Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders Video Series
277 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★ - 16 ratingsEach week, experienced entrepreneurs and innovators come to Stanford University to candidly share lessons they’ve learned while developing, launching and scaling disruptive ideas. The Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders Series is produced by Stanford eCorner during fall, winter and spring quarters.
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Episodes
Jay Kaplan (Synack) - Crowdsourcing Cybersecurity
December 07, 2016 00:00 - 41 minutes - 2.36 MB VideoEntrepreneur Jay Kaplan, co-founder and CEO of Synack, describes how the idea of creating a cybersecurity service for enterprise businesses by crowdsourcing hackers went from sounding like a long shot to launching as a venture capital-backed startup. Kaplan, previously a senior analyst at the National Security Administration, talks about the virtues of government work and the nuances of “white hat” hacking.
Julie Zhuo (Facebook) - How a Facebook Designer Thinks
November 30, 2016 00:00 - 36 minutes - 2.11 MB VideoJulie Zhuo, vice president of product design at Facebook, describes how the development of new features starts with three questions: What people problem are we solving? How do we know it’s a real problem? And how will we know if we’ve solved it? Zhuo explains how answering those fundamental questions at the outset reveals the most urgent problems to tackle — and yields features that truly enhance user satisfaction.
Michael Ackermann (Allergan) - A Tearful Tale of Biodesign
November 16, 2016 00:00 - 54 minutes - 3.1 MB VideoMichael Ackermann, CEO of a med-tech startup that created a tear-stimulation device for those with dry-eye disease, explains how acquisition by a global pharmaceutical giant is helping him achieve his goal of reaching as many patients as possible. Ackermann, a graduate of the Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign, also discusses why big tech companies have yet to disrupt healthcare and how that translates into big opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Steve Blank (Stanford Engineering) - Entrepreneurship Strengthens a Nation
November 09, 2016 00:00 - 55 minutes - 3.18 MB VideoRetired serial entrepreneur Steve Blank, creator of the “Lean LaunchPad” methodology for startups, discusses Silicon Valley’s roots as the epicenter of electronic warfare in the mid-20th century and how the region’s innovation ecosystem formed. An adjunct professor in Stanford University’s Department of Management Science & Engineering, Blank also walks through the lean-startup movement and how its principles are now helping the U.S. government innovate faster in the areas of basic science, h...
Etosha Cave (Opus 12), Jonah Greenberger (Bright, Inc.), Cody Karutz (STRIVR Labs, Inc.), Elaine Cheung (GRAIL, Inc.) - Returning With Real-World Wisdom
November 02, 2016 00:00 - 57 minutes - 3.31 MB VideoFour alumni of entrepreneurship-education fellowships offered through the Stanford Technology Ventures Program (STVP) return to share what startup life in the fields of virtual reality, med-tech, renewable and solar energy have taught them. In conversation with STVP Faculty Co-Director Tina Seelig, the panel discusses strategic decision-making, defining success, facing failure, the importance of culture and the necessary traits to be a strong leader.
Jane Chen (Embrace Innovations) - Embrace the Entrepreneurial Journey
October 26, 2016 00:00 - 34 minutes - 1.99 MB VideoJane Marie Chen, co-founder and CEO of Embrace Innovations, describes how her social-enterprise startup’s infant warmer for premature and low-birth-weight babies came into the world. She discusses how optimism fuels the drive to overcome setbacks big and small, how Embrace has expanded into retail to support its humanitarian efforts, and explains why we should “choose to see the world through the lens of beauty.”
Bonny Simi (JetBlue Technology Ventures) - An Entrepreneurial Mindset — Applied to You
October 19, 2016 00:00 - 53 minutes - 3.04 MB VideoGo to a good college. Be in the Olympics. Work in TV and become a pilot. These were the goals of a 14-year-old girl who grew up in a town tucked into the mountains just east of Los Angeles. That girl went on to compete in three Olympics, become a sports commentator, an airplane pilot and three-time Stanford graduate. Here’s how Bonny Simi, now the president of JetBlue Technology Ventures, did it all.
