Clock Speed with Shamus Madan

In this episode, Shamus Madan talks with Heather Hartnett about her journey with Human Ventures. They delve into the tech ecosystem, discuss evaluating potential ventures, and share insights into their founder community. Heather also provides advice for aspiring fund managers, the role of hospitality in business, and the dynamics of social media. Heather Hartnett is the founding partner of Human Ventures. The firm is a startup studio and a venture firm investing in wellness and digital health. It is backed by renowned investors, including Ray Dalio of Bridgewater, David Solomon of Goldman Sachs, and James Murdoch. As the CEO of Human Ventures, she has created one of New York's premier startup studios and early-stage venture funds. Since launching under Heather's leadership, Human Ventures has invested in and co-built more than 65 companies, with key investments including Reserve (acquired), Current, TheSkimm, Tiny Organics, and Tia Health. Those companies have grown to more than $7.5 billion in enterprise value and have raised over $500 million in additional capital from notable later-stage investors. As one of The 50 Most Influential Women in America by Hearst Digital Media Publications, Heather is a frequent speaker at TechCrunch Disrupt and a regular contributor to Forbes, where she covers various venture capital topics. Twitter of Host (Shamus Madan): @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest (Heather Hartnett): @HeatherHartnett Learn more about Human Ventures here: https://human.vc/ NOTE: Podcast intro and outro background music on behalf of Superhero (Heroes & Villans) by Metro Boomin. (0:00) Introduction to Heather Hartnett and Human Ventures (2:45) Evolution and focus of Human Ventures in the tech ecosystem (6:06) Discussion on evaluating potential ventures and avoiding bias (9:31) Insights into the community of founders and the human-first principle at Human Ventures (11:43) Venture into a luxury tequila brand and the role of hospitality in business (12:54) Advice for aspiring fund managers and the importance of adding value (13:56) The impact of taking risks, focus, and execution in business success (15:01) The importance of relationships, giving value and the dynamics of social media (16:10) Closing remarks and thanks to Heather Hartnett

In this episode, Shamus Madan interviews David Abney, former CEO of UPS. They discuss Abney's early career, the future of logistics with AI, and UPS's unique strategies like the right-turn policy. The conversation also covers the role of partnerships, acquisition strategies, key takeaways for future business leaders, and essential skills for success. David Abney is the former Chairman and CEO of UPS. David’s story is anything but traditional. At just the age of 19 years old, he began his career as a part-time package loader. Little did he know doing so would start his trajectory to CEO, leading one of the largest package delivery companies in the world. Listen to the full story, and if you enjoyed the episode, share it with a friend and tag me on Twitter below. Twitter of Host (Shamus Madan): @mbitpodcast NOTE: Podcast intro and outro background music on behalf of Superhero (Heroes & Villans) by Metro Boomin. (0:00) Introduction and welcome (1:04) David Abney's early career and journey to becoming the CEO of UPS (9:18) The future of logistics: AI and innovation (14:15) Unique strategies at UPS: The right-turn policy (16:29) The role of partnerships in business development and the value of small companies (19:29) Acquisition strategies: Managing company cultures and retaining top talent (24:15) Key takeaways for the next generation of business leaders (28:49) Skills for success in business: Personal, social and leadership (31:53) Overcoming challenges and the importance of hard work for success

