Sudoku champ quits biotech for linkedin's puzzle push
LinkedIn is betting big on brain teasers – and they've hired a world champion to lead the charge. Forget scrolling through job postings; the professional networking platform is now offering a daily dose of logic puzzles, a move aimed at fostering connection and sparking water-cooler-esque conversations among its millions of users.
The unexpected career shift of thomas snyder
Enter Thomas Snyder, a three-time Sudoku world champion who has traded in his biotech career for a full-time role as LinkedIn’s “Principal Puzzle Master.” For over a decade, Snyder led research teams focused on genomics and disease detection, armed with a doctorate in chemistry from Harvard. But the allure of turning his passion into a profession proved too strong. He officially joined LinkedIn in October, after initially consulting with the company.
Snyder isn't just a casual puzzler; he's a prolific creator, having authored and edited dozens of ebooks like “The Art of Sudoku” and “The Art of Puzzles,” and sitting on the board of the World Puzzle Federation. He now crafts and edits all of LinkedIn’s puzzles—a staggering output estimated at over 10,000 puzzles throughout his career.
More than just a game: building connection through play
LinkedIn’s foray into gaming, launched in 2024, currently features seven puzzles, including “Queens,” “Zip,” and “Patches.” Daily challenges are released for each game, and players can compare their solving times on a leaderboard against their network connections. Laksh Somasundaram, LinkedIn’s Senior Product Manager, explains the strategy: “It’s a very intentional path we’ve taken. When we look at the best workplaces in the world and how connections and bonds are formed among colleagues, fun is always a central part.”
The trend of integrating games into social platforms is gaining momentum. The New York Times’ acquisition of “Wordle” in 2022 is a prime example of how a simple puzzle can attract millions of new users and generate significant engagement. As Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, points out, “The satisfaction of solving a puzzle, beating your friends with a higher score, validates that the time was well spent.”
What Snyder hopes to achieve is nothing short of making puzzles a daily brain exercise for LinkedIn users—a mental “coffee break” and a source of conversation starters. LinkedIn isn't attempting to become a gaming company, but rather leveraging games to foster connection and dialogue within its professional network.
Joshua Lee, a software engineer in New York, exemplifies the impact; he and his friends regularly share their puzzle results each Sunday, unlocking additional weekly challenges. Snyder’s journey, from a scientist researching disease to a puzzle architect building connections, reveals a surprising truth: sometimes, the most rewarding careers are found where passion and profession intersect.