CompatibilityWorking at Stripe is not for everyone
Not everyone finds success at Stripe. Those who do tend to share a few things in common.
The right people don't always think they're right
Successful Stripes are rigorous thinkers who appreciate that things worth doing are rarely simple. We want people who are not afraid to be wrong, who can enthusiastically back proposals they initially opposed, and who know how to support decisions with numbers and narrative. We operate in situations of substantial uncertainty and cannot afford either timidity or recklessness.
The global financial system can seem like a mystifying domain. It isn't. It's made of people and computers, like many other systems you've worked on. Most Stripes don't come from finance, and they've thrived by bringing fresh perspectives. We want generalists who can parachute anywhere into our operations, learn a new field quickly and execute competently beyond their formal remit.
We know that we cannot be successful without nurturing the careers of both generalists and experts. People who thrive in high-conflict work environments often do not enjoy the experience here. We try to embrace kindness while still encouraging Stripes to take measured risks and act boldly, even in the absence of consensus.
Who is Stripe for?
Ambitious builders
We're building solutions without clear precedent, solving problems with far-reaching consequences. The people here find that energising, preferring the joy of discovery to the comfort of certainty.
Adaptable problem solvers
AI is changing how the global economy works, how our customers work and how Stripes work. The people who thrive here adapt quickly and treat obstacles as opportunities.
Rigorous thinkers
We argue from first principles, question assumptions and don't stop at good enough. At Stripe, craft isn't a nice-to-have – it's the standard.
The most successful Stripes are the people who have the intellectual horsepower, the curiosity to learn a very complicated business and the humility to get up every day and realise there's a huge amount of things they don't know.
What all Stripes have in common
We're dedicated to our work and optimistic about the world. We believe entrepreneurship and free markets do good, and building what supports them matters. If that's you, read on.
Motivated by our mission
Stripe is on a mission to grow the GDP of the internet.
Ask yourself:
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Do I see free markets and entrepreneurship as powerful forces for advancing progress?
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Does enabling entrepreneurship and helping to unlock the internet economy's full potential seem like a compelling use of my time and talents?
Embody our operating principles
“Users first” is a cornerstone principle. Our users trust us to provide an essential service, and it's a heavy responsibility that we take very seriously.
Ask yourself:
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Am I motivated to move mountains to protect and support businesses that depend on Stripe?
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Am I driven to overcome obstacles and take on big things to drive progress, or do I feel overwhelmed by the sheer scale and breadth of sometimes nebulous opportunities?
Energised by change
The pace of change at Stripe and in the broader economy is accelerating. You'll work outside your domain, take on problems that didn't exist a year ago and be expected to adapt as quickly as the world does.
Ask yourself:
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Do I see a fast-moving environment as an opportunity rather than an obstacle?
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Am I comfortable taking on problems outside my domain or experience?
Collaborative, multidisciplinary work
Building programmable financial infrastructure from first principles is inherently complex. It means that everything we create requires deep, collaborative, multidisciplinary work: technically, organisationally and geographically.
Ask yourself:
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Am I excited by navigating complexity at scale?
How we operate
You'll bring high standards to everything you do and find others who do the same.
Our culture
Like all great workplaces, Stripe has its own working culture, with norms that can surprise, delight and occasionally perplex.
Friday Fireside
Friday Fireside is a weekly Stripe-wide forum hosted by Patrick and John. We hear from a Stripe user and get their unvarnished feedback, invite Stripes to chat about (or demo!) their recent work and welcome external experts to discuss timely and relevant topics.
Convergence
Every December, Stripes come together for Convergence – a full-day event and Stripe tradition dating back to 2014. It's a chance to reflect on the past year, hear about our priorities for the next year, learn from each other and poke fun at ourselves.
How we show up in the world
Cheeky Pint
Ideas meet the pub hang. In this podcast series, John Collison sits down with founders, builders and leaders to discuss their craft over a pint.
Stripe Press
Stripe Press publishes books about ideas for economic, technological and scientific progress. We print works we think can be broadly useful.
Works in Progress
Stripe's online and print magazine focuses on scientific, technological and economic advancement.
Frontier
Launched in 2022, Frontier is Stripe's advance market commitment to buy an initial US$1.8bn of permanent carbon removal by 2040.
Intercept
A new initiative focused on dramatically reducing the burden of respiratory viruses.