In this episode, Shamus Madan talks with Brian Scudamore about his entrepreneurial journey, the expansion of The Rubbish Boys, and the role of franchising in business growth. They discuss Elon Musk's strategy of firing and rehiring employees, Brian's experiences on the Oprah and Ellen shows, and Shamus's podcasting journey. They also discuss handling rejection and creating a $700,000,000 business. When Brian Scudamore was four, he drew a picture of himself hauling away junk. Little did he know he'd become a millionaire from doing so. Fifteen years later, he got to work on his idea investing a thousand dollars, $700 for a pickup truck and the rest for some business cards and flyers. At the time, his girlfriend had an idea to call the local newspaper to tell his story, which made the front page, and in 24 hours, he had a hundred job offers. The business took off, but he wasn't satisfied. He dreamed bigger and did not have the right people in place for the business. So he fired all of his employees, took a piece of paper, and wrote what he envisioned for the future. Today he is turned that paper into an empire that owns multiple brands, nearing a value of a billion dollars using a franchising model. Listen to the full story, and if you enjoyed the episode, share it with a friend and tag me on Twitter below. Twitter of Host (Shamus Madan): @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest (Brian Scudamore): @BrianScudamore Order Brian's book WTF here: https://www.amazon.com/WTF-Willing-Fail-Failure-Success-ebook/dp/B07JXY3823 NOTE: Podcast intro and outro background music on behalf of Superhero (Heroes & Villans) by Metro Boomin. (0:00) Introduction and guest Brian Scudamore's entrepreneurial journey (2:31) Discussion on the concept of The Rubbish Boys and business expansion (5:46) The role of franchising and handling layoffs in business growth (9:47) Elon Musk's strategy of firing and rehiring employees (11:14) Brian's experiences on the Oprah and Ellen shows (13:24) Shamus Madan's journey in Podcasting and advice for young entrepreneurs (15:04) Handling rejection and the story of creating a $700,000,000 business (15:48) Closing remarks, gratitude, and how to connect with Brian Scudamore (16:00) End of episode

In this episode, Shamus Madan interviews Brian Smith, founder of UGG. They delve into UGG's origin story and its connection to surfing, discuss the brand's growth phases and struggles, and explore the pivotal shift in UGG's advertising strategy. They also talk about the power of emotions in advertising, the challenges faced in Brian's entrepreneurial journey, and key lessons from building UGG. Brian Smith is the founder of UGG. Brian was born in Australia, where he first developed his love of surfing. With just $500, he founded UGG Imports to bring sheepskin footwear to America. After seventeen years, as sales reached $15 million, he sold the business to Deckers Outdoor Corporation. The UGG brand has since exceeded $1 billion in international sales. Brian is also the author of The Birth of a Brand, detailing his experience founding UGG, and speaks to entrepreneurs all over the world, inspiring them on their journey of building a business. Twitter of Host (Shamus Madan): @mbitpodcast Learn More About Brian's Book Here: https://www.amazon.com/Birth-Brand-Unlikely-Start-Up-Billion/dp/1582705380/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1677042731&sr=8-1 (0:00) Introduction and Background of Brian Smith, founder of UGG (3:13) The Role of Surfing in UGG's Origin Story (7:03) Growth Phases and Struggles of UGG (11:37) Turning Point: UGG's Advertising Strategy Shift (14:42) Understanding the Power of Emotions in Advertising (16:03) The Origin and Branding of UGG (17:15) The Challenges and Decisions in Brian's Entrepreneurial Journey (20:35) Key Lessons from Building UGG (24:31) Conquering Obstacles in Business and Wrap-up

In this episode, Shamus Madan interviews Noor Sweid, discussing her background, the role of vulnerability in leadership, and the challenge of maintaining company culture during expansion. They delve into the intricacies of outperforming the S&P 500 for funds, top startups in the Middle East, reasons for rejecting investment opportunities, and pursuing a career in venture capital. Today we are joined by Noor Sweid, a Managing Partner at Global Ventures. Over the years, Noor has worked for some of the largest companies in the world, including Charles Schwab and Accenture. Noor has facilitated her family business Depa, a contracting company headquartered in Dubai, multi-million dollar growth and eventual IPO; she's launched and run her own business (the ZenYoga, the first yoga studio in the Middle East and Africa, which she founded in 2006), and ran until its sale in 2014. Most recently, Noor has been an investor and mentor for several startups in the Middle East ecosystem with Global Ventures. Learn More About Global Ventures Here: https://www.global.vc/ Twitter of Host (Shamus Madan): @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest (Noor Sweid): @nsweid (0:00) Introduction and Background of Noor Sweid (2:08) The Role of Vulnerability in Leadership (3:03) Maintaining Company Culture During Expansion (6:14) Challenges of Outperforming the S&P 500 for Funds (9:53) Top Startups in the Middle East (11:18) Reasons for Rejecting Investment Opportunities (11:54) Pursuing a Career in Venture Capital

