The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

20Growth: Top Five Lessons from Leading Analytics at Facebook and Data Science at Sequoia Capital, The Two Skills Required to do Analytics Well, The Three Types of Execs within Companies and When and How to Hire for Growth with Chandra Narayanan

Mar 13, 2024

Chandra Narayanan shares insights on transitioning from weather analysis to leading analytics at Facebook. He discusses growth principles, hiring top growth teams, and lessons learned from Facebook and Sequoia. Discover key questions for hiring, the three types of tech execs, and when to hire each. Learn about North Star metrics for business growth and the art of data-driven influence. Explore the shift to strategic frameworks in analytics and addressing team underperformance.

01:15:04

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Episode guests

Chandra Narayanan

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Quick takeaways

Transitioning from weather analysis to leading analytics at Facebook requires strategic insights and perseverance in career growth paths.

Growth leadership demands a clear understanding of when to hire, the right profiles for growth roles, and cultivating effective growth teams.

Hiring practices for growth teams should focus on essential skills, using case studies for candidate evaluation, assessing motivation, and understanding different types of executives in tech.

Deep dives

Hiring the Right Growth Leaders

Hiring the right growth leaders is crucial for a company's success. It is essential to find individuals who align with the company's mission, work well with their colleagues, contribute to a culture of learning, and believe in the company's upward trajectory. When all these aspects align, employees are more likely to stay committed and engaged.

Understanding Phenomena for Better Decision Making with Hypothesis-Testing

01:27

Hiring for Excellence and Growth

01:21

Identifying Conversion Rate Discrepancies

01:26

Framework Thinking and Abstractions

01:18

Introduction

3min

Navigating Challenges and Embracing Growth

17min

Understanding North Star Metrics for Business Growth

18min

The Art of Data-Driven Influence

19min

Navigating Data Overload and Transitioning to Strategic Frameworks in Analytics

2min

Diagnosing and Addressing Underperformance in Teams

8min

Exploring Meditation Practices and Challenges of Being a Founder

2min

Navigating the Complexities of Achieving Growth

2min

Strategic Planning and Efficiency in Action

4min

Chandra Narayanan is one of the growth and analytics OGs having spent 7 years at Facebook leading analytics for the Facebook App and for Instagram. After Facebook, Chandra became Chief Data Scientist @ Sequoia Capital, helping Sequoia, find, select and help the best entrepreneurs in the world. Today, Chandra is the Founder & CEO @ Sundial, building products to help builders make meaningful use of data to fulfill *their* mission.

In Today's Episode with Chandra Narayanan

1. From Working on the Weather to Leading Analytics at Facebook:

How did Chandra make his way from analyzing weather patterns to leading analytics for Facebook?
What does Chandra know now that he wishes he had known when he started his career in growth?
How did one piece of advice from his manager at Paypal change Chandra's mind forever on "quitting" and when to "quit"?

2. Growth and Analytics 101:

What does growth mean to Chandra? What is it? What is it not?
When is the right time to hire a growth team/person?
What is the right profile for the first growth hires?

3. How to Hire the Best Growth Teams in the World:

What are the must-ask questions when hiring for growth?
How does Chandra use case studies to determine the quality of a candidate?
What does Chandra believe are the four main reasons people go to work?
What are the three different types of execs in tech? How do you know when you need each one?

4. Lessons from Leading Analytics at Facebook and Sequoia:

What are 1-2 of Chandra's biggest takeaways from leading analytics at Facebook?
What does Chandra believe are the two core skills needed to do analytics well?
How can you easily test if someone is good at analytics?
How did being Chief Data Scientist @ Sequoia change Chandra's perspective on growth?

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The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

20Growth: Top Five Lessons from Leading Analytics at Facebook and Data Science at Sequoia Capital, The Two Skills Required to do Analytics Well, The Three Types of Execs within Companies and When and How to Hire for Growth with Chandra Narayanan

Episode guests