Jeff Chang recognizes that growth isn’t just about marketing—it’s about engineering a foundation that sustains long-term success. As Head of Growth Engineering at Whatnot, he takes a technical-first approach, ensuring that the team prioritizes user acquisition, activation, and retention through scalable engineering solutions. Unlike traditional growth teams that lean on product and marketing first, Chang focuses on hiring engineers who can move quickly, adapt to challenges, and drive impact from the outset. His leadership is rooted in the belief that early-stage startups should build an engineering core before expanding into other functions, ensuring a strong, adaptable growth structure.
Chang earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley, equipping him with a deep technical foundation that shapes his approach to growth. Before stepping into his current role, he served as Director of Engineering and Head of Growth at Whatnot, helping to structure and expand the company’s growth initiatives. Beyond his work at Whatnot, he is an angel investor and growth advisor, with investments in companies such as Skio, Offsight, and PopSQL. His expertise lies in assembling and scaling high-impact teams, identifying top engineering talent, and structuring organizations to accelerate growth.
For Chang, building a successful growth team is about more than just hiring seasoned engineers; it’s about identifying individuals with the right mindset. He prioritizes flexibility, initiative, and analytical thinking over years of experience, believing that early-career engineers with the right drive can often outperform more senior hires. His focus on assembling diverse perspectives within growth teams ensures that Whatnot remains innovative, adaptable, and able to seize new opportunities. Under his leadership, the company has developed a structured approach to growth engineering, making it a key driver of Whatnot’s expansion and success in a competitive market.