In this episode, Shamus Madan converses with Oscar Höglund, discussing his journey from being a 'number guy' to CEO and the creation of Epidemic Sound. They examine the significance of music in content creation, the evolution of Epidemic Sound's business model, and the role of partnerships in its success. They also explore the future of the music industry, the impact of AI, and the challenges and opportunities in music distribution. Today we are joined by Oscar Höglund, the Co-Founder and CEO of Epidemic Sound based in Stockholm, Sweden. Over his 20+ year career, Oscar has founded several start-ups and is known for his bold innovations and proven business results, such as Epidemic Sound reaching a $1.4B valuation in 2021. At Epidemic, Oscar is democratizing access to music for storytellers through a digital rights model that is paving the way for creators — everyone from YouTubers and celebrities like the Kardashians, to small businesses, to the world’s largest brands like Lululemon and Adobe — to use music to take their content to the next level, while at the same time supporting and protecting musicians. Today, YouTube videos containing Epidemic Sound music are viewed over 1.5B times a day on average. Listen to the full story here. Twitter of Host (Shamus Madan): @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest (Oscar Höglund): @epidemicsound Check out Epidemic Sound Here: https://www.epidemicsound.com/ (0:00) Introduction and Oscar Höglund's journey from number guy to CEO (4:40) The inception and vision of Epidemic Sound (9:20) The role and importance of music in content creation (12:08) Building a music catalog and the evolution of Epidemic Sound's business model (15:26) Early challenges and the decision to keep a low profile (18:12) The importance of partnerships in Epidemic Sound's success (22:38) Future of the music industry and the role of democratization and globalization (24:04) Challenges and opportunities in music and content distribution (24:46) AI and its potential impact on the industry (24:57) Wrap up and thanks

In this episode, Shamus Madan talks with Bill George about his book "True North" and ethical hiring practices. They critique Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg's leadership, explore the effects of investor hype, and discuss the role of coaching in leadership. They also discuss the impact of leadership change, the importance of prioritizing company over ego, and learning from outside your industry. Today we are joined by our very special guest, Bill George, making his second appearance on the show; he is a Professor over at Harvard Business School, the Former CEO of Medtronic, former EVP of Honeywell, and a former board member of Target, Goldman Sachs, Exxon Mobil, Novartis, and the World Economics Form USA. As one of the most recognizable leaders in the world, Professor George joins us to discuss how leaders and teams can effectively build during down markets, the leadership situation at Twitter, and how to coach your team. Learn More About the Emerging Leader Edition of True North : https://amzn.to/3jYmoMP Twitter of Host (Shamus Madan): @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest (Bill George): @Bill_George (0:00) Introduction and guest Bill George's book "True North (2:03) Ethical ways to handle layoffs and hiring perspectives (5:03) Discussion on Elon Musk's leadership at Tesla and Twitter (9:41) Mark Zuckerberg's leadership critique and Facebook's future (12:12) Balancing confidence and humility in leadership (14:15) The cycle of investor hype and its effects on businesses (16:00) The role of coaching and alignment of goals in successful leadership (19:13) Impact of leadership change on team performance and insights from Microsoft's leadership (22:33) The importance of prioritizing company over personal ego and constant learning in leadership (23:54) The value of learning from people outside your industry

