Grit CEO Alteryx, Mark Anderson: Transformation Starts with Leadership
Mark Anderson, CEO at Alteryx, joins Joubin to talk about how he crafted his leadership ethos, which he often compares to a great game of golf. While Mark is currently at Alteryx, it is his foundation at Palo Alto Networks that serves as the bedrock for how he approaches his work.
In this episode, Mark reflects on his time at Palo Alto and offers insight that anyone would be wise to pay close attention to; close attention being an essential part of Mark’s ethos, as he says the “absence of a plan” is not part of his DNA. With this mindset, Mark breaks down the deep value of his meticulous planning and how it allows time for each important focus in his life, ranging from work, family, golf, or crucially as salient, when to leave some things by the wayside. Mark and Joubin also discuss their experiences during Palo Alto’s acquisition of Evident.io, how it has impacted Mark’s approach to the gritty specifics of acquisitions as a whole, and more.
In this episode, we cover:
- How Mark used his grit to put himself through college - and the parallel between sales and the game of golf. (3:22)
- Why “the absence of plan” is not part of Mark’s DNA - and why he is intentional about the time he puts into work, family, and friends. (7:15)
- Palo Alto Networks: factors Mark considered as he evaluated the company, a look at his recruitment experience, and his 3 non-negotiables for hiring. (12:55)
- Mark reflects on some of Palo Alto’s wins, including their major stock increase in 2014 and the acquisition of Evident.io. (20:46)
- More on Palo Alto: Mark talks about Palo Alto’s change management approach and some of the challenges of the acquisition process. (26:08)
- Mark provides an overview of Alteryx and talks about the joys of being on the Alteryx team - and shares why 2021 became “the year of transformation.” (31:55)
- Why good leaders should help their teams learn from failures. (42:28)
- Mark’s advice to the aspiring CEO and his takeaways from his journey thus far. (47:26)
Links:
- Connect with Mark
- Connect with Joubin
- Learn more about Kleiner Perkins