Today marks the last day of Rooster Teeth, a pioneer in digital media and internet innovation that had an incredible 21 year run as the underdog. A company that never took itself too seriously, but made a serious impact on millions of fans around the world. Comprised of founders, creators, and employees who said “eff it, let’s see what happens” and my god, what a legacy it leaves behind as a result. I love having endless data at my disposal, but nothing will ever compare to taking risks and galvanizing people to explore the unknown together. I think it’s that kindred spirit that brought me to Rooster Teeth. A move that brought me and the family to Austin to start a new chapter of our lives. While I didn’t catch the company at its peak, the process of closing down the operation has shown the impact of the company in ways I could never have imagined. I’ve been at companies while they’re on meteoric rises and this was my first time watching the fall of Rome. It was painful at times, but educational too in so many ways. I decided to join Rooster Teeth because I wanted to learn under Jordan Levin. He was someone with a great track record, an amazing reputation and we clicked right away during the interview process. I wanted to become a better leader and I knew I’d get that opportunity under Jordan by being in the executive committee and meeting with him on a regular basis. While I learned a ton in my 2 years at Rooster Teeth, I think I learned the most in watching how things have been handled bringing the company to a close. It hasn’t been easy to make everyone at RT feel the same way about much of anything for a variety of reasons, but EVERYONE is leaving with their head held high, feeling taken care of and feeling like they have closure with a place and a fanbase that means so much to so many. It’s been a masterclass in taking an unfortunate situation and making people still feel like they’re leaving on a good note. So on my last day of work I carry that Rooster Teeth spirit and say “eff it”, I’m ready to take risks and big swings to hopefully foster experiences that will bring joy to people when it’s needed more than ever. Cue Kenny Roger’s “Gambler”, it’s not last call at Ricks Tavern in Ann Arbor, but the song has never seemed to have more meaning. And if anyone is looking for a new gunslinger to help with the legacy they’re building, “I’m your Huckleberry!”
Jordan Levin
2mo
Wow! Thank you, Adam Bersin for the incredibly kind comments and beautifully written post. It was my pleasure to work alongside you and look forward to more gunslinging!
Linda Nicolai
2mo
Hope the whole team writes a Harvard Business School case study on the longest-running digital media channel, one of the only channels to launch and sustain a subscription service and build a hyper-loyal audience base! Continued success to everyone involved!
Peter Leeb
2mo
To my network, go hire the Wyatt Earp of marketing! Now…Run
Anand Shah
2mo
Eff it all!!! (Said the guy who works for EffinFunny) Great attitude. You can either Win or Learn. On to the next… #goblue
Gabby Ballard
2mo
A job well done. Be proud! ✨
What a journey! Rooster Teeth's spirit of taking bold risks and fostering creativity is truly inspiring. Learning and evolving through both rises and falls offers priceless lessons. Here's to embracing that same daring spirit in new adventures! 🚀👏