B
enzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Zillow Group (NASDAQ:Z) CEO Jeremy Wacksman attributes his rise to success to embracing opportunities outside of his official role, according to Fortune. This mindset helped define his career at Zillow, where he joined in 2009 as vice president of marketing and product during a severe US housing downturn.

    Wacksman recalled the challenging market conditions at the time, saying it was "not a fantastic real estate market." His decision to leave Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) for the struggling startup raised eyebrows, but he was drawn by the chance to make a lasting impact through consumer-facing products. "It's what led me to Zillow, and it's honestly what keeps me at Zillow," he said.

    Wacksman's experience with mobile projects at Microsoft proved valuable when Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) launched the App Store in 2009, reshaping Zillow's future. He was tasked with leading the company's shift to mobile, despite it falling outside his original job description. "I wasn't hired to [help the company go mobile], I was hired to work on the product and marketing efforts," he said. "But mobile was new, and I said yes."