This week has seen two events I wanted to mention. First, this past Monday was my last day at BlackBerry. Second, today is July 23rd which is officially considered Batman Day (and my daughters birthday… coincidence?) 🙂 It’s been 9 1/2 years since I joined BlackBerry via an acquisition of a small start-up company called Nextair. It’s…

Tim Neil

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July 23, 2014

My Last Day at BlackBerry

This week has seen two events I wanted to mention. First, this past Monday was my last day at BlackBerry. Second, today is July 23rd which is officially considered Batman Day (and my daughters birthday… coincidence?) 🙂

It’s been 9 1/2 years since I joined BlackBerry via an acquisition of a small start-up company called Nextair. It’s been an incredible journey and I gotta say, I feel really weird and have lots of mixed emotions!

While BlackBerry is the target of a lot of media, one thing that doesn’t shine through those judgemental blog posts are all of the AWESOME people who work for this company!

I’ve had the extreme honor of calling leaders & mentors like Adrian Gould, Alec Saunders and Chris Smith my boss during my time at BlackBerry. I’ve worked with some of the most talented and passionate people in the world whom I’m extremely proud to call my colleagues & friends.

Everyone at this company has always accepted me for “me” without casting judgement, but instead has given nothing less than 100% support and encouragement.

This doesn’t just go for the colleagues I’ve worked with, but also all of the developers in our community whom I’ve had the privilege to meet. Everyone on #TeamBlackBerry have something very special that doesn’t get talked about enough. We can all feel that indescribable “something”. Maybe others just don’t understand.

Sometimes there just comes a point where things change, and it becomes time to part ways. It’s not a negative thing. It’s natural in both a company’s and employee’s evolution.

So of course, in my usual unusual way, I decided to go into my last day of work dressed as Batman to see if I could spark some silly smiles. I mean, did anyone expect anything else!?!? 🙂

I’ll be taking some time off to re-energize and spend time with my family. Oh, and you guessed it, continue to work hard on the BatBerry!

With that said, I leave you with some pictures of my last day showing only a tip of the iceberg of the incredibly awesome, talented, passionate, and fearless people who work for BlackBerry.

Now… Let me get out to that garage and make this Batmobile work with the most trusted and secure smarphone on the planet!

I mean… would Batman use anything less!

25 responses to “My Last Day at BlackBerry”

Gareth

July 23, 2014

Tim, this was a shock to read. I do hope that wherever you going will give you the same as BlackBerry has in being a extended family in a way. All though this is sad, you right in that lifecycle, sometimes it is just time to change the scenery. All the best.

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1. Tim Neil
  
  July 23, 2014
  
  Yes, BlackBerry has been an incredible company to work for.
  
  Hopefully I can find that same spirit wherever the road takes me 🙂
  
  Reply
Brian Jackson

July 23, 2014

We never met, but as a developer/tinkerer I have been the recipient of your good work at BlackBerry. This is BlackBerry’s loss, IMO.

All the best Tim, and kudos for going out with a *BANG!* *POW!* *BLAM!*

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mikecivic2003

July 23, 2014

All the best Tim.

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mikescraftbeer

July 23, 2014

It’s to bad you are leaving BlackBerry. My favorite tech company is loosing to much talent. Good luck with the Batberry and your future career.

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Tim

July 23, 2014

Oh man, wish I’d known, or that you’d popped up to 6th. Hope all goes well in future, and keep in touch.

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pcicco

July 23, 2014

Reading this from Taiwan makes me happy to know there are still other people out there who enjoy supporting Canadian innovation and creativity…not to mention AMAZING Batman wearing suit type people. That’s what success and life are all about. I don’t know you good sir but I had the privilege to read your post via a good friend.

Good luck in the future.

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Tim Neil lascia BlackBerry

July 23, 2014

[…] Tim Neil, Director, Application Platform & Tools Product Management lascia BlackBerry. Ad annunciarlo e lui stesso dal suo Blog BatBerry.wordpress.com . […]

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Kiwi

July 23, 2014

Ah Tim……we met once – LOVED your office. I know what you mean about the special “something”. It was my favorite part about working at BlackBerry. Employee evolution indeed. Please don’t settle in your next role. Find that special “something”. Then tell everyone else where it is so they can join you. 🙂

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Ronen

July 23, 2014

Best of luck on your next endeavor Tim! You will be sorely missed.

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1. Tim Neil
  
  July 24, 2014
  
  Thanks Ronen! All the best to BerryReview as well 🙂
  
  Reply
Tim Neil Leaves BlackBerry – Still Working on BatBerry! – BerryReview

July 23, 2014

[…] way Tim announced on his blog that he had his last day at BlackBerry today. He obviously dressed up as Batman for his last day at […]

Reply
Christopher Burk

July 24, 2014

My brother runs the BlackBerry Messenger channel B B Powered. He has just introduced me to your story tonight. We have been huge fans if BlackBerry and have really enjoyed any human stories to connect us with the brand. Thank you for your Contribution of me living this brand.

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1. Christopher Burk
  
  July 24, 2014
  
  I meant Loving but Living works in an interesting way as well.
  
  Reply
ekkescorner

July 24, 2014

Tim, I wish you the very best for your future and thx for your awesome work at BlackBerry. For me as an independent Softwarearchitect working as a freelancer it was always great to work with you and all your collegues – got so much help and inspiration.
…. will miss you (and continue to fight for BlackBerry 😉
ekke

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Jon Webb

July 24, 2014

Sorry to see you go. Good luck Tim!

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Antoine Bapst (@superfly_FR)

July 24, 2014

Tim, wishing you the very best for the future.
I’ve been impressed all the way by your professionalism, receptiveness and involvement. Thanks for all the time you’ve spent answering our (often noobish) questions and lighting the way at devcons.
We’ll miss you “dark knight”.

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Tim Neil exits BlackBerry – BatBerry still in progress – NerdBerry

July 24, 2014

[…] Neil has officially left BlackBerry, he made the announcement via his blog. If you are not sure what Tim Neil did at BlackBerry, he was behind the BBUI.js framework and […]

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DueNorth

July 24, 2014

Noooo… you are one of my favorite devs at BlackBerry. I really enjoyed your videos that you made and your contributions to BBUI.js (what I use for most of my BB10 apps). You will be missed and I wish you all the best for your future endeavours (including the BatBerry).

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Demian Borba

July 24, 2014

Tim, it was an honor working with you. I learned a lot and you inspired me to get better each day. Tried really hard to impress you my friend 🙂 Keep fighting and all the luck to you and your family. You are a great leader!

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Patrick Kosiol

July 24, 2014

Best of luck Tim!

I hope to see the BatBerry driving through the streets some day – powered by BlackBerry 10, of course. Looking forward to that!

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NegatronDev (Fabian Brown)

July 25, 2014

Thanks for all your assistance Tim. In some aspects you have been BlackBerry to me. All the way from South Africa, I want to wish you well. Good health and prosperity. I’ll still be following you and follow the progress on the batberry.

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QtHelex

July 26, 2014

Live long and prosper, dark knight…

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ThE pRoBlEmGuY

July 28, 2014

Hey Tim!

That’s one of the biggest shocks I got.
We’ve met once in Amsterdam and I felt always in good hands with you. I don’t know if I should cry or still go on as usual.
It was a very big pleasure for me to meet you and I only can wish you all the best from Norway. And who knows what future will bring. With Norwegian words: Tim! Takk for sist og lykke til videre. Vi ses igjen.

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Greg

July 28, 2014

Tim, thanks for your ever hard work at BlackBerry. Keep us posted on the Subaru too.
– Greg Wesson, @lombaki

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