The High Flyers Podcast with Vidit Agarwal #67 Blackbird's Niki Scevak: Zero to one, Courageous ambition, Dandelions and Orchids + secrets to be supremely well read
Welcome to episode #67 w Niki Scevak! Here are 5 key takeaways that I think you will learn from this episode today:
- How accessing his first internet modem in his childhood changed Niki's world
- What is the source of his courage and ambition and seeking it in others
- How does Niki structure his week to balance thinking, meeting founders and growing Blackbird?
- Applying the Orchids and Dandelions concept to parenting and business
- What prevents investors from making the first move?
BONUS: Starting Blackbird Ventures in 2012: out of 500 meetings, 97 people said yes to raise $29M fund
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TIMESTAMPS
03:05 — Niki quick facts
04:30 - High Flyer in Niki’s life
06:45 - Niki’s family unit and growing up in Newcastle
08:25 - How the internet very early on influenced Niki
10:00 - Source of being courageous and highly ambitious
12:15 - Learnings about successful characteristics in people
14:05 - Living in New York in the early 2000’s
18:10 - How leading thinkers like Peter Thiel have shaped Niki’s mindset
22:30 - How does Niki structure his week to balance thinking, meeting founders and growing Blackbird?
26:00 - Being out of his comfort zone in last 12 months?
28:35 - Niki’s insights on his framework to taking a meeting and pitch decks
32:40 - A career is not a 10 move chess match
34:10 - Applying Orchids and Dandelions concept to parenting and Blackbird
38:30 - Managing the dynamics with Blackbird going from the new kid to now one of the big players
40:15 - The key mechanisms that scaled Blackbird
45:10 - Media first investor landscape in the USA and Australia
47:35 - Providing value add as a board member
52:15 - What prevents investors from making the first move?
56:44 - Starting blackbird in 2012: out of 500 meetings, 97 people said yes to raise $29M fund
57:20 - Final sprint
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This show showcases relatable role models, re-imagining a high flyer to help you achieve your potential and be 1% better everyday!
Contact Vidit at vidit@curiositycenter.xyz