Masters of Scale
725 episodes - English - Latest episode: 16 days ago - ★★★★★ - 3.7K ratingsAward-winning business advice from Silicon Valley and beyond. Iconic CEOs, from Nike to Netflix, Starbucks to Slack, share the strategies that helped them grow from startups into global brands — and to weather crisis when it strikes.
On each episode of our classic format, founding host Reid Hoffman — LinkedIn cofounder, Greylock partner and legendary Silicon Valley investor — and a stellar lineup of guest hosts prove unconventional theories about how businesses scale. Guests share their stories of entrepreneurship, leadership, strategy, management, fundraising. You’ll hear the human journey, too — failures, setbacks, learnings.
From our Rapid Response format, you can expect real-time wisdom from business leaders in fast-changing situations. Hosted by Bob Safian, past editor-in-chief of Fast Company, these episodes tackle crisis response, rebuilding, diversity & inclusion, leadership change and much more.
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Episodes
109. Daymond John, Part 2: How to partner like a shark
March 22, 2022 09:00 - 30 minutes - 27.6 MBGood partnerships transcend the transactional. In Part 2 of our two-part series featuring Daymond John, founder of FUBU and one of the original “sharks” on ABC’s Shark Tank, Daymond shows how aligning your mission with partners builds trust that can take your scale to a new level. Featuring stories about Shark Tank, the Kardashians, Coogi, Pharrell Williams, Trainual and more, Daymond delivers lessons on unexpected and unconventional partnerships that continue to fuel his personal b...
Rapid Response: Transforming an idea into a movement overnight, w/Black Women For Black Lives co-founder Tokunbo Koiki
March 19, 2022 09:00 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBWatching the news out of Ukraine, Tokunbo Koiki saw alarming reports of African and Caribbean students struggling because of racism to flee the country. The news both outraged and inspired her to take action — fast. Tokunbo, an entrepreneur and social worker, shares the real-time story of how she linked up with two strangers, Patricia Daley and Korrine Sky, to build a full-fledged aid organization for Black refugees, in a single weekend. Using only the tools and networks at their di...
Rapid Response: The logistical challenge of supporting refugees, w/Susy Schöneberg, head of Flexport.org
March 17, 2022 09:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MB“My big call to action would be to support existing organizations,” says Susy Schöneberg, the founder and head of Flexport.org, the nonprofit arm of the logistics firm Flexport. Schöneberg and her team are organizing complex shipments of relief goods to Ukrainian refugee sites across Eastern Europe; she breaks down how her organization has been safely managing the flow of goods toward displaced refugees and the best way you can get involved — as a citizen or company. She leaves us w...
Rapid Response: The logistical challenge of supporting refugees, w/Susy Schoneberg, head of Flexport.org
March 17, 2022 09:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MB“My big call to action would be to support existing organizations,” says Susy Schoneberg, the founder and head of Flexport.org, the nonprofit arm of the logistics firm Flexport. Schoneberg and her team are organizing complex shipments of relief goods to Ukrainian refugee sites across Eastern Europe; she breaks down how her organization has been safely managing the flow of goods toward displaced refugees and the best way you can get involved — as a citizen or company. She leaves us w...
Daymond John, Part 1: How to partner like a shark
March 15, 2022 09:00 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MBHow do you create authentic partnerships to build scale? In Part 1 of our two-part series featuring Daymond John, founder of FUBU and one of the original “sharks” on ABC’s Shark Tank, Daymond shares lessons from FUBU’s earliest days in Queens, where he partnered with bouncers, bodegas, his neighbor LL Cool J, and his earliest collaborator and investor (his mom) to turn a great idea into a billion-dollar urban wear brand. Coming in Part 2: Transcending the transactional with Shark Ta...
108. Daymond John, Part 1: How to partner like a shark
March 15, 2022 09:00 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MBHow do you create authentic partnerships to build scale? In Part 1 of our two-part series featuring Daymond John, founder of FUBU and one of the original “sharks” on ABC’s Shark Tank, Daymond shares lessons from FUBU’s earliest days in Queens, where he partnered with bouncers, bodegas, his neighbor LL Cool J, and his earliest collaborator and investor (his mom) to turn a great idea into a billion-dollar urban wear brand. Coming in Part 2: Transcending the transactional with Shark Ta...
104. Daymond John, Part 1: How to partner like a shark
March 15, 2022 09:00 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MBHow do you create authentic partnerships to build scale? In Part 1 of our two-part series featuring Daymond John, founder of FUBU and one of the original “sharks” on ABC’s Shark Tank, Daymond shares lessons from FUBU’s earliest days in Queens, where he partnered with bouncers, bodegas, his neighbor LL Cool J, and his earliest collaborator and investor (his mom) to turn a great idea into a billion-dollar urban wear brand. Coming in Part 2: Transcending the transactional with Shark Ta...
Rapid Response: “We have an all-out cyber war right now,” w/Bipul Sinha, Rubrik CEO
March 14, 2022 09:00 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MB“We have to assume that cyberattacks will happen,” says Bipul Sinha, CEO of the cybersecurity firm Rubrik. He joins Rapid Response to discuss the dramatic escalation of cyberthreats in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Bipul explains how state-sponsored actors and cybercriminals are both heightened threats, and how traditional cybersecurity approaches are adjusting to counter them. He also shares what we can do to protect ourselves — from basic cyber hygiene to recovery stra...
Rapid Response: How global markets are reacting to Russia's war on Ukraine, w/Sara Menker, CEO of Gro Intelligence
March 12, 2022 10:00 - 21 minutes - 19.6 MBRussia’s invasion of Ukraine presents a new level of disruption to an already fragile global trade system. Sara Menker, the CEO of Gro Intelligence, a data research firm with deep insights on global supply and demand, joins Rapid Response for the second time to discuss these disruptions. While her biggest focus is agriculture, Sara’s insights provide a window into how things are shifting across all parts of the economy. She also discusses what we need to understand about Russia’s tr...
Rapid Response: On the ground in Ukraine, w/Mercy Corps’ Tjada D'Oyen McKenna
March 10, 2022 10:00 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MBTjada D'Oyen McKenna, the CEO of Mercy Corps, an NGO on the front lines of the Ukrainian crisis, provides an inside look on how they’re helping address the needs of refugees. Mercy Corps began scenario planning well in advance of Russia’s aggression, and they’re now deploying food, cash, and social services to those in need. She also cautions about potential negative impacts elsewhere, as troubles in Ukraine pull resources from other struggling populations. Read a transcript of thi...
Rapid Response: On the ground in Ukraine w/Mercy Corps’ Tjada D'Oyen McKenna
March 10, 2022 10:00 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MBTjada D'Oyen McKenna, the CEO of Mercy Corps, an NGO on the front lines of the Ukrainian crisis, provides an inside look on how they’re helping address the needs of refugees. Mercy Corps began scenario planning well in advance of Russia’s aggression, and they’re now deploying food, cash, and social services to those in need. She also cautions about potential negative impacts elsewhere, as troubles in Ukraine pull resources from other struggling populations. Learn more about Mercy C...
103. Stacey Abrams: How to harness risk
March 08, 2022 10:00 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MBFor some entrepreneurs, risk is just part of the game. But for the reluctant entrepreneur, whose endeavors come as a response to a need they've identified, risk can feel more like a necessary evil. That’s why you need to learn to harness risk. Stacey Abrams, an entrepreneur and scale leader both in and outside of politics, is a perfect example of how harnessing risk can be key to your success. Outside of politics, she’s started three companies with her business partner, Lara Hodgson...
107. Stacey Abrams: How to harness risk
March 08, 2022 10:00 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MBFor some entrepreneurs, risk is just part of the game. But for the reluctant entrepreneur, whose endeavors come as a response to a need they've identified, risk can feel more like a necessary evil. That’s why you need to learn to harness risk. Stacey Abrams, an entrepreneur and scale leader both in and outside of politics, is a perfect example of how harnessing risk can be key to your success. Outside of politics, she’s started three companies with her business partner, Lara Hodgson...
