How'd We Get So Cool? An Ode about Austin From a Homegrown Global Company

I just read this piece about how "Austin, Texas, is blowing up, with one expert even dubbing it the 'hottest market in the country right now' for commercial real estate." While I could not agree more that Austin is incredibly "hot" right now, I think it's because lots of folks all over the country are just discovering what some of us already knew. So, I'd like to provide my perspective, based on 25+ years of experience, on what makes Austin so special.

You've probably heard the phrase "act local, think global" a time or two, but hearing and experiencing are two completely different things. Since 2005, as a co-founder of SailPoint, I've had a front-row seat to watch the evolution of two things very near and dear to my heart. I've watched our company go from a small startup to become the global, public (NYSE: SAIL) business it is today. And over that same period, I've watched our hometown, Austin, explode into one of the most desirable places to live and do business in the country—even during times of crises like we recently experienced, with a snowstorm that deeply impacted all of Texas. But, once again, we came out stronger on the other side, which I attribute to the combination of grit/resilience alongside a helpful/neighborly attitude that makes Austin so unique. Companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, Facebook, and Tesla have committed to planting major footprints in the Texas capital, showing the world what we've known all along: all roads lead to Austin. But, it also begs the question: How did we get so cool, so fast?

In light of the recent news that over 150 companies have plans to move to Austin, I would like to take a moment to not only welcome our new neighbors but to give them the inside scoop on the answer to my question, while asking them to please help us keep it that way! As our town fills up with high rises and flyovers, fantastic restaurants, and cool neighborhoods, we're going to have to work hard to uphold a lot of what makes us, well, us. From the great outdoor spaces to our incredible music scene, and perhaps most importantly, our warm and welcoming attitude – which is probably what attracted a lot of our new friends in the first place. So, if you're just getting settled or still planning your escape to Austin, here are a few tips to help you along the way.

• All Work and All Play—Folks in Austin tend to embrace the mantra "work hard, play hard." That's part of the allure for many people who are moving here to capitalize on the "work from anywhere" phenomenon. After a long day (probably on Zoom in your home office), where else can you hop on a paddle board and watch millions of bats fly off into the horizon? Or swim in a spring-fed pool with a view of skyscrapers? Or drink an avocado margarita? The point is this: Austin makes it easy to work and play. You're going to love that here.
• Keep Austin Weird—What started as a cultural sentiment is now part of the business landscape. Many of us leverage this idea as we strive to further the entrepreneurial spirit here in the world's live music capital. Help us continue to fuel this by being mindful of staying true to Austin's roots—being weird. We don't want to be the Bay Area 2.0. That's something we feel strongly about here at SailPoint; we let people be themselves and give them the space to do that. The best ideas come from staying true to yourself and embracing all the weirdness that comes with that.
• Immerse Yourself in the Community—When you get here, make it a point to become a part of the "fabric" of Austin. At SailPoint, we are a global company, but we also want to give back to the community that helped build us. That's why we are part of charitable efforts like Habitat For Humanity, Code2College, and Explore Austin. This is one way we've planted our roots here, even as we've branched out to become the global SaaS company we are today. So, when you get here, be sure to reach out in various ways to say "thank you" to the city that has attracted you, your family, and possibly your business to this incredible place.  

This way of thinking has helped our company reach many milestones – in Austin and beyond. Over our 15 years, we've welcomed more than 1,500 crew members and now have employees on every continent except Antarctica, with no signs of slowing down. We have outgrown several offices before settling into a new HQ building a couple of years ago – fun fact: the state-protected Golden Cheeked Warbler slowed down our construction once upon a time. In November 2017, the day of our IPO on the NYSE, much of our crew watched from Austin and around the world as we took a step onto the big stage. Suffice it to say; we see why Austin has become "the place to be" for so many companies.

So, welcome to our really cool city, which will be even cooler again once we get beyond COVID-19. If you are just getting here, or still considering it, join us as we enjoy livin' and thrivin' in Austin. And, in the words of native son, Matthew McConaughey, then everything will be alright, alright, alright. 

Your new friend, 

Mark