to say no directly, you have to make that decision yourself.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Michael move?

  • They are not the fastest decision makers, their friendly approach can give false positive signals.
  • Can Michael take some risk or not?

  • They may take certain risks that they deem unlikely of personal repercussions.

You And Michael

Personality Compatibility


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