Joseph DeSimone (Carbon3D, Inc.) - Convergence Drives New Ideas
October 12, 2016 00:00 - 57 minutes - 3.27 MB VideoDistinguished professor and serial entrepreneur Joseph DeSimone discusses the vibrant chemistry that takes place at the intersection of science and the humanities, academia and industry, and within the walls of his 3D manufacturing startup Carbon. He describes how on-demand parts manufacturing could one day eliminate the need for business inventory and even end up in hospitals.
Richard Miller (Olin College) - More Innovation Through Education
May 25, 2016 00:00 - 57 minutes - 3.26 MB VideoRichard Miller, president of Olin College, describes disruptive ideas about education and learning that universities should adopt to graduate more creative, entrepreneurial and impactful engineers. He explains how a focus on math and science alone won't result in more innovation, and that higher education must instill traits like grit and independent thinking.
William Perry (Stanford University) - Dedication to Innovation and Nation
May 18, 2016 00:00 - 59 minutes - 3.39 MB VideoFormer U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perry recalls major chapters from his illustrious career with entrepreneurship educator Steve Blank in a discussion that spans Silicon Valley's evolution, digital technology's emergence and its adoption by the military, to Perry's time in Washington and his deep expertise in world affairs.
Bobby Lee (BTCC) - Why Bitcoin Makes Sense
May 11, 2016 00:00 - 54 minutes - 3.09 MB VideoBobby Lee, the co-founder and CEO of leading Bitcoin financial platform BTCC, answers some of the most common questions about the cryptocurrency, explains how its value is set and why it is the perfect monetary system for the digital age. Lee also shares familiar lessons for entrepreneurs that he learned launching his first startup in China.
Al Ramadan and Dave Peterson (Play Bigger Advisors) - How to Be a Category King
May 04, 2016 00:00 - 56 minutes - 3.22 MB VideoAl Ramadan and Dave Peterson, co-founding partners of the category-design firm Play Bigger Advisors, share the science behind the strategies that innovators use to create and dominate product markets. They also discuss the marketing concepts for building a brand and identity, and for inspiring customers to see the world as you’ve framed it.
DJ Kleinbaum (Emerald Therapeutics) - Contrarian Truths Empowering Innovation
April 27, 2016 00:00 - 56 minutes - 3.24 MB VideoDJ Kleinbaum, co-founder of Emerald Therapeutics, shares how his company balances growth to drive biotechnology breakthroughs, while supporting a culture that honors fresh-eyes thinking and the sharing of contrarian truths. Kleinbaum also discusses defining what makes your company different, and why "Eroom’s Law" looms large for the future of drug development.
Astro Teller (X) - Celebrating Failure Fuels Moonshots
April 20, 2016 00:00 - 57 minutes - 3.28 MB VideoAstro Teller, director of Alphabet's moonshot factory, X, describes how smart bets on world-changing innovations are aided by a culture that celebrates only the most audacious projects and rewards teams for showing the courage to find the biggest flaws. He also discusses how innovation can be systematized regardless of business type, resources or role at your company.
Bernard Roth (Stanford University) - Reframing Problems and Getting Honest
April 13, 2016 00:00 - 52 minutes - 2.98 MB VideoBernard Roth, co-founder and academic director of Stanford University's d.school, shares design-thinking tools for reframing life's stubborn problems and unlocking solutions. Professor Roth, author of the book "The Achievement Habit," also engages audience members in exercises meant to cut through the excuses we tell ourselves that hold us back from accomplishing our goals.
Derek Belch (STRIVR Labs) - Immersed in Virtual Reality
April 06, 2016 00:00 - 57 minutes - 3.31 MB VideoDerek Belch, co-founder and CEO of STRIVR Labs, a startup that uses virtual reality to train athletes, describes the passion necessary for entrepreneurship and the features that give his business a competitive edge in a rising-tide industry. The former Stanford football player is candid about the personal sacrifices entailed in putting your all into your venture.
Minnie Ingersoll (Shift) - A Drive to Disrupt
March 02, 2016 00:00 - 50 minutes - 2.88 MB VideoEntrepreneur Minnie Ingersoll talks about how a computer-science degree, an MBA and 11 years at Google prepared her to co-found the online auto marketplace Shift. Calling her startup "a car company with Google DNA," Ingersoll offers insights on opportunity recognition, product management, career-life balance and the importance of traits like humility and patience.
Federica Marchionni (Lands' End) - Embracing the Non-Obvious
February 24, 2016 00:00 - 55 minutes - 3.16 MB VideoLands' End CEO Federica Marchionni shares lessons from her career as a leader at some of the most recognizable luxury-lifestyle brands in retail, including Dolce&Gabbana and Ferrari. She emphasizes the importance of excellence over perfection and adopting a "360 degree" mindset that will allow you to embrace change, be adaptable and identify opportunities for personal growth.
James Freeman (Blue Bottle Coffee) - Subtle Notes of Coffee and Philosophy
February 17, 2016 00:00 - 52 minutes - 3.03 MB VideoJames Freeman, the soft-spoken founder and CEO of Blue Bottle Coffee, shares his entrepreneurial journey from the farmers' market where he learned commerce in its purest form, to opening cafes across the country. Freeman explains how customer experience is part of a product and shares the inspiration he draws from philosophy, literature and other cultures.
Dharmesh Shah (HubSpot) - Why Company Culture is Crucial
February 10, 2016 00:00 - 53 minutes - 3.08 MB VideoDharmesh Shah, co-founder and CTO at the marketing and sales software firm HubSpot, distills his 128-slide presentation on company culture down to its essence, describing it as a business's "operating system" that lets people do their best work. Shah says entrepreneurs must create a company culture they love, because one will eventually emerge no matter what.
John Hennessy (Stanford University) - Great Leadership Can Be Learned
February 03, 2016 00:00 - 57 minutes - 3.31 MB VideoStanford University President John Hennessy discusses some of the most powerful lessons he's learned as leader of one of the world's most complex and dynamic institutions of higher education. In conversation with Tina Seelig, director at the Stanford Technology Ventures Program, Hennessy also shares insights from his entrepreneurial career in the high-tech industry.
Mike Maples Jr. (Floodgate) - Dare to Do Legendary Things
January 27, 2016 00:00 - 57 minutes - 3.28 MB VideoMike Maples Jr., co-founder of the venture capital firm Floodgate, explains what entrepreneurs can learn from the very few technology startups that achieve hyper-exceptional success and market disruption. The Silicon Valley veteran urges tomorrow's innovators to "only do things that have a chance to be legendary" – because it takes just as much work to do something mediocre.
Michael Moritz (Sequoia Capital), Lisa Sugar (Popsugar) - Follow Your Instincts and Find Your Path
January 20, 2016 00:00 - 48 minutes - 2.76 MB VideoSequoia Capital Chairman Michael Moritz and Lisa Sugar, founder and president of Popsugar, describe the investor-entrepreneur dynamic based on their personal experiences. In conversation with Stanford University lecturer Emily Ma, they discuss how success starts with staying to true to yourself, following your instincts and interests, and doing what makes you happy.
Michael Tubbs (City of Stockton) - Solving Social Ills Through Innovation
January 13, 2016 00:00 - 52 minutes - 3.01 MB VideoCivic leader Michael Tubbs shares his story of growing up in the California Central Valley, attending Stanford and going on to become one of the youngest elected officials in U.S. history. The Stockton City Councilman calls on entrepreneurs behind today's biggest tech innovations to also focus on solving society's biggest problems, like poverty, illiteracy and inequality.
Brit Morin (Brit + Co) - Inspiring Creativity with Great Content
November 18, 2015 00:00 - 56 minutes - 3.26 MB VideoBrit Morin, founder and CEO of Brit + Co, describes her path and motivation for launching a platform that aims to inspire women and girls to be creative through compelling content such as videos, online classes and do-it-yourself kits. Morin explains how creativity is sparked by rekindling that playful spirit from our youth and stems from the primal instinct to make things.
Rebecca Lynn (Canvas Venture Fund) - Creating Your Own Canvas
November 11, 2015 00:00 - 55 minutes - 3.2 MB VideoRebecca Lynn, partner and founder at Canvas Ventures, shares her unlikely journey from the humble farming town of her childhood to the hotbed of technology innovation, fueled by engineering talent, entrepreneurial drive and solid guidance from mentors. Lynn describes her strategy for investing and observations about the world of venture capital.
Scott Cook (Intuit) - Accounting for Intuit's Success
November 04, 2015 00:00 - 59 minutes - 3.42 MB VideoIntuit Co-Founder Scott Cook describes how the financial software company went from struggling startup to runaway market leader by staying focused on the customer and iterating and embracing surprises along the way. In a free-form talk guided by audience questions, Cook shares advice on leadership, perseverance and professional growth.
Lyndon Rive (Solar City) - The Science and Incentives Behind Solar
October 28, 2015 00:00 - 58 minutes - 3.34 MB VideoLyndon Rive, Co-Founder and CEO of SolarCity, and Tim Draper, founding parter of the venture capital firm DFJ, discuss the clean-energy company's mission to save the planet while exploring the many aspects of its business, from the science of solar power to the need for better government incentives and policies.
Jeff Seibert (Twitter) - Acquisitions: Lessons from All Sides
October 14, 2015 00:00 - 53 minutes - 3.06 MB VideoJeff Seibert, senior director of product at Twitter, describes what went well and what didn't during the acquisition of his earlier startups by big-name technology companies, stressing the importance of culture fit, maintaining your team's trust throughout, and continued investment in growth after being acquired. Seibert also explains how an acquisition isn't always the best exit strategy for a promising startup.
Steve Jurvetson (Draper Fisher Jurvetson), Astro Teller (X), Christina Smolke (Stanford University School of Medicine) - Forecasting the Future of Technology
October 07, 2015 00:00 - 48 minutes - 2.79 MB VideoA special panel of highly scientific minds discusses what the future holds for tech innovation, education and entrepreneurship. Panelists include Google's "captain of moonshots," Astro Teller, Stanford bioengineer Christina Smolke, an associate professor at the university's medical school, and DFJ General Partner Steve Jurvetson. Persis Drell, dean of the Stanford School of Engineering, moderates the discussion, with introductions by Stanford Professor Kathleen Eisenhardt.
Elon Musk (SpaceX) - Elon Musk's Vision for the Future
October 07, 2015 00:00 - 1 hour - 3.48 MB VideoThe iconic entrepreneur behind SpaceX, Tesla Motors and Paypal shares his predictions for artificial intelligence, renewable energy and space exploration, in conversation with DFJ General Partner Steve Jurvetson at Stanford on Oct. 7, 2015. University President John Hennessy introduces the future-focused discussion, which follows Musk's journey from his first Internet startup in the mid-nineties to his dream of a Mars colony in the next 20 years.
Stewart Butterfield (Slack) - Serendipity in Design and Entrepreneurship
September 30, 2015 00:00 - 50 minutes - 2.9 MB VideoStewart Butterfield, co-founder of Slack and Flickr, shares lessons from his entrepreneurial journey from philosophy student to creator of hugely popular platforms for sharing and communicating, and how they began as minor features embedded in online games that were otherwise flops. Butterfield speaks with Andrew Braccia of the venture capital firm Accel Partners.
Susan Koger (ModCloth) - Find Your Venture's Emotional Core
May 27, 2015 00:00 - 58 minutes - 3.33 MB VideoSusan Koger, co-founder and chief creative officer of the online retailer ModCloth, shares lessons that transcend the fashion industry. Reflecting on her startup's early years and challenges along the way, Koger explains how emotion not only connects customers to a brand, it connects a team to the work.
William Marshall (Planet Labs) - Entrepreneurship Takes Flight
May 20, 2015 00:00 - 59 minutes - 3.43 MB VideoFounder and CEO William Marshall takes us inside how Planet Labs seeks to benefit humanity by leveraging continuous imaging to understand the challenges facing the planet. Marshall discusses founding ventures with purpose, the opportunities possible from open access to data, and the novel technologies that bring their "dove" satellites to life in space.
Chinedu Echeruo (Constant Capital Partners) - Creativity Unleashes Value for the World
May 13, 2015 00:00 - 41 minutes - 2.37 MB VideoSerial entrepreneur and investor Chinedu Echeruo shares lessons from starting multiple companies, including HopStop, which was acquired by Apple in 2013. Echeruo discusses the beneficial attributes of founders, learning from his missteps, and why he sees creativity as a tool for unleashing value for the world.
Mike Rothenberg (Rothenberg Ventures) - Blue is Where You Should Be
May 06, 2015 00:00 - 54 minutes - 3.12 MB VideoMike Rothenberg, founder and CEO of Rothenberg Ventures, describes the entrepreneurial approach he took in starting his firm and how failures along the way were actually opportunities to reset. He also explains the business concept of red versus blue ocean, where the latter represents an uncharted market that entrepreneurs should swim toward at all costs.
Kathleen Eisenhardt (Stanford Technology Ventures Program) - Simple Rules for a Complex World
April 29, 2015 00:00 - 55 minutes - 3.18 MB VideoKathleen Eisenhardt, a professor of management science and engineering at Stanford, explains the advantages of developing simple rules for business and life, sharing examples from industries ranging from startups to sports and entertainment. Eisenhardt, who teaches in Stanford's School of Engineering, co-wrote the 2015 book "Simple Rules: How to Thrive in a Complex World."
Kyle Forster (Big Switch Networks) - Non-Linear Path to Leadership
April 22, 2015 00:00 - 50 minutes - 2.88 MB VideoKyle Forster, co-founder of Big Switch Networks, discusses pivotal moments from his career in Silicon Valley when expertise in early stage technologies propelled him into leadership roles. Forster also shares insights from several of his favorite books and the powerful lessons all aspiring entrepreneurs should heed.
Ron Gutman (HealthTap) - Impact Will Keep You Motivated
April 15, 2015 00:00 - 54 minutes - 3.14 MB VideoRon Gutman, founder and CEO of digital-health startup HealthTap, dares entrepreneurs to enjoy, not just endure, the journey by doing something that matters deeply to many people. A serial entrepreneur, inventor and big believer in the power of positivity, Gutman also describes how the heart of success is understanding human need at a granular level.
Sean George (Invitae) - Experience is Your Reward
April 08, 2015 00:00 - 53 minutes - 3.06 MB VideoSean George, president and chief operating officer of genetics-information company Invitae, explains how the rewards of entrepreneurship come from facing the major challenges along the way. In this insightful talk, the serial entrepreneur also underscores the necessity of a team's focus on mission to see a venture through adversity.
Laurene Powell Jobs (Emerson Collective) - Injecting Innovation into Intractable Systems
March 04, 2015 00:00 - 56 minutes - 3.23 MB VideoLaurene Powell Jobs, in conversation with Stanford Engineering Professor Tom Byers, shares her path to entrepreneurship and her strong commitment to addressing massive challenges in education and immigration reform through College Track and Emerson Collective, organizations she founded to spark systemic change and improve lives at the individual level.
Joshua Reeves (Gusto) - The Startup Journey: A Marathon, Not a Sprint
February 25, 2015 00:00 - 55 minutes - 3.16 MB VideoJoshua Reeves, co-founder and CEO of ZenPayroll, explains how building truly impactful products takes time, and how crucial it is to set aside time throughout one's journey for introspection. Reeves also discusses finding meaning by seeing the people in processes and modeling your future by identifying people you admire.
John Collison (Stripe) - Putting Startup Success in Perspective
February 18, 2015 00:00 - 57 minutes - 3.3 MB VideoJohn Collison, co-founder and president of the online payment system Stripe, explains how even the most celebrated startups repeatedly encountered uncertainty and failures along the way. In conversation with Stanford Professor of the Practice Tina Seelig, Collison shares his thoughts on how a venture's path can evolve after its early days, even as the vision holds constant.
Kathryn Gould (Foundation Capital) - Figure Out What's Important
February 11, 2015 00:00 - 50 minutes - 2.9 MB VideoKathryn Gould, one of the first women venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, shares what she's learned after many years of picking successful startups and forging her own career path. In conversation with tech-industry author and journalist Mike Malone, the co-founder of Foundation Capital tells entrepreneurs to identify a true target customer and market opportunity, and be prepared to give 100 percent.
Alon Cohen (Houzz) - Making Complicated Things Simple
February 04, 2015 00:00 - 52 minutes - 3.02 MB VideoAlon Cohen, co-founder and president of Houzz, a leading platform for home remodeling and design, shares insights on being an immigrant entrepreneur in Silicon Valley, and how the drive to work hard and persevere are more essential than mere talent. Cohen explains that success rests on building products that are both useful and simplify complicated tasks.
Jeanne Gang (Studio Gang Architects) - Growing a Creative Company
January 28, 2015 00:00 - 57 minutes - 3.28 MB VideoVisionary architect and MacArthur Fellow Jeanne Gang discusses how the process of co-creation with clients and diverse teams leads to uniquely designed works that achieve aesthetic beauty and, at the same time, make bold statements. Founder and principal of Studio Gang Architects, Gang describes growing her firm without diluting creativity or camaraderie.
Shah Selbe (National Geographic Society) - Find Your Niche, Help the World
January 21, 2015 00:00 - 57 minutes - 3.32 MB VideoNational Geographic Explorer Shah Selbe describes how much Earth needs technologists with an entrepreneurial spirit to address global challenges and conserve the planet's resources. A spacecraft-propulsion engineer by training, Selbe shares profound experiences from expeditions in the wild and calls on the next wave of innovators to find their passion and realize that opportunities exist everywhere.
Jennifer Pahlka (Code for America) - Make Government Work Better for All
January 14, 2015 00:00 - 56 minutes - 3.21 MB VideoJennifer Pahlka, founder and executive director of Code for America, explains how governments, from the federal level to the local, need individuals with the skills to harness technology and design principles to make the everyday user's experience simpler and more elegant. Formerly the U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer at the White House, Pahlka also discusses the hunger within government for "creative hacks" that improve their platforms.
Ben Horowitz (Andreessen Horowitz) - Nailing the Hard Things
November 19, 2014 00:00 - 52 minutes - 3.03 MB VideoEntrepreneur and venture capitalist Ben Horowitz shares which entrepreneurial skills truly matter, and why learning to manage well may be the most critical skill of all. Horowitz, a founding partner of Andreessen Horowitz, discusses the value of learning inside a large company, some of the exciting technology frontiers ahead, and the purpose and philosophy of his firm, in conversation with Stanford Engineering Professor Tom Byers.
Tina Wells (Buzz Marketing Group) - Consumers and Brands in the Digital Age
November 12, 2014 00:00 - 55 minutes - 3.18 MB VideoTina Wells, founder and CEO of Buzz Marketing Group, answers questions on trend-spotting, ethics in marketing and new approaches to audience engagement. Wells also tells the story of her journey from school-age entrepreneur to leading a firm that helps companies create ways for consumers to express their true experiences with brands.