Alan Schaaf

“I'm the type of manager who doesn't really like the word 'manage.' Nor do I really like the word 'boss.' I like to look at myself as more as a leader.”

“When I look at other products, I naturally think of ways to improve upon what already exists.”

“Entrepreneurship, to me, means that you're a psychopath. The world doesn't work in the way you want it to, and you have a vision for how it should work. Unlike everyone else, this isn't OK with you. You have to go out, against every possible odd, and do something about it. That's what makes you crazy.”

“The office has a really fun 'community' feel, kind of like Imgur itself. The things that you see that are on the walls and on our desks came directly from our users.”

“Imgur is a data-driven company, and our community is our most important signal. But you can't perfectly plot humans neatly into a chart. It takes someone with instincts and empathy to truly understand the community and represent them in all of the company decisions.”

“People can express themselves better with images than just text, so they communicate more this way.”

“How do I find someone for a position I've never worked with - or worked under, even? I feel like I'm not qualified to make a lot of these decisions.”

“If you're even on the fence about hiring someone, that person is a no. You have to feel it in your gut.”

“Let's get real: the .GIF format is outdated and is not really that great for the modern web anymore. It was created in 1989, and it wasn't even created for the purpose of animation.”

“I like to think of an image as different from a photo.”

“Not only do Imgurians get the opportunity to find the content that they love but also serve up their favorite content to others who visit their profiles.”

“I've found that instability from growth comes in waves.”

“I ran a profitable boostrapped company for five years, then raised $40 million from Andreessen Horowitz.”

“We want to be the best place on the Internet. That's where the focus is at.”

“Imgur offers a rare place for people to express themselves in a real way without the fear of social judgment. Everyone has an equal chance of sharing their story to millions of people because it's not about who you are but about the quality of your content.”

“Geek culture is all about being super passionate about your interests and not afraid to express them, even if your interests are unpopular.”

“For millennials, being a geek is a positive thing, and we see people proudly self-identifying themselves as geeks.”

“My favorite interview question is, 'If you could have a superpower, what would it be?'”

“'Change' is seen as a dirty word, but personally, I'm searching for it.”

“Over the years, the Internet has been going down the path of becoming a more personalized experience.”