The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch 20VC: Leadership Lessons from Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, The Early Days of TheFacebook Advising Mark Zuckerberg and Why Now is Not the Right Time For Startups to Stockpile Cash with Hadi Partovi, CEO @ Code.org
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Dec 16, 2022 Hadi Partovi, CEO of Code.org and an influential tech entrepreneur, shares his remarkable journey from war-torn Tehran to Silicon Valley. He discusses his early involvement with Facebook and insights from advising Mark Zuckerberg, highlighting the importance of recruiting exceptional talent. Hadi reflects on leadership lessons learned from tech giants like Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, emphasizing the evolving dynamics of high performance and decision-making in startups. He also stresses the necessity of equitable technology education for future generations.
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Tellme Acquisition
- Hadi Partovi leveraged his personal relationship with Steve Ballmer to facilitate the sale of Tellme Networks to Microsoft.
- This bypassed bureaucratic processes, as Ballmer was already familiar with Tellme and eager to acquire the talent Hadi had recruited.
Ballmer's Impact and Product Reviews
- Steve Ballmer, despite stock performance, significantly grew Microsoft's earnings.
- Both Ballmer and Bill Gates demanded detailed product knowledge, fostering a high-performance, albeit sometimes fear-inducing, environment.
Ballmer's Attention to Detail
- Ballmer's deep involvement in product details, recalling specific numbers from past reviews, pushed teams to higher standards.
- While potentially fear-inducing, this approach instilled a sense of ownership and accountability, mimicking a founder's mentality.
