316: Legendary Investor Ben Horowitz Talks Moving Culture, Enforcing Values, And His Favorite Rap Album

Ben Horowitz is one of the most widely recognized names in the world of entrepreneurship. Not only is he the co-founder of the famous venture capital fund, Andreessen Horowitz, but he's also a respected author and thinker with some of the most innovative ideas when it comes to the way companies are run.

In our conversation with Horowitz, we dive deep into the topic of culture—how to create it, move it, and adhere to it. Horowitz also gives us a glimpse into his book, What You Do Is Who You Are, and shares fascinating stories and case studies from it (such as his learnings from prison gang leader, Shaka Senghor).

This isn't a podcast episode you want to miss! Whether you're a fan of Horowitz himself or simply want to learn more about the art of crafting a company culture, you're sure to gain tons of insights in this interview.

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Key Takeaways

• The problem that Andreessen Horowitz set out to solve for technical founders 
• What compelled Horowitz to publish his book, What You Do Is Who You Are
• What it takes to move a culture 
• The importance of cohesion between culture and strategy
• Why you don’t need to establish your company culture on Day 1
• What a prison gang leader taught Horowitz about culture and leadership
• The creative way that Andreessen Horowitz enforces their value to be respectful to entrepreneurs at the firm
• Horowitz’s thoughts on the culture of Netflix versus McDonald’s  
• The elements that go into creating a high-performance culture 
• Differentiating between high performance versus long hours 
• Why Horowitz looks for courage in founders 
• Bonus: Horowitz shares his favorite rap album from 2019