Grit

Mati Staniszewski, Co-founder and CEO of ElevenLabs, leads innovation in AI voice interfaces. He dives into how voice AI is revolutionizing personalized healthcare and enhancing creativity in filmmaking. Mati discusses the challenges of creating synthetic voices that convey emotions and explores the nuances of human-like versus transparent AI agents. He shares insights about balancing creative tools for consumers and enterprise solutions while predicting a future where AI significantly augments rather than replaces human creativity.

Victor Riparbelli, co-founder and CEO of Synthesia, discusses how their AI video platform revolutionizes content creation, allowing anyone to produce videos without cameras. He shares insights on the shift from text to video and audio as primary communication tools, emphasizing democratization in video creation. Riparbelli reflects on early challenges finding product-market fit, the importance of customer focus over novelty, and the transformative potential of personalized video for workplace learning and workflows. Mark Cuban’s early investment and the cultural impact of resource scarcity on Synthesia’s development are also explored.

Grant Lee, co-founder and CEO of Gamma, shares insights on transforming presentations with AI and an anti-PowerPoint approach. He emphasizes the importance of product word-of-mouth for scaling and the value of a deliberate hiring strategy to foster company culture. Grant discusses integrating AI into their product, the successful AI relaunch that drove growth, and his philosophy against one-person startups. He also reflects on balancing speed with strategic direction and the challenges of maintaining culture during expansion.

Chris Degnan, former Chief Revenue Officer at Snowflake, and Denise Persson, the company's Chief Marketing Officer, delve into their experiences in hypergrowth. They reveal the secrets behind aligning sales and marketing to foster a customer-first culture. Topics include when to hire experienced operators, the importance of trust and immediate execution in partnerships, and the rituals that shaped Snowflake’s culture. Their new book, Make It Snow, offers insights into scaling businesses while emphasizing the need for coachability and the right fit for company stages.

Join Sebastian Thrun, the visionary behind self-driving cars and Udacity, as he explores the future of technology and education. He shares how autonomous driving could become a lifesaver and his journey from academia to Silicon Valley. Thrun emphasizes choosing meaningful projects over money and discusses the challenges of making AI work in everyday shopping. As he reflects on family, grit, and curiosity, he reveals his commitment to innovation and the transformative potential of technology in urban environments.

Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic, shares his extraordinary journey that transformed web publishing. He explains how WordPress powers 43% of the internet while remaining open-source. Mullenweg recounts challenges, including public backlash and trademark disputes, revealing valuable lessons learned. He emphasizes the importance of work-life balance, highlighting Automattic's unique sabbatical policy and the impact of remote work. With a blend of personal anecdotes and inspiring insights, Mullenweg showcases the future of democratizing online commerce.

Jay Kreps, Co-founder and CEO of Confluent and a key creator of Apache Kafka, discusses the pivotal role of real-time data in modern business. He shares insights on how companies like Expedia and eBay leverage this technology as their 'central nervous system.' Kreps also addresses the reality behind the myth of AI-driven efficiency, highlighting the long journey to building transformative businesses. The conversation includes personal anecdotes about navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, balancing work and life, and the evolving dynamics of tech leadership.

Howie Liu, Co-Founder & CEO of Airtable—an AI-native platform trusted by over 500,000 organizations—discusses the challenge of reinventing a no-code giant in the face of AI advancements. He reflects on his entrepreneurial journey, from his early days and Salesforce acquisition to the emotional complexities of scaling. Liu shares insights on the importance of agility, the impact of conversational AI, and the idea of 'refounding' Airtable. He emphasizes how AI can empower everyone to build software and the significance of continuous innovation in the tech landscape.

Bill McDermott, the optimistic CEO of ServiceNow and former SAP leader, shares captivating stories from his diverse career. He recalls his high school deli venture competing against 7-Eleven and the pivotal job interview at Xerox that fueled his ambition. The discussion reveals his unwavering positivity and the importance of resilience, shaped by personal loss and family support. McDermott also reflects on transformative experiences, including a life-altering accident, and how these trials have deepened his connection to his work and ambitions for the future.

In this conversation, Drew Houston, Co-founder and CEO of Dropbox, shares his journey from coding on a bus stop to challenging tech giants. He discusses the vital role of grit in entrepreneurship and how it means embracing discomfort. They explore the impact of AI on remote work, emphasizing collaboration between humans and machines. Drew reflects on leadership challenges in tech, from startup dynamics to solo CEO experiences, highlighting the importance of self-awareness and personal growth in navigating a competitive landscape.