Grit

Former CEO Splunk, Doug Merritt: Creating 360° Order in Chaos

Jan 31, 2022

01:22:35

Doug Merritt joins this episode on the tail end of his impressive run as Splunk’s CEO. With decades of leadership in what can be described as an “exploratory career,” Doug breaks down his professional roadmap and provides insight on how he was able to transform companies and the cultures that hold them together.

In this episode, Doug shares his perspective on the new wave of innovation as a seasoned executive and how he stays relevant in a “world of teenagers.” He talks about his 8-year evolution at Splunk and the incredible companies he’s helped grow. Doug discusses founding his first company, Icarian, and why he has always wanted to be an entrepreneur. Through his endeavors, Doug has always stayed balanced and expounds on how he masters his personal and professional habits. Doug also shares his take on the influence of technology and the future of web 3.0.

In this episode, we cover:

3 habits Doug formed as a child to cope with his frequent moves to new locations—all before he reached the 8th grade. (5:32)
The story behind Doug’s bike ride up Mount Aspen during the Kleiner Perkins CEO Summit. (15:07)
A discussion about connectivity and how COVID has affected Doug and Joubin’s attachment to their physical location. (18:30)
Doug’s time at Oracle and his journey into sales - Doug defines the important qualities of a good sales rep. (28:00)
The history of Icarian and why Doug was inspired to found the startup - and a look at Doug’s transition to PeopleSoft. (38:46)
Doug’s evolution at Splunk, from SVP to CEO, and the board pitch that got him there. (49:03)
How Doug inspired confidence after taking the CEO position, an exploration of Splunk’s revenue valley of death, and how Doug cultivates positive self-talk. (57:29)
Doug reflects on previous chapters of his career and gives perspective on what’s to come - plus his overview of web 1.0 to 3.0. (01:08:03)

Links: