The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett CEO Diaries: The Brutal Mistake That Almost Crippled Snapchat!
69 snips
Jun 4, 2025 
Evan Spiegel, CEO and co-founder of Snapchat, shares pivotal lessons from his journey. He reveals the hiring mistakes that nearly derailed the company, stressing the importance of culture over experience. Spiegel emphasizes that hiring for adaptability and creativity is key for innovation. He discusses the attributes of ideal employees—kindness, intelligence, and creativity—and highlights the need for T-shaped leadership. His insights on maintaining company culture during rapid growth offer invaluable guidance for aspiring leaders.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Creative Early Hiring Anecdote
- Early hires included engineers who were also musicians, showing their creativity and talent.
- This blend of skills helped Snapchat's engineering and design teams cross disciplines creatively.
Hire for Adaptability
- Prioritize adaptability over mere domain-specific experience when hiring.
- Seek candidates who question and align with Snapchat's unique product philosophy instead of copying others.
Kindness Enables Creativity
- Snapchat's values are kind, smart, and creative, emphasizing kindness as key to creativity.
- Kindness creates a safe space for sharing ideas, essential for innovation and risk-taking.