When Mandy Ginsberg and Shar Dubey first stepped into their roles at Match Group – home to dating giants like Match.com, Tinder, OkCupid and Hinge — they had little experience in consumer tech. What they did have, however, was vision, grit, and an unexpected partnership that would shape the trajectory of online dating and the company itself.
In a recent episode of Learning from Leaders, Mandy and Shar peeled back the curtain on their journey. Here, they share how they got their start, what they learned on the way up, and why their partnership remains one of their proudest accomplishments.
A Twist of Fate
Mandy landed at Match after moving back to Dallas for family reasons and taking a leap on a job she wasn’t sure she was qualified for. “I was in over my head,” she admits. “I’d never run a tech team or a consumer product. I called Shar, hoping she’d know someone who could help.” To Mandy’s surprise, Shar volunteered herself.
That decision sparked a dynamic duo that would run businesses together for over a decade, eventually leading to Mandy becoming CEO in 2017 and Shar taking the reins in 2020.
“I think it made a difference that the two of us were doing it together.”
Shar Dubey
Building While Learning
Neither woman entered Match Group with a blueprint. “We had to figure everything out,” said Shar. “We didn’t have consumer tech backgrounds. But in less than two years, we grew a brand-new product, chemistry.com, to over $20 million in revenue.”
They were scrappy and resourceful, often personally running ads, sending emails, and brainstorming creative strategies like a bold national TV campaign that satirized Match’s competitor, eHarmony. “It was risky,” Mandy laughed. “But we believed in it, and it worked.”
Their success wasn’t just technical, it was personal. “We didn’t overthink our roles. We just trusted each other and leaned into our strengths,” Mandy said. Shar, the introverted engineer and Mandy, the extroverted marketer, created a culture of transparency, shared leadership, and empathy.
“We were very transparent, we had a nice rhythm, we really supported each other, and we supported the people around us. People really liked being part of the team.”
Mandy Ginsberg
Leading Through Change
By the time Mandy and Shar were CEOs, the dating industry had transformed. When they started, only 3% of marriages began online. By the time Shar stepped down in 2022, that number had skyrocketed to over 50%. Match Group had grown from a single brand into a global portfolio of dating apps, operating in over 190 countries.
Then came the pandemic.
Shar, newly appointed CEO in 2020, found herself running the company from her kitchen. “The business dropped 20% overnight,” she said. “People thought dating was dead.” But within four weeks, her team launched the in-app video calling that became a lifeline for users during lockdown.
That quick pivot not only stabilized the business, it reshaped the future of dating. “We realized women engaged more when there wasn’t pressure to meet in person,” Shar said. “We saw people start relationships across state lines. It changed everything.”
Leading by Example
As working moms leading a major tech company, they brought vulnerability and real life to work. Mandy was open about her preventive surgeries related to the BRCA gene. They both championed family-first values and equity in the workplace.
“We weren’t trying to send a message. We were just being ourselves,” Mandy said. “But people noticed. They stayed because they felt supported.”
Their influence extended to pay equity too. Under their leadership, Match Group conducted a comprehensive compensation audit to ensure fair pay—one of the first in the B2C tech space at the time.
Listen to the Podcast
Lessons in Leadership
Mandy and Shar don’t claim to have all the answers, but they’ve learned a lot along the way:
- Pick your boss wisely. “You work for a person, not a company,” Shar emphasized.
- Manage problems, not people. “If you focus on solving the right problems with the right team, people thrive,” she said.
- Hire people smarter than you. “It’s not a threat, it’s how you win,” Mandy added.
- Say what you want. “Don’t assume people know your goals. Ask for the raise. Say you want to lead,” Mandy encouraged.
Both women agree that women’s representation in leadership is growing, but challenges remain, particularly around work-life balance during the years when both career and family demands peak.
Still, they’re hopeful. “More women are entering medicine, law, and tech than ever before,” Mandy said. “We’re just getting started.”
Beyond the Boardroom
Today, Mandy sits on the board of Flo, a leading women’s health app, while Shar lends her expertise to both corporate and nonprofit boards focused on healthcare and mental wellness. Both women remain deeply involved in their communities, believing that real impact happens when you stay connected to people and purpose.
So what are they most proud of?
“My daughters,” said Mandy. Shar echoed: “My friendship and partnership with Mandy. And maybe a few million babies we helped bring into the world.”
Because when it comes to connecting people – with love, leadership, or legacy – these two have definitely left their mark.