Rapid Response: Make mistakes to make progress, w/GM's Gerald Johnson
March 03, 2022 10:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBGeneral Motors’ Gerald Johnson shares the process and progress of trying to accomplish two daunting goals: an all-electric vehicle future, and to become the world’s most inclusive company. One thing that Johnson, the Executive Vice President of manufacturing and sustainability, has learned: “If you're not making mistakes, you're not making progress.” He adds that progress requires us to embrace being uncomfortable — and to learn from it. Johnson, who is a pastor as well, also discus...
Need to Know, w/Reid & Bob: Ukraine reverberations, inflation volatility, lessons from Peloton, Theranos, Meta, & more
March 01, 2022 10:00 - 50 minutes - 45.9 MB“We should expect more volatility,” Reid Hoffman tells Rapid Response host Bob Safian in the first Need to Know session of the year, covering news and business topics impacting entrepreneurs right now. Reid and Bob discuss the implications of the Ukraine invasion, then dive into the pandemic-fueled troubles at Peloton, PayPal, and Meta, new climate-change urgencies — including Reid’s recent trip to Antarctica, and how Activision will be different after merging with Microsoft. Plus: ...
Need to know, w/Reid & Bob: Ukraine reverberations, inflation volatility, lessons from Peloton, Theranos, Meta, & more
March 01, 2022 10:00 - 50 minutes - 45.9 MB“We should expect more volatility,” Reid Hoffman tells Rapid Response host Bob Safian in the first Need to Know session of the year, covering news and business topics impacting entrepreneurs right now. Reid and Bob discuss the implications of the Ukraine invasion, then dive into the pandemic-fueled troubles at Peloton, PayPal, and Meta, new climate-change urgencies — including Reid’s recent trip to Antarctica, and how Activision will be different after merging with Microsoft. Plus: ...
Rapid Response: Invest in first principles, w/Sarah Levy, Betterment CEO
February 24, 2022 10:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBIt may appear off-brand for Betterment, a digital investment adviser, to acquire a cryptocurrency investing platform. But CEO Sarah Levy explains that Betterment, positioned around its long-term diversification philosophy, has approached this volatile space with their tried-and-true principles top of mind. “Once we believe that an asset class is here to stay,” she says, “the question is: how do we responsibly incorporate that alongside a traditional investment strategy?” Levy, who b...
Announcing the Masters of Scale Summit
February 23, 2022 14:00 - 12 minutes - 11.4 MBGo to summit.mastersofscale.com to learn how to join a pantheon of scale leaders gathering in San Francisco Oct. 18-20, 2022 at the Masters of Scale Summit. The early confirmed stage program includes the likes of Bill Gates, Tyra Banks, Satya Nadella, Arianna Huffington, Ted Sarandos, Mellody Hobson, and more. The event is uniquely designed for both executives in the room and their teams back home — offering a beautifully filmed, hosted livestream that will empower your team to brin...
Rapid Response: "Be confident enough to show your vulnerability," w/Ken Frazier (Merck/General Catalyst)
February 17, 2022 10:00 - 33 minutes - 31 MBKen Frazier, the longtime CEO of pharmaceutical giant Merck, was one of the few Black CEOs at the top of Corporate America. Now as an adviser at General Catalyst and co-founder of the social impact organization OneTen, he’s re-shaping how business addresses racial and health equity. He joins host Bob Safian to discuss crisis adjustment, the positive side of fear, and the importance of vulnerability. Plus, he addresses the rising divisiveness in American culture, and the important ro...
Strategy Session: How to make the most of tough pivots? What are the right growth targets? How do you best prepare for entrepreneurship?
February 15, 2022 10:00 - 23 minutes - 21.4 MBIn this special edition of Strategy Session, Reid Hoffman answers five burning questions from our Masters of Scale Members. Each asks Reid a critical question about the business challenges that they’re facing right now – from how to best prepare yourself for entrepreneurship to growth metrics and name changes. Featuring Members Antoni Gruca (HEC-42 Launchpad), Krystal Lucado, Tudor Mihailescu (SpeechifAI, Inc.), Hoda Mehr (Stock Card), and Shamini Dhana (D/Sphere). Do you want to s...
Rapid Response: Scaling when you’re already at scale, w/Qualcomm's Cristiano Amon
February 10, 2022 10:00 - 27 minutes - 25 MBAs the global chip shortage unfolded last year, Qualcomm’s engineers quickly redesigned their products – an effort that tapped into “every possible capacity we could find,” says CEO Cristiano Amon. Their story is a great lesson in how an established company can and must move with the speed of a startup. One key to moving at speed, says Amon: aligning the entire organization around a single strategy. But along with an all-hands effort, he insists, must also come time to rest. “Everyt...
Rapid Response: Tapping a new generation of consumers, w/The Drone Racing League's Rachel Jacobson
February 03, 2022 10:00 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBWith their eyes fixed on what’s next, the Drone Racing League has established a fresh fanbase, previously left untapped by professional sports. President Rachel Jacobson, formerly an NBA executive, refers to this audience as “techsetters” – young, enthusiastic, tech-driven fans who are “invested in what the future looks like.” It’s a new demographic that could have only emerged from the league’s unique positioning that intersects sports, entertainment, and technology. As Rachel says...
106. Don’t predict the future. Create it, w/Net-a-Porter's Natalie Massenet
February 01, 2022 10:00 - 37 minutes - 34.8 MBYou’ve had a glimpse into the future, and you’re sitting on an idea that could change the world. Now what? Well, prepare for layers of resistance, and be ready to spring into action. Throughout her career, Natalie Massenet has proved her ability to spot – and act on – a trend, first as a fashion journalist and then as founder of the luxury e-commerce site Net-a-Porter, which pioneered online shopping for high fashion. Now, she’s at the helm of the new fund Imaginary Ventures, with $...
102. Don’t predict the future. Create it, w/Net-a-Porter's Natalie Massenet
February 01, 2022 10:00 - 37 minutes - 34.8 MBYou’ve had a glimpse into the future, and you’re sitting on an idea that could change the world. Now what? Well, prepare for layers of resistance, and be ready to spring into action. Throughout her career, Natalie Massenet has proved her ability to spot – and act on – a trend, first as a fashion journalist and then as founder of the luxury e-commerce site Net-a-Porter, which pioneered online shopping for high fashion. Now, she’s at the helm of the new fund Imaginary Ventures, with $...
Rapid Response: Be relentless – so your team can be fearless, w/Planned Parenthood’s Alexis McGill Johnson
January 27, 2022 10:00 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBFaced with long odds, how do you keep your team motivated and moving forward? As a leader, Alexis McGill Johnson is focused on building hope. As the president of Planned Parenthood, Johnson is preparing for the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. But in the meantime, she’s modeling a sense of relentlessness for her team – so they can be fearless and unapologetic. Since she took over at Planned Parenthood, she’s faced both internal and external challenges. Something she learn...
66. The 4 core principles of crisis management, w/Ellen Kullman (DuPont, Carbon)
January 25, 2022 10:00 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBTo survive a crisis, you have to double down on who you already are as a company. This is something Ellen Kullman knows, having led DuPont through the 2008-2009 financial crisis, and taken the CEO role at 3D-printing unicorn Carbon only weeks before Covid hit. Through her years as a leader, Ellen has developed four crisis principles that allowed her to lead teams and thrive through pandemic, economic meltdown, and beyond. The key? Practicing the principles in calmer times, before cr...
Rapid Response: Lessons of Omicron, w/Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of Wellcome Trust
January 20, 2022 10:00 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBSir Jeremy Farrar is UK’s pre-eminent scientific authority on Covid-19 and the chief executive at the research foundation Wellcome Trust. He joins Rapid Response to discuss the latest learnings of the Omicron variant – and offers a framework for reacting to the uncertainty. Farrar, whose research specializes in infectious diseases, also shares the two most important leadership lessons he’s learned during the pandemic: find time for yourself, and take warnings seriously. “Humanity of...
105. Always be recruiting, w/Paul English, co-founder of Kayak
January 18, 2022 10:00 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MBThe more your business scales, the more tempting it is to delegate your company’s recruiting efforts. Resist that urge! You should always be recruiting. Featuring Paul English, co-founder of travel search platform Kayak, this episode guides us through five critical lessons for the hiring journey. English is passionate and relentless about the subject of recruiting – and the scale of the stakes: “The first 10 people you hire set the tone for the next thousand people you hire." Read ...
Always be recruiting, w/Paul English, co-founder of Kayak
January 18, 2022 10:00 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MBThe more your business scales, the more tempting it is to delegate your company’s recruiting efforts. Resist that urge! You should always be recruiting. Featuring Paul English, co-founder of travel search platform Kayak, this episode guides us through five critical lessons for the hiring journey. English is passionate and relentless about the subject of recruiting – and the scale of the stakes: “The first 10 people you hire set the tone for the next thousand people you hire." Read ...
101. Always be recruiting, w/Paul English, co-founder of Kayak
January 18, 2022 10:00 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MBThe more your business scales, the more tempting it is to delegate your company’s recruiting efforts. Resist that urge! You should always be recruiting. Featuring Paul English, co-founder of travel search platform Kayak, this episode guides us through five critical lessons for the hiring journey. English is passionate and relentless about the subject of recruiting – and the scale of the stakes: “The first 10 people you hire set the tone for the next thousand people you hire." Read ...
Always be recruiting, w/Paul English, co-founder of KAYAK
January 18, 2022 10:00 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MBThe more your business scales, the more tempting it is to delegate your company’s recruiting efforts. Resist that urge! You should always be recruiting. Featuring Paul English, co-founder of travel search platform KAYAK, this episode guides us through five critical lessons for the hiring journey. English is passionate and relentless about the subject of recruiting – and the scale of the stakes: “The first 10 people you hire set the tone for the next thousand people you hire." Read ...
100. Lessons that matter most: What we’ve learned from 100 episodes of Masters of Scale
January 15, 2022 05:00 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MBWhat’s harder about entrepreneurship than most people realize? How do you overcome your own doubts? Can you really trust your team? In this special episode, Reid Hoffman and Masters of Scale executive producer June Cohen gather five of their favorite guests – Brian Chesky, Tyra Banks, Angela Ahrendts, Sallie Krawcheck, and Franklin Leonard — for a raw, honest, open dialogue filled with nonstop insights on those questions and many more. Sharing personal confessions and in-the-trenche...
99. Leap before you look, w/Marc Lore (Jet.com)
January 11, 2022 10:00 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MBMarc Lore is all too familiar with leaping into the unknown. He’s made leaps of faith as the founder of Diapers.com, Jet.com, the CEO of Walmart U.S. e-commerce, and now, as a part owner of NBA/WNBA teams, along with Telosa, a city that he’s announced he’s building from scratch. One thing he’s learned from all of these audacious endeavors: you can’t leap alone. You need to convince your team, and more importantly, your customers to leap with you. As you’ll hear in this episode, Lore...
104. Leap before you look, w/Marc Lore (Jet.com)
January 11, 2022 10:00 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MBMarc Lore is all too familiar with leaping into the unknown. He’s made leaps of faith as the founder of Diapers.com, Jet.com, the CEO of Walmart U.S. e-commerce, and now, as a part owner of NBA/WNBA teams, along with Telosa, a city that he’s announced he’s building from scratch. One thing he’s learned from all of these audacious endeavors: you can’t leap alone. You need to convince your team, and more importantly, your customers to leap with you. As you’ll hear in this episode, Lore...
Marc Andreessen: The 6 secrets of great timing
January 04, 2022 14:37 - 37 minutes - 34.2 MBAs an early internet founder and iconic venture capitalist, Marc Andreessen has thought deeply about the role timing plays in a startup's success. Timing is of vital importance to any business: when to launch that first product; when to ramp up scale; when to make the move into a new market; when to pivot. Getting the timing wrong on any of these can have a catastrophic effect on your business. Getting it right will give you a key opportunity to get to scale ahead of your competitor...
