Big Technology Podcast Doing Business With Zuckerberg and Bezos — With Donald Graham
Feb 23, 2022
Don Graham, the former owner of The Washington Post, shares fascinating insights from his experiences with tech titans Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos. He recounts a memorable early meeting with Zuckerberg and how he proposed an investment that was turned down. Graham’s reflections on selling The Washington Post to Bezos reveal the latter's profound love for reading and its influence on innovations like the Kindle. They also dive into what defines true success beyond just wealth, exploring the societal contributions of various professions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Meeting Zuckerberg
- Don Graham met Mark Zuckerberg, then 20, through an introduction by his employee's daughter, Olivia Ma.
- Zuckerberg explained Facebook's concept, emphasizing the high student engagement at Harvard.
Facebook's Appeal
- Facebook's early success stemmed from its unique communication style, reminiscent of Harvard's comment books.
- It fostered open dialogue and feedback, exceeding any corporate communication system.
Investment and Moral Dilemma
- Graham offered Zuckerberg an investment, which was initially accepted, but Sean Parker, Facebook's president, was wary of VCs.
- Ultimately, Zuckerberg took a higher offer from Jim Breyer at Excel, citing a 'moral dilemma' due to the initial agreement.
