a16z Podcast
Wartime vs Peacetime: Ben Horowitz on Leadership
Aug 24, 2023
Ben Horowitz, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz and author of 'The Hard Thing About Hard Things,' joins Jorge Conde, a general partner focusing on bio and health investments. They delve into the difference between wartime and peacetime CEOs and the unique leadership challenges they face. The duo also explores how company culture is crucial, particularly during scaling, and shares insights on navigating the intricate landscape of healthcare startups versus established firms. Plus, they discuss the evolving role of AI in business strategy.
35:19
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Quick takeaways
- Culture is a key factor in building a successful company, and consistency in sticking to cultural values is emphasized.
- Individual efforts and strong leadership can have a profound impact on the trajectory of companies and even entire industries.
Deep dives
Culture is a Set of Actions, Not Beliefs
In this podcast episode, the importance of culture is emphasized. Culture is defined as a set of actions, not just a set of beliefs. The speaker shares a personal story about a cultural norm of putting cash on the table during a transaction. The behavior of being on time and respecting others' time in business is discussed as a cultural expectation. Culture is highlighted as a key factor in building a successful company, and the idea of being consistent and sticking to cultural values is emphasized.
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