83. President Barack Obama: When the moment chooses you, part 1
December 21, 2021 10:00 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBPolitics and entrepreneurship have much in common: Both versions of scale leadership require strategic patience, hard work, a clear vision of a better future, an unshakable belief that you can bring that future to life – and the ideal opportunity to make it all come together. President Barack Obama sits down with Reid Hoffman in Part 1 of our two-part episode on finding the right moment to act, and when the moment chooses you. Obama talks about how being in the right place, at the r...
87. President Barack Obama: When the moment chooses you, part 1
December 21, 2021 10:00 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBPolitics and entrepreneurship have much in common: Both versions of scale leadership require strategic patience, hard work, a clear vision of a better future, an unshakable belief that you can bring that future to life – and the ideal opportunity to make it all come together. President Barack Obama sits down with Reid Hoffman in Part 1 of our two-part episode on finding the right moment to act, and when the moment chooses you. Obama talks about how being in the right place, at the r...
Rapid Response: How flexibility creates momentum, w/Crate & Barrel CEO Janet Hayes
December 16, 2021 10:00 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MBCrate & Barrel CEO Janet Hayes has been on a mission to modernize the home decor company since she took over as CEO in August, 2020. When she first joined the company, stores were closed and the future of retail was uncertain as Covid-19 put in-person experiences to a screeching halt. She’s responded by leaning into digital and sustainability for her brands, and flexibility for her employees. “As soon as I said, ‘It's a flexible workplace, and I'm going to value talent, collaboratio...
Strategy Session LIVE!: How to protect yourself from copycat businesses? When should you seek funding? How to entice funders to invest in a niche business?
December 14, 2021 10:00 - 47 minutes - 43.6 MBThis special rendition of Strategy Session stars small business owners who Masters of Scale fans might recognize. That’s because a number of them have been featured in our signature three-act ads. You’ll hear them ask host Reid Hoffman critical questions for challenges they’re facing now. This Strategy Session was live, recorded remotely in-front of a virtual audience full of entrepreneurs. Plus: You’ll hear the premiere of our strategic game show called the Pivot Point. Featuring R...
104. Strategy Session LIVE!: How to protect yourself from copycat businesses? When should you seek funding? How to entice funders to invest in a niche business?
December 14, 2021 10:00 - 47 minutes - 43.6 MBThis special rendition of Strategy Session stars small business owners who Masters of Scale fans might recognize. That’s because a number of them have been featured in our signature three-act ads. You’ll hear them ask host Reid Hoffman critical questions for challenges they’re facing now. This Strategy Session was live, recorded remotely in-front of a virtual audience full of entrepreneurs. Plus: You’ll hear the premiere of our strategic game show called the Pivot Point. Featuring R...
Rapid Response: How GoFundMe has facilitated $15 billion in giving, w/CEO Tim Cadogan
December 09, 2021 10:00 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBFrom the start of the pandemic, GoFundMe has served as a consistent global outlet for help. Since its inception, the for-profit crowdsourcing platform has facilitated $15 billion in giving through more than 200 million donations. It’s also attracted big names to the platform, including Taylor Swift, the Dalai Lama, and will.i.am. The key to the company’s success? According to CEO Tim Cadogan: "You need great people who are really ambitious in service of the mission.” Cadogan argues ...
98. How redefining boundaries drives performance, w/former Unilever CEO Paul Polman
December 07, 2021 10:00 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBWhen Paul Polman joined Unilever as CEO in 2009, the consumer goods company – home to 400-plus brands including Dove soap, Ben & Jerry’s, and Vaseline – had been stagnated with years of lackluster performance. His famous turnaround of the company centered around his ability to redraw the boundaries of Unilever’s mission to emphasize sustainability and long-term growth. He’s a perfect example of why every leader should consistently reexamine the boundaries that limit their business –...
103. How redefining boundaries drives performance, w/former Unilever CEO Paul Polman
December 07, 2021 10:00 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBWhen Paul Polman joined Unilever as CEO in 2009, the consumer goods company – home to 400-plus brands including Dove soap, Ben & Jerry’s, and Vaseline – had been stagnated with years of lackluster performance. His famous turnaround of the company centered around his ability to redraw the boundaries of Unilever’s mission to emphasize sustainability and long-term growth. He’s a perfect example of why every leader should consistently reexamine the boundaries that limit their business –...
Rapid Response: Re-founding Instacart, w/first-time CEO Fidji Simo
December 02, 2021 10:00 - 31 minutes - 29 MBThis past summer, Fidji Simo departed from Facebook – where she stood among the highest-ranking female executives, serving as the head of their app – for the opportunity to become a first-time CEO at Instacart. She replaced founder Apoorva Mehta, who appeared on this show last spring to talk about Instacart’s incredible COVID-fueled growth. Since then, Fidji has emphasized an evolved company mission, diversifying the company’s leadership and focusing on providing the necessary techn...
39. The case for bootstrapping, w/Mailchimp's Ben Chestnut
November 30, 2021 10:00 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBThis week, we’re returning to an episode of Masters of Scale featuring Ben Chestnut, the co-founder and CEO of Mailchimp. The email marketing platform was acquired this year by Intuit in a multi-billion-dollar deal that closed this month. Hear how Chestnut used a DIY ethos to grow the company without ever raising a dollar of outside funding. The Mailchimp story is the exception to Reid's rule (always raise more money than you think you need!). The episode explores a range of options...
Three tools for happy, healthy gatherings, by Meditative Story
November 24, 2021 10:00 - 13 minutes - 11.9 MBMany of us attempt to shift gears during the holidays, spend quality time with people we love, and refresh. But too often, we end up glued to our devices – catching up on work, avoiding complex people, or simply addicted to that screen. In an episode from our sister podcast, Meditative Story, host Rohan Gunatillake shares three calming techniques to help you navigate tricky family dynamics, the challenges of disconnecting from work, and the loneliness that can arise at even the mo...
Need to Know, w/Reid & Bob: Metaverse mania, the great resignation, Facebook quandaries, and more
November 22, 2021 10:00 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBReid Hoffman and Rapid Response host Bob Safian break down what you need to know right now about the most important issues and opportunities impacting entrepreneurs. The co-hosts dive into inflation reactions, Facebook quandaries, metaverse mania, AI & crypto trends, and lessons from the Great Resignation. Plus: why LinkedIn pulled back in China, and what pundits are missing in the big tech backlash. "We should be playing into the future with ambition, with heart, with soul, with sp...
Need to know, w/Reid & Bob: Metaverse mania, the great resignation, Facebook quandaries, and more
November 22, 2021 10:00 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBReid Hoffman and Rapid Response host Bob Safian break down what you need to know right now about the most important issues and opportunities impacting entrepreneurs. The co-hosts dive into inflation reactions, Facebook quandaries, metaverse mania, AI & crypto trends, and lessons from the Great Resignation. Plus: why LinkedIn pulled back in China, and what pundits are missing in the big tech backlash. "We should be playing into the future with ambition, with heart, with soul, with sp...
Need to know, w/ Reid & Bob: Metaverse mania, the great resignation, Facebook quandaries, and more
November 22, 2021 10:00 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBReid Hoffman and Rapid Response host Bob Safian break down what you need to know right now about the most important issues and opportunities impacting entrepreneurs. The co-hosts dive into inflation reactions, Facebook quandaries, metaverse mania, AI & crypto trends, and lessons from the Great Resignation. Plus: why LinkedIn pulled back in China, and what pundits are missing in the big tech backlash. "We should be playing into the future with ambition, with heart, with soul, with sp...
Rapid Response: How to turn intentions into action, w/Aurora James, founder of the 15 Percent Pledge
November 18, 2021 10:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBIn May 2020, as companies began making promises about how they’d help Black-owned businesses in the wake of George Floyd’s killing, Aurora James launched the 15 Percent Pledge initiative with an Instagram post. Tagging major retailers, she declared that 15% of retail shelf space should belong to Black-owned businesses. And she's helped these companies turn promise into action, unlocking $10 billion in revenue for Black-owned businesses. It's a relatable story for any small business ...