CRO Rubrik, Brian McCarthy: Embedding Missionary Values Into Company Culture

Nov 15, 2021

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ANECDOTE

Humble Early Jobs Shaped His Purpose

Brian's first paid jobs were delivery, construction labor for his brother, and waiting tables before selling life insurance as his first professional role.
Selling insurance felt natural and meaningful given his father's early death and taught him purpose-driven selling.

ANECDOTE

Father's Lesson: Put Your Name On It

Brian grew up in a 12-child, blue-collar family after his father died and learned to view work as a blessing and a source of pride.
His father's lesson: put your name on your work and do it with integrity, which became foundational to Brian's leadership.

ANECDOTE

From Mission Trip To Mission-Driven Sales

At 25 he nearly quit enterprise sales to build houses with a missions group in Mexico but was persuaded to see his software career as a mission.
That reframing turned selling into a way to build wealth for impact rather than just personal gain.

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Integrity and humility barely begin to describe Brian McCarthy, CRO at Rubrik. Brian’s story is one of hard-won progress that is bound to inspire anyone who listens. Coming from a blue-collar household, Brian has always viewed work as a gift and now takes advantage of what it has afforded him and turns it back to building strong communities.

Brian’s humble beginnings set the stage for his inspiring life story. What his family did not have in money, they made up for in an abundance of love. For that, Brian never felt like he was without and carries that with him in his life and work. In this episode, Brian talks about his upbringing and explores his professional journey. He also provides insight into why he strives to drive those around him to be the best version of themselves each day. Brian’s criteria for a good sales leader are also invaluable and worth deep consideration!

In this episode, we cover:

Brian’s journey towards his first job as an adult - and why selling life insurance felt natural to him. (03:59)
All in the family: Brian’s early years growing up in a blue-collar household, the legacy his father left behind, and how his family came together after his passing. (07:16)
How Brian and his wife navigated their lives and careers as a young married couple - and the moment he realized he could build wealth to make a positive impact on the lives of others. (16:36)
How Brian’s unique and humble mindset as a young VP contributed to his success at Qlik. (25:11)
A discussion about the fear of losing and impostor syndrome - and why Brian's short time at AppDynamics had a positive influence on his professional trajectory. (31:33)
Feeding the beast: Brian talks about finding creative outlets in and outside of work - and delves into the two buckets that first-line sales leaders fall into. (39:55)
How the words “I love you” translate into “I desire what’s best for you” and how Brian embodies those words at his core and incorporates that into Rubrik’s company culture. (51:08)
Why Brian loves his role as CRO - and his perspective on why grit and gratitude go hand in hand. (59:16)

Links:

Connect with Brian
- LinkedIn
- Rubrik
Connect with Joubin
- Twitter
- LinkedIn
- Email: gtmg@kleinerperkins.com
Learn more about Kleiner Perkins