What do you think?
Rate this book
Build Something: A journey of hard-won lessons and impactful outcomes.
In an era where technology shapes nearly every aspect of our lives, few have witnessed the behind-the-scenes reality of how our favorite products are actually built. Michael Cerdá has not only seen it-he's lived it.
From launching Disney+ to millions of subscribers, to building Facebook's news products, to transforming Goldman Sachs into a digital consumer bank, Cerdá's journey offers an unprecedented look inside the boardrooms and product teams that shape our digital world. BUILD SOMETHING reveals the raw truth about how products are created, how decisions are really made, and how leadership actually works in today's most influential companies.
This isn't just another sanitized business memoir. It's a deeply personal story about reinvention, resilience, and maintaining humanity in an industry driven by metrics and momentum. Through vivid storytelling and hard-earned insights, Cerda shows us what it really takes to build products that impact millions of lives-and the true cost of bringing those visions to life.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, a product leader, or simply curious about how companies like Disney, Facebook, and Goldman Sachs really operate, BUILD SOMETHING offers a rare glimpse into the messy, exhilarating, and often heartbreaking journey of turning ideas into reality.
From launching Disney+ to millions of subscribers, to building Facebook's news products, to transforming Goldman Sachs into a digital consumer bank, Cerdá's journey offers an unprecedented look inside the boardrooms and product teams that shape our digital world. BUILD SOMETHING reveals the raw truth about how products are created, how decisions are really made, and how leadership actually works in today's most influential companies.
This isn't just another sanitized business memoir. It's a deeply personal story about reinvention, resilience, and maintaining humanity in an industry driven by metrics and momentum. Through vivid storytelling and hard-earned insights, Cerda shows us what it really takes to build products that impact millions of lives-and the true cost of bringing those visions to life.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, a product leader, or simply curious about how companies like Disney, Facebook, and Goldman Sachs really operate, BUILD SOMETHING offers a rare glimpse into the messy, exhilarating, and often heartbreaking journey of turning ideas into reality.
356 pages, Hardcover
Published February 26, 2025
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 18, 2026
Build Something by Michael Cerda delivers a candid and insightful look into the realities of building products and companies in the modern technology landscape.
Rather than offering surface level business advice, Cerda shares an insider perspective shaped by experience at influential technology organizations. The book explores the real dynamics behind innovation, including leadership tension, strategic decision making, company culture, and the unpredictable path between idea and execution.
What makes this book compelling is its honesty. It captures both success and failure without glamorizing either, providing valuable lessons for founders, product managers, and anyone seeking to build meaningful digital products.
A thoughtful and grounded contribution to the conversation around modern product leadership.
Rather than offering surface level business advice, Cerda shares an insider perspective shaped by experience at influential technology organizations. The book explores the real dynamics behind innovation, including leadership tension, strategic decision making, company culture, and the unpredictable path between idea and execution.
What makes this book compelling is its honesty. It captures both success and failure without glamorizing either, providing valuable lessons for founders, product managers, and anyone seeking to build meaningful digital products.
A thoughtful and grounded contribution to the conversation around modern product leadership.
May 21, 2025
Build Something isn’t just another Silicon Valley success story it’s a thoughtful, candid exploration of what it takes to build products, companies, and cultures that matter. Michael Cerdá is a rare storyteller who knows when to zoom out for strategic insights and when to zoom in for those personal moments that change everything.
The book is filled with the kind of advice you can use immediately, whether you're launching your first startup or leading a team through uncertainty. But more than that, it challenges you to think about why you’re building what you’re building. Purpose, authenticity, and resilience shine through every chapter.
The book is filled with the kind of advice you can use immediately, whether you're launching your first startup or leading a team through uncertainty. But more than that, it challenges you to think about why you’re building what you’re building. Purpose, authenticity, and resilience shine through every chapter.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews