Interview: Rainieri Ventura, Senior Engineering Manager

Nothing is possible at Patreon without its people. Here’s how these Black employees are making magic in the creator economy and charting the course of their careers.

Rainieri Ventura (he / him) Senior Engineering Manager

What made you decide to join Patreon?

It was a combination of things. I was impressed by everyone I met and the work the company was doing to bring about the second renaissance. I loved the opportunity to support multiple teams as an engineering manager, and I was sold on the level of transparency from Jack Conte (founder and CEO) and other executives.

What’s the magic of the culture at Patreon?

Patreon – more so than any other startup I’ve worked for – lives its mission. The direct impact of our work on the creators we serve is woven into the stories we share internally and what we choose to celebrate. Every day we see first hand the impact of our work on the creators we serve.

What does Black magic mean to you?

To me, it means the magic of the community to lift each other up, persevere, overcome, and shine against all of the odds.

How do you stay true to yourself at work?

I try not to take the work for granted – pausing to hear creator stories and revisiting how I can make a bigger difference.

What are you envisioning for your career in the future?

I’m keen to find the next generation of talent to fully realize Patreon’s long-term mission. That same passion for helping individuals and companies succeed is motivating me to pursue angel investing and venture capital inthe future.

Rainieri has spent the last decade developing software at startups of different sizes, including his own. He enjoys the challenges that come with transforming ideas into working products and scaling. Early in his career, he worked as an intellectual property attorney at IBM after earning his JD/MBA from the University of Minnesota. Prior to that, he worked at NASA while earning his computer engineering degree from Georgia Tech.