Grit

Arvind Jain, founder and CEO of Glean, discusses his journey scaling the company to a $7.2B valuation. He emphasizes that AI's vast potential remains largely untapped, with organizations using just 1% of current capabilities. Arvind shares insights on the essential role of adaptability, the challenges of rapid growth, and the importance of clear communication in a tech-driven environment. He also explores the value of hiring for AI fluency and fostering curiosity among team members, positioning Glean as a leader in AI solutions.

This conversation features Yamini Rangan, CEO of HubSpot, who discusses how AI is transforming customer engagement and boosting sales productivity. Garrett Lord, co-founder of Handshake, explains the critical role of expert networks in enhancing AI model training. Michelle Zatlyn, co-founder of Cloudflare, raises concerns about AI disrupting online content economies and suggests innovative compensation methods for creators. Lastly, Evan Spiegel, co-founder of Snap, shares insights on how augmented reality glasses can evolve into collaborative tools for multitasking.

James Cadwallader, co-founder and CEO of Profound, shares insights on how brands navigate AI-driven visibility challenges. He reveals how AI, especially ChatGPT, reshapes consumer discovery and highlights the urgency for brands to adapt. With a lighthearted take on rapid hiring rituals and office culture, he discusses scaling strategies. Ilya Fushman, a partner at Kleiner Perkins, offers an investor's view on market dynamics and talent shortages in the AI space, stressing the importance of building content for both machines and humans.

Evan Spiegel, co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc., discusses his vision for the future of computing through AR glasses. He shares insights on why Snap turned down a $3B offer from Meta, emphasizing the importance of independence and user validation. Spiegel and industry veteran Bing Gordon dive into the potential of see-through glasses for shared computing and multitasking. They address AI's role in enhancing user interaction and the need for tech leaders to confront public anxiety surrounding AI. Spiegel also reflects on maintaining creativity within teams and the challenges of leadership.

Joubin Mirzadegan, co-founder and CEO of Roadrunner and former partner at Kleiner Perkins, shares his journey of grit and resilience. He discusses how a childhood split between two households shaped his disciplined yet irreverent approach. Reflecting on his startup experiences, Joubin underscores the importance of willpower in building and how failures can lead to growth. He elaborates on using AI to revolutionize outdated quote-to-cash processes at Roadrunner, emphasizing that true grit is sustained passion and perseverance.

Michelle Zatlyn, co-founder and President of Cloudflare, shares insights from 15 years of building a leading web security company. She discusses the challenges of maintaining customer connections amid success and the need for content creators to adapt in an AI-driven landscape. Michelle emphasizes long-term thinking in leadership decisions and the importance of prioritizing sleep and customer interactions in daily routines. She also highlights Cloudflare's role in safeguarding web monetization against AI crawlers and envisions a bright future for the company and the internet.

Brynn Putnam, founder and CEO of Board, previously created the connected fitness brand Mirror, which she sold to Lululemon. In this discussion, Brynn shares insights on her transition from ballet dancer to fitness entrepreneur and the personal motivations behind her ventures. She unveils Board, an innovative face-to-face game console designed to reconnect families. Brynn also delves into challenges like integrating with large corporations and her vision for creating a seamless gaming experience that caters to all ages.

Aidan Gomez, co-founder and CEO of Cohere and a key figure behind the 'Attention Is All You Need' paper, dives into the transformation of synthetic data from a niche concept to an essential tool for AI. He discusses the importance of efficiency in model development and how expectations of continuous scaling are being reassessed. Aidan also critiques alarmist narratives around AGI and highlights the substantial enterprise opportunities currently untapped. His insights emphasize the role of AI in boosting productivity and driving economic growth.

Howard Lerman, a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Yext, currently leads Roam, a virtual office platform merging human and AI collaboration. In their conversation, he shares insights on daily routines that enhance productivity, like fasting and dedicated workout schedules. Howard discusses the importance of decision fatigue management through minimalist choices, along with the trade-offs of founder life, including sacrificing social interactions. He also reflects on lessons learned from earlier ventures and the complexities of building a unique virtual office experience.

In this discussion, Dan O'Connell, CEO of Front and former leader at Dialpad, shares insights on navigating AI-driven transformations in established SaaS companies. He emphasizes the importance of balancing legacy systems while fostering innovation, and how courageous decision-making can energize teams. Dan illustrates the necessity of aligning leadership with cultural urgency, and the potential need to sacrifice short-term revenue for long-term gains. He further reflects on personal motivations and the challenge of leading a decade-old company through significant change.