Gokul Rajaram serves on the executive team at DoorDash, where he leads the Caviar product line. Previously he worked at Square, where he was also on the executive team and led a number of key product lines, and as a product director at Facebook, where he helped the company transition its advertising business to become mobile-first. Earlier in his career, Gokul was a product director for Google AdSense, where he helped launch the product and grow it into a substantial portion of Google’s business. Gokul also serves on the boards of Coinbase, Pinterest, and The Trade Desk and is a prolific angel investor, having invested in companies like Airtable, Khatabook, and 100+ more.In this episode, you will learn:1. How to navigate your next career - What should you focus on in order to improve your optionality?- What should you consider as you look for your next career adventure?- Why join winners in a space?- Why should people entering the workforce join mid-stage companies?- Why there are many paths to success.2. How to build a product development process at early-stage companies- What does the best product development process typically look like at different company stages? - What are some common pitfalls when building these processes?3. Hiring PMs- When should you hire your first PM? What should you look for?- When should you wait longer to hire a PM?- What’s the number one secret for hiring a product leader, regardless of industry? - How much time should you allocate for hiring as a founder?- How might job titles impact your company’s work culture?4. How to start angel investing - How did Gokul start investing in startups? What would he have done differently?- What does he look for in a startup pitch? - How much time should you spend as a part-time investor? - How do you find deals as a new investor?Where to find Gokul:- Twitter: https://twitter.com/gokulr References:- Gokul’s current favorite app, Coinbase Wallet: https://www.coinbase.com/wallet - Favorite book, Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works: https://rogerlmartin.com/lets-read/playing-to-win - TED talk: TEDxConcordia - Lenny Rachitsky - Losing Serendipity —Thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible:• Amplitude: https://amplitude.com/• Flatfile: https://flatfile.com/Lenny• Productboard: https://Productboard.com/ Get full access to Lenny's Newsletter at www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe

Gokul Rajaram, an early-stage technology investor and former executive at companies like DoorDash and Block, shares insights on how engineering leaders can drive business success. He discusses connecting customer outcomes to financial metrics and shifting from feature-driven to customer-centric strategies. Gokul also introduces the ICE framework for idea prioritization and emphasizes the importance of data analytics and stable team structures in engineering. He highlights personal productivity tips and the role of inspiration in motivating teams.

Join Rikki Singh as she chats with Gokul Rajaram, a seasoned product leader from Facebook and DoorDash. They discuss mastering product thinking for customer-centric innovation, guidance for startup founders, embracing curiosity in product development, and balancing customer and business value in innovation.

Gokul Rajaram, a key player in Silicon Valley known for his roles at Google, Facebook, and Square, shares invaluable insights into leadership and innovation. He discusses 'founder mode' versus 'management mode,' exploring the delicate balance of micromanagement. Gokul reflects on his experiences with iconic leaders like Zuckerberg and emphasizes the importance of fostering strong teams. He offers career advice for aspiring founders and delves into AI's transformative impact on startups, advocating for strategic decision-making and the need for adaptability in a fast-paced tech world.

Former AdSense lead and Facebook ad products head, Gokul Rajaram, discusses challenges introducing image ads at Google, acquiring DoubleClick, differences in Google and Facebook ad strategies, AI in marketing, retail media collaborations, event networking on yachts, open web programmatic struggles, and industry impacts of company strategies and acquisitions.

Gokul Rajaram, an early-stage technology investor and product leader, shares invaluable insights from his time at iconic companies like Meta and Coinbase. He discusses lessons learned from titans like Zuck and Sergey Brin, emphasizing quick decision-making and defining your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP). Gokul also reveals why a bottoms-up approach to market sizing is essential and shares his hot takes on startup titles. Dive into the evolution of seed investing and the importance of responsiveness in shaping successful tech ventures.

Gokul Rajaram, a powerhouse in the tech world, has played pivotal roles at companies like Google, Facebook, Square, and DoorDash. He shares his inspiring journey from India to Silicon Valley and the challenges he faced. Gokul dives into critical concepts like product-market fit and its impact on monetization, emphasizing common pitfalls startups encounter. He also explores the evolving landscape of AI, its opportunities for young entrepreneurs, and how it’s reshaping software development. His insights are invaluable for anyone looking to navigate the tech startup ecosystem.

Gokul Rajaram, an experienced tech investor, discusses common mistakes made by startups, the changing role of board members, and shares insights on leadership qualities. He delves into the evolution of online advertising, founder-driven vs. culture-driven innovation, and the impact of AI on the future workforce.

Highly accomplished tech entrepreneur and investor Gokul Rajaram shares valuable insights on product engineering, software development, and leveraging AI in business. Learn about his S.P.A.D.E framework for decision-making, efficient meeting strategies, and his philosophy on helping others succeed. Discover Silicon Valley secrets for scaling your business!

Former tech leader Gokul Rajaram discusses the importance of being helpful in career growth. He emphasizes focusing on the company's mission, working with high-caliber professionals, and seeking new challenges. Rajaram shares insights on career decisions, transitioning from ads to fintech, and engaging with invested companies as an investor.