We encourage innovation at Stripe. What does innovation mean to you?
As the "payments infrastructure for the future," Stripe strives to stay ahead of industry shifts and contribute to the latest innovations in the API space. They release hundreds of new features and improvements annually to stay one step ahead of their competitors, and your interviewer wants to know that your definition of innovation is in line with Stripe's culture.
"In my previous role I was fortunate enough to introduce my company to the idea of a gold level service where, in addition to our general customer service, we added on service options. Our customer base responded very positively, and we kept the program running for a few years. To me, innovation is creating new products and services that are useful to customers and also help my company stand out further in their space."
"I think that innovation means being someone who thrives on change and remains nimble in their work. Innovation can mean creating a new and powerful idea, and it can also mean simplifying an existing one."
Think about how you define innovation in your work life and discuss with your interviewer the ways that you have contributed to an innovative environment in the workplace (and how you would continue to do so at Stripe). You might highlight how you leveraged technology in a previous project or designed a unique solution to address a challenge. Examples like these can be the basis for how you define innovation.
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I think that Innovation means creating a new and powerful idea or process, or it can also mean simplifying an existing one.
Rachelle's Feedback
Nice and simple, thoughtful answer.
Anonymous Answer
To me, innovation is creating something that hasn't be done yet. I think being innovative in responding to customers' needs in real-time and creating dynamic solutions. I believe there is so much room for innovation in this industry because there are so many different customers out there that have diverse needs that are not being met by current financial institutions.
Rachelle's Feedback
You make some great points here. I recommend expanding to include that innovation can also include taking a service and making it better, which is a lot of what Stripe is doing. They are revisiting how payments are accepted, rather than introducing the idea of online payments.
Unlock all 32 Stripe questions
Prepare for system design scenarios and product thinking questions Stripe interviewers prioritize.
Get Started