The Logan Bartlett Show Parker Conrad (CEO, Rippling): The Zenefits Redemption Story That Led to Rippling ($11B)
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Feb 16, 2024 Parker Conrad, founder of Sigfig and Zenefits, talks about his journey as an entrepreneur, facing challenges while building his companies. He discusses the downfall of Zenefits and lessons learned, the power of media narratives and VC involvement, and the impact of social media on business. Conrad introduces Rippling, a new approach to business software, and emphasizes the importance of employee data. He also touches on the role of founders in business units and shares his perspective on the current state of San Francisco and the tech industry.
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Crimson Over Chemistry
- Parker Conrad prioritized working on the Harvard Crimson newspaper over his chemistry studies.
- This led to him failing a class and taking time off, eventually working at a newspaper in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Little Rock Journalist
- After Harvard, Parker Conrad worked as a journalist, covering crime and gang warfare in Little Rock.
- This experience contrasted with his colleagues' literary aspirations, as he enjoyed the organizational aspect.
Cancer Scare and Career Shift
- At 23, Parker Conrad faced a cancer scare, which, while curable, shifted his perspective.
- It prompted him to leave a stable pharmaceutical job and pursue entrepreneurship.