I worked with Ben at Squarespace for just short of six years and the impact he had on me during that time is multifaceted, far-reaching, and everlasting.
The very first thing I learned from Ben was what it took to be great at the work. It’s incredibly rare to find a creative mind that is also able to put on a business hat so seamlessly. Ben was a unicorn; he was able to produce iconic creative work while never losing sight of strategy to push the company forward. By watching Ben work, I quickly realized that the ability to strike this balance was key to operating at the highest level in this work, which came so naturally to him.
The next thing Ben taught me by example was how to be a valued colleague. I would sit in many meetings with people from various departments, of varying levels of seniority, about a variety of topics. Ben always, without fail, would treat every single person with respect and made them feel as though they belonged in the room. He made them feel heard and like their contributions mattered. Even if the conversation involved disagreement, tension or complexity, Ben brought calm, clarity, and collaboration – and easily. He would take complex or messy topics and turn them into something that just made perfect sense. I paid close attention to Ben’s tone and mannerisms, and found that these behaviors had a great impact. They affect each person individually and are crucial in developing strong relationships with colleagues. His willingness to invest in these relationships only resulted in positive outcomes.
Arguably one of the most important things Ben demonstrated, not just for me, but for many others, was how to be an exceptional leader. Ben was my manager for over a year and I can’t help but think about how lucky I am to have been able to learn from him directly. Ben’s lessons didn’t come from just two thirty-minute meetings per month; they were constantly flowing from the examples he set just by talking the talk and walking the walk on a daily basis. Ben’s presence was always felt because he brought a sense of togetherness, belonging, and home into the workplace. He fostered connection among teams in a way that felt totally organic and natural. He was able to rally the troops to be excited about any project they were working on, big or small. He was able to bring tranquility, safety, and peacefulness in moments of fear, anxiety, and the unknown. In serious moments, he’d make people laugh. And he was able to push people to do the best work of their careers, not just for Squarespace, but for themselves– because he knew they could. I think Ben was so influential to people because he deeply, genuinely cared for people, for their career trajectories, and for their personal lives. He listened– really listened– when people talked. He was engaged in conversations, no matter how serious or silly. He put real thought and time into people. He provided each of us with substantial and meaningful feedback. He saw us as people, not just employees, direct reports, or colleagues. As simple as all this may seem, in the throes of the daily grind, the qualities Ben brough to the workplace are actually incredibly special. The way he showed up as a leader, mentor, and friend in our workplace has inspired people to be more like Ben, because Ben was the absolute best.
Lastly, and perhaps most impactful for me, was Ben’s example of how to operate as a working parent. Ben was the very first person at Squarespace I told about my pregnancy. I was so scared to tell anybody at work, but those fears immediately dissolved once I saw Ben’s reaction - he was so incredibly happy and excited for me. He immediately encouraged me to give my husband a task when we got to the hospital– to get a private room– and boy am I glad we took that advice! At my previous jobs, not a lot of my colleagues had children, and those who did, kind of pretended they didn’t. The duality of parenting while working was often left unacknowledged. I was always concerned with how it would be possible to be an attentive parent and continue to excel at work. When Ben started at Squarespace, I realized that not only was it possible, but it could actually be encouraged and supported. Ben would always talk about his boys; what they were up to at school, plans for the summer, what they were interested in or currently learning. Ben would unapologetically take the time to be at his kids’ events; to help with the morning show, the theater productions, the school tours. He was a proud dad. I knew I wanted to be a parent like Ben. One who can do it all– be a present, involved parent and have a career to be proud of. I am not the only one who felt this way. During the time Ben was at Squarespace, there have been at least 12 employees on our team who have had babies or are expecting babies in the very near future (many of us for the first time). I know each one of us looked up to Ben as a role model. He set the tone and standard that family comes first. We will all continue to carry that sentiment on for him.
We all miss Ben greatly, and we will not forget him. We will hear “Vibes, vibes, and more vibes” in his voice when we look at aesthetically pleasing places and things. We will put on our Ben-approved Squarespace bomber jackets on the first day it feels like autumn and say “It’s bomber jacket season.” We will put on his favorite Spotify rap playlist on mornings we need an extra nudge waking up. We will thank him when our bananas stay ripe for a long time because we picked the bunch that was wrapped up on top. We will imagine the jokes he would have told and facial expressions he would have made when we receive a silly email. We will re-play his motivational speeches when we are having a bad day. Ben will continue to show up in our mundane routines each day, and we will think of him and smile. Thank you for sharing Ben with all of us. We are better for it. ♥️
— Kiersten Bergstrom-Pavlik