Greymatter

After a brief period of hiring freezes and mass layoffs early in the pandemic, business has come roaring back, and competition for talent is now higher than ever. Demand for highly-skilled employees outstrips supply, and most CEOs and hiring managers say that finding, hiring and retaining great team members is among the top concerns that keep them up at night. Greylock Talent Partner Glen Evans and Abnormal Security CEO and co-founder Evan Reiser share strategies and insights from building startup teams at a time when everyone is fighting over the same limited supply of world-class talent. This episode is part of Greymatter's Brain Trust series. You can read a transcript of this episode here: https://greylock.com/greymatter/building-your-best-team/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As software and data management systems have evolved, so too have the cybersecurity threats targeting them. How can companies, government agencies, and individuals keep their data secure when risk is at an all-time high? Greylock general partner Asheem Chandna, New York Times cybersecurity reporter Nicole Perlroth, and Rubrik CEO and co-founder Bipul Sinha discuss the current world of cybersecurity, ransomware, and the need for everyone to adopt a "zero-trust" strategy to protect their data. You can read a transcript of this podcast here: https://greylock.com/greymatter/the-zero-trust-strategy/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A re-broadcast of our episode featuring Airbnb CEO and co-founder Brian Chesky. Chesky joined Greylock partner Reid Hoffman on Greylock's Iconversations speaker series to talk about how he guided Airbnb from an 80% loss within the first two months of the pandemic to a record-breaking IPO by the end of 2020; why Silicon Valley needs to redefine how it measures growth; how Chesky’s design background informs Airbnb’s business strategy; and, ultimately, the importance of putting people first. You can read a transcript of this episode here: https://greylock.com/greymatter/airbnb-brian-chesky-people-first-capitalism/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Executive search firm Daversa Partners is working to change the reality of underrepresentation in tech. The firm has focused on increasing overall diverse representation for years, and is now launching a new program called Dreamscape that is dedicated solely to ensuring there is Black leadership on the boards and executive teams of the most important companies and investing firms in technology today. Dreamscape partners with tech companies such as Robinhood, Brex, and AppLovin, and venture capital firms such as Greylock, to connect Black executives with leadership opportunities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Audio version of Greylock general partner Reid Hoffman's essay, "Human Nature in Vices and Virtues: An Adam Smith Approach to Building Internet Ecosystems and Communities," published on the Knight Foundation's website. Hoffman discusses how some of the most popular websites leverage some of humankind's less desirable attributes(e.g. "the 7 deadly sins"), and how entrepreneurs and investors can think about building based on virtuous traits. Read by Greylock marketing partner Elisa Schreiber. You can read the essay here: https://knightfoundation.org/human-nature-in-vices-and-virtues-an-adam-smith-approach-to-building-internet-ecosystems-and-communities/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the day of Nextdoor's public debut, Greylock general partner David Sze looks back on his experience working with the social networking startup. Sze knew Nextdoor co-founders Nirav Tolia, Sarah Leary, and Prakash Janakiraman before the company was formed in 2008. While he did not invest in their original concept called Fanbase, Sze was among the first investors after the company’s pivot in 2011 into what it is today. Greylock first invested in Nextdoor in March 2012, led a $21.6 million investment round in October 2012, and has been an active partner to the company since. You can read a transcript of this podcast on the Greylock web site: https://greylock.com/portfolio-news/congrats-nextdoor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greylock marketing partner Elisa Schreiber reads general parter Asheem Chandna's latest column for Forbes. In this column, Chandna discusses the changing dynamics of recruiting, hiring, and retaining talent in one of the most competitive labor markets of our time. You can read this essay at https://www.forbes.com/sites/asheemchandna/2021/10/28/how-to-win-the-startup-war-for-talent/?sh=42ce2ac352b3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As autonomous driving startup Aurora goes public via SPAC with Reinvent Technology Partners, Greylock general partner and Reinvent investor Reid Hoffman reflects on his experience working with the company as an investor and advisor. Hoffman joined the company's board when he co-led Greylock's Series A investment into Aurora in 2018. You can read the essay here: https://greylock.com/portfolio-news/congrats-aurora/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Salesforce President and COO Bret Taylor talks with Greylock general partner Sarah Guo on Greylock's Iconversations series. During this discussion, Bret talks about lessons learned from his career as a product developer, two-time startup founder, and an operations leader within several large tech companies. He also talks about the high-profile acquisitions he has led at Salesforce, and lays out his vision for the future of the all-digital, work-anywhere world. You can read a transcript of this interview here: https://greylock.com/greymatter/curiosity-saves-the-c-suite/ You can watch the video of this interview here: https://youtu.be/LviSiSNzhsg You can find content from all past Iconversations events at greylock.com/iconversations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar has an instinct for disruption. He first cut his teeth at Disney, helped transform Amazon in its early days, and was the founding CEO of Hulu. In aggregate, his experience represents a clear knack for jumping at opportunities to transform media right at the moment when people are receptive to tide-turning change. Kilar spoke with Greylock general partner David Sze as part of Greylock's Iconversations series. They discussed Kilar's 30 years in the media industry; the lessons he’s learned along the way; and what he anticipates for the future — even in a time of immense change — as someone with a track record of trailblazing. You can read the transcript of the interview here: https://greylock.com/greymatter/moving-the-world-through-story/ You can check out the entire Iconversations series here: https://greylock.com/iconversations/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices