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Ops...my bad. I was wondering this morning why there seams to be a tradition at Apple to hire French engineers and executives.

bsaul 6y ago
The whole valley has been filled with top french engineers for 40 years. This brain drain is actually one of the reason france is in such a miserable state relative to IT economy. The only ones left are the ones prefering a cosy seat at a large established company. All the entrepreneurs have been leaving, and it’s a misery (another example under the spotlight now, although in a different field, is the head of moderna).
- wazoox 6y ago
  Also the co-founder of Docker (lots of French people at Docker too, from what I know).
  - spacedcowboy 6y ago
    Same reason as for the UK. The money is better here.
- gen220 6y ago
  I have a friend from France who has a successful career in software (making good money in the United States). His parents are kind of disappointed in my friend, though, because they don't believe his career is a "real job" (like a lawyer, doctor, financier etc.). I think this is a contributing factor to why people leave. "Software Engineer", for all our quibbles over what it means, is comparatively well-respected and well-compensated job in the US. People want to live and work where their skills are valued.
- 908B64B197 6y ago
  It's something I never understood. Worked along folks from EPFL, the X and Poly. What they told me about their startup ecosystem back home was unbelievable. And compensation was a joke too. Are French folks... aware their smartest are in California?
microtherion 6y ago
If I may speculate wildly: * France (and other French speaking countries) produce well qualified engineers. * As others have pointed out, France can be perceived as a rather inhospitable place for entrepreneurial people. * On the other hand, Apple may be a little bit more aligned with French values than other Silicon Valley companies: Pride of auteurship, opinionated design, and occasional stubbornness in the face of customer complaints. I think a French engineer will recognize a certain je ne sais quoi in "you're holding it wrong" ;-)

bsaul 6y ago

The whole valley has been filled with top french engineers for 40 years. This brain drain is actually one of the reason france is in such a miserable state relative to IT economy. The only ones left are the ones prefering a cosy seat at a large established company. All the entrepreneurs have been leaving, and it’s a misery (another example under the spotlight now, although in a different field, is the head of moderna).

wazoox 6y ago
Also the co-founder of Docker (lots of French people at Docker too, from what I know).
- spacedcowboy 6y ago
  Same reason as for the UK. The money is better here.
gen220 6y ago
I have a friend from France who has a successful career in software (making good money in the United States). His parents are kind of disappointed in my friend, though, because they don't believe his career is a "real job" (like a lawyer, doctor, financier etc.). I think this is a contributing factor to why people leave. "Software Engineer", for all our quibbles over what it means, is comparatively well-respected and well-compensated job in the US. People want to live and work where their skills are valued.
908B64B197 6y ago
It's something I never understood. Worked along folks from EPFL, the X and Poly. What they told me about their startup ecosystem back home was unbelievable. And compensation was a joke too. Are French folks... aware their smartest are in California?

microtherion 6y ago

If I may speculate wildly: * France (and other French speaking countries) produce well qualified engineers. * As others have pointed out, France can be perceived as a rather inhospitable place for entrepreneurial people. * On the other hand, Apple may be a little bit more aligned with French values than other Silicon Valley companies: Pride of auteurship, opinionated design, and occasional stubbornness in the face of customer complaints. I think a French engineer will recognize a certain je ne sais quoi in "you're holding it wrong" ;-)