Who is Sophie Novati? Inside the Mind Behind Formation

Sophie Zhou Novati is the co-founder and CEO of Formation, a modern tech learning platform helping software engineers reach senior roles faster. Her journey from working at some of Silicon Valley’s biggest names to launching her own company shows how one person’s experience can help reshape the future of technical education.

This article explores who Sophie Novati is, her background, career path, and the success of Formation. It also explains why many see her as a leader in the world of tech education and job placement.

Early Career: From College to Facebook

Sophie Novati began her professional career as a software engineer. Like many in the tech world, she started young and quickly got noticed for her skills. She joined Facebook (now called Meta) in the early 2010s, a time when the company was rapidly growing and experimenting with new ideas.

At Facebook, Novati worked on engineering teams and quickly became known not only for her technical talent but also for promoting inclusion. She became the de facto lead for inclusivity in the engineering department. This focus on creating equal opportunities for everyone later inspired her to build a company that helps others get ahead in tech.

Novati described the Facebook work environment during her time there as intense but exciting. She said it reminded her of college — people sleeping in the office and spending long hours building new features. It wasn’t just work; it was a place where learning and growing happened quickly.

Next door and the Rise of Leadership

After Facebook, Novati moved on to Nextdoor, a neighborhood-based social network. She was one of the first iOS engineers hired at the company. Her role involved building the app from the ground up, which gave her a firsthand look at how to launch and grow a product from the early stages.

This hands-on experience in both large tech and small startup settings gave Novati the foundation she needed to understand what engineers face when trying to move up in their careers. That knowledge became a key reason for founding Formation.

Launching Formation in 2019

In 2019, Sophie Novati co-founded Formation, a job placement company aimed at helping mid-level engineers become senior-level professionals. The company provides training and mentoring through flexible programs designed for real-world success.

Formation’s services include:

• Resume reviews
• Mock interviews
• Negotiation coaching
• Weekly dynamic cohorts
• Skills assessments
• Unlimited access until placement

Formation charges between $2,500 and $20,000, depending on the type of program selected. Some plans offer income-based repayment, giving learners the option to pay once they secure a higher-paying job.

What Makes Formation Unique?

Formation stands out from other online education platforms because it uses adaptive learning powered by AI. This means students don’t follow a fixed curriculum. Instead, the platform forms weekly learning cohorts based on the learner’s progress, goals, and skills. After every week, performance is reviewed, and a new group is created to ensure that students are always learning exactly what they need.

Sophie Novati believes this personalized approach is more effective than traditional classes. She even suggests that fixed course schedules will seem outdated in the future. With Formation, students move at their own pace but always stay on the path to reaching their career goals.

Why She Built Formation

At Facebook and Nextdoor, Novati noticed that women and underrepresented groups had fewer chances to grow in engineering roles. That experience stuck with her. She wanted to create a company that not only trained engineers but also removed the barriers that often stop them from getting ahead.

Formation now serves over 1,300 job seekers. On average, students who complete the program increase their salary by $127,286, according to the company. That result shows that the Formation model is not just effective — it’s changing lives.

The Mark Zuckerberg Chess Lesson

Sophie Novati also shared a memorable moment from her time at Facebook. One night in 2011, she played chess with Mark Zuckerberg at 2 a.m. She claims she won. But more importantly, she got the chance to ask him a big question: “How is Facebook going to make money?”

Zuckerberg told her that if a product captures people’s attention, money will follow. That lesson helped shape how Novati approached business with Formation. Instead of chasing revenue first, she focused on creating value for users. Her belief is that results will follow once the product proves its worth.

Funding and Partners

Formation has raised over $8.5 million in funding. Its success has attracted attention from top companies. Formation now partners with tech giants like:

• Netflix
• Meta (Facebook)
• Google
• Twitch
• Dropbox
• Adobe

These partnerships give students access to the tools and mentorship they need to succeed in today’s competitive tech landscape.

Sophie Novati Today

At age 33, Sophie Novati continues to lead Formation with a clear mission — to help engineers unlock their full potential. She has built a company that not only teaches but also delivers strong results. Her story is an example of how a personal journey can lead to building something that impacts thousands of others.

Final Thoughts

Sophie Novati is more than a CEO. She is a tech leader who understands the challenges many engineers face and is using technology to solve those problems. Through Formation, she’s proving that there is a better, smarter way to learn, grow, and succeed in the tech industry.

Her work shows that when you combine real-world experience with a desire to help others, you can build a company that truly makes a difference.

If you’re an engineer looking to advance your career, Formation might just be the place to start.

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