SurveyMonkey in 2018: Under New Management

The unexpected passing of Dave Goldberg in May 2015 triggered the most difficult period in the history of SurveyMonkey, a global online survey software company headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. In a state of emotional shock, the team was forced to find answers to complex strategic questions, navigate a convoluted process of CEO succession and, ultimately, reinvent the company.

Over three years later, the company was starting a new chapter with an IPO, and faced a mix of old and new challenges, including reinventing its product portfolio and brand; expanding internationally; attracting a larger share of large clients—the “Enterprise” customers; navigating an ever-changing competitive landscape; and incorporating new technological innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. The company had come a long way—that was unquestionable—but there were still obstacles ahead.