Note by Wes Falik

I first met Ben about 10 years ago on a boat in Stockholm. It was Ben's first day at B-Reel, which happened to coincide with a global pilgrimage to the company's headquarters. He hadn’t met many of us and he was still getting his bearings, when I found him on the stern taking pictures of the cityscape, while intermittently sizing up his new colleagues. I remember introducing myself and being drawn to his wit and inquisitive questions.

When we got back to the states and dug into the work, it didn't take long for me to realize how brilliant and decisive he was. He had the uncanny ability of looking at an idea—no matter how underdeveloped or rough—and seeing its potential. He never belabored decisions. He instinctively knew the path forward and was always sure to assess whether something was doable and, more importantly, whether it could be done well. In his time at B-Reel, he took us to previously unknown heights, bringing in new clients and selling big ideas that were seemingly out-of-reach for our small agency. The work he brought in and the trust he put in us gave many of us the opportunity to show our potential and, ultimately, build our careers.

Several years later, I had the opportunity to reunite with Ben at Squarespace. We hadn't seen each other in some time when we had our interview. It was a short chat that concluded with him decisively saying, "you should already be here." He made joining the team feel like a sort of homecoming, so I jumped at the opportunity. And it ended up being one of the better decisions I’ve ever made.

Three years later, I’m still on that team. I look around and see a group of smart, kind people doing the best work of their careers without a hint of ego. I can only attribute this to the fact that many of us are people Ben collected along the way—people he saw potential in. Former colleagues and friends, recent graduates he discovered in a stack of applications. No matter where you came from, Ben figured out how to get the best of you.

Ben built us a place to call home, and I will forever be grateful to him for that. I’ll remember all that he achieved, all he helped those around him accomplish, and the exemplary manner in which he did it. 

— Wes Falik