Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career

Billion dollar failures, and billion dollar success | Tom Conrad (Quibi, Pandora, Pets.com, Snap, Zero)

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Nov 26, 2023

Tom Conrad, CEO of Zero Longevity Science and former VP at Snap and Pandora, shares his wealth of experience in tech. He dives into lessons from the failures of Pets.com and Quibi, shedding light on team dynamics and investment alignment. Conrad emphasizes that not everyone needs to be a founder, advocating for collaboration in innovative environments. He reflects on successful stints at Apple and Pandora, while also discussing the importance of timing in product launches. Tune in for insights on avoiding burnout and nurturing sustainable work practices.

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ANECDOTE

Apple Dream to Reality

At 15, Tom Conrad dreamed of working at Apple, inspired by the Macintosh team's signatures inside the casing.
Years later, his blinking folder design became a ubiquitous, albeit accidental, iOS feature.

ADVICE

Prioritizing People

When choosing a job, prioritize the people you'll work with as much as the product itself.
Trust your gut feeling about people during the interview process.

ANECDOTE

Pets.com's Lessons

Pets.com, despite its infamous failure, taught Tom Conrad about the dangers of over-funding and irrational spending.
It also highlighted the importance of timing; Chewy's later success proved the pet e-commerce model could work.

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