Skool Stories The Secret to Skool's Success (Sam Ovens Interview)
25 snips
Dec 18, 2025 
Sam Ovens, Co-Founder and CEO of Skool, shares insights on building passionate online communities. He reflects on the inspiring rock from Sedona that reshaped his vision for Skool, advocating for passion-driven ventures over quick profits. Sam discusses the platform's growth challenges and the introduction of a $9 plan to empower hobbyists. He emphasizes intimacy with customers as a guiding principle and the importance of simplicity in product design. With humor and heart, he illustrates how quirks and community engagement can lead to genuine connections.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
The Sedona Rock That Guided Skool
- Sam kept a Sedona rock engraved with "passion" in his pocket after his daughter found it on a hike.
- The rock refocused Skool on helping passionate creators, shaping major product changes.
Growth Reveals Hidden Trade-Offs
- Rapid growth exposes trade-offs: success can amplify problems if incentives misalign.
- Doubling down on the wrong growth model can harm reputation and long-term effectiveness.
Passion Before Profit
- Starting with passion then adding money produces better outcomes and happier creators.
- When creators chase only money the product and buyers receive less genuine value.