Glue Guys Fidji Simo: Meta, Instacart, & OpenAI journey [Glue Guys Classic]
11 snips
Jul 24, 2025 
Fidji Simo, CEO of Instacart and soon CEO of OpenAI Applications, transforms her journey from a fishing family in France to a tech leader. She passionately discusses how her humble beginnings shaped her leadership style and the importance of resilience in overcoming setbacks. Fidji shares insights on fostering human connection in tech, the significance of mentorship for women in the industry, and embracing vulnerability while navigating challenges. Her commitment to continuous learning and creating a supportive environment highlights a refreshing approach to leadership.
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Fishing Roots Shape Leadership
- Fidji Simo grew up in a small fishing town in southern France surrounded by fishermen family members.
- This upbringing taught her hard work, ambition, and the importance of leadership and loyalty to her crew.
Early Inspiration from TV Documentary
- Fidji was inspired to pursue business by watching a documentary about the top business school in France at age nine.
- She was motivated by the example of young adults doing important things and wanted to become independent.
Landing Internship Through Persistence
- Lacking family connections, Fidji landed an eBay internship by persistently refreshing the school's internship postings.
- This showed her readiness to outwork peers who relied more on networking.