In this episode, Shamus Madan chats with Mike Evans about his entrepreneurial journey, starting with his MIT experiences and early startup involvement. They discuss the creation and challenges of Grubhub, its profitability strategies, and Evans' reflections on the company. They delve into the role of leverage in business negotiations, introduce Fixer, and share lessons from Grubhub's success. The episode concludes with Evans' advice for startup founders and a plug for his book, "Hangry". I am your host Shamus Madan, and today we are joined by Mike Evans, who is the founder of GrubHub. On the show, Mike walks us through his journey founding GrubHub from a website to a multi-billion dollar software platform. How did he do it? It all starts with a pizza. More recently, after Grubhub, Mike needed his gutter fixed, but he couldn't get anybody to take on the job, so he started his new company, Fixer, which provides handyman services for an array of home repair jobs with the click of a button. Purchase the Book Hangry Here: https://amzn.to/3X2jPYs Learn More About Mike Evans: https://mikeevans.com/ Learn More About Fixer: https://fixer.com/ Twitter of Host (Shamus Madan): @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest (Mike Evans): @m_evans (0:00) Introduction and Mike Evans' entrepreneurial journey (0:45) Memorable experiences at MIT and early startup involvement (2:12) The conception and early challenges of Grubhub (5:04) Strategies for Grubhub's profitability and future prospects (10:06) Mike Evans' evolving definition of success and reflections on Grubhub (13:02) Rule of leverage in business negotiations: A discussion (15:39) Introduction to Fixer: Its mission and business model (19:05) Lessons from Grubhub implemented in Fixer and the effectiveness of partnerships (20:51) Challenges of starting a new business and key takeaways for startup founders (21:38) Episode wrap-up and where to find Mike Evans' book, "Hangry"

In this episode, Shamus Madan talks with Rebecca Kaden about her journey into venture capital, the startup culture in New York, and the significance of network effects in startups. They discuss memorable investment meetings, tips for pitching, and how to approach VCs. They also explore the future of venture capital, efficient company building, and potential growth areas. Today Rebecca Kaden, a General Partner at the famed venture firm Union Square Ventures, joins the podcast. USV is based in NYC and is known for thesis-driven investing in companies like Twitter, Polygon, Coinbase, Stash, Duolingo, Cloudflare, Twilio, Etsy, and more. The firm manages over $1 billion across funds with notable investors, including Fred Wilson, Andy Weissman, Albert Wenger, Brad Burnham, and John Buttrick. Learn more about USV & Rebecca here: https://www.usv.com/ Twitter of Host (Shamus Madan): @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest (Rebecca Kaden): @rebeccakaden (0:00) Introduction and Rebecca Kaden's background (0:44) Rebecca's journey into venture capital (3:30) New York's startup culture and trends in venture capital (5:24) The significance of network effects and founding teams in startups (8:20) Memorable investment meetings and tips for pitching (11:55) How to approach VCs and compete in crowded industries (14:04) Future of the venture capital space (14:35) Efficient company building and areas of potential growth (15:18) Closing remarks and post-interview notes (15:37) End of episode

In this episode, Shamus Madan talks with Gad Allon about his work with early-stage firms and large corporations. They discuss the importance of networking, overcoming growth constraints, customer acquisition challenges, and common mistakes by student entrepreneurs. The conversation concludes with key takeaways for aspiring founders. Gad Allon is the Director of the M&T Program at the University of Pennsylvania and a Professor of Operations, Information, and Decisions. He received his Ph.D. in Management Science from Columbia Business School in The Big Apple of New York City. At the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology program, he teaches how students can combine technology with business to create scalable solutions to problems. Today Professor Allon joins the podcast to discuss: How founders can transition effectively from product to scaling How organizations might be able to calculate efficiency in the firm How Twitter can combine a monthly subscription + advertising to create a dominant business model to succeed Twitter of Host (Shamus Madan): @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest (Gad Allon): @g_allon Intro on behalf of Charlie Pellett, the official voice of the NYC subway system. (0:00) Introduction and guest introduction: Gad Allon (4:27) Gad Allon's work with early-stage firms and big corporations (8:59) Importance of network in career development (12:07) Recognizing and overcoming constraints in company growth (17:11) The struggle for startups to find cost-effective customer acquisition (24:45) Common mistakes made by first-time student entrepreneurs (26:43) Scaling decisions and the challenges of growth (29:33) Key takeaways for aspiring founders (31:53) Recap of the conversation and closing remarks (32:17) End of the episode and appreciation for the guest