BALL! (Best Advice & Life Lessons) Podcast

Serial entrepreneur Vetri Vellore shares insights on building great products, being a better leader, hiring decisions, and prioritizing family. He also emphasizes the importance of core values, writing gratitude journal, affirmations, and early career advice to dream big and focus on learning.

Ravi Venkatesan, trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation, discusses growth mindset, leadership in the 21st century, crucible experiences, passion economy, measuring life, success, wealth, and happiness. He also shares insights on mentors, role models, developing courage, and navigating work-life balance.

Bob Davis, Corporate Vice President Growth & Experience at Microsoft, shares his best advice and key lessons on building and running Microsoft 365, putting things in perspective during crisis, making new mistakes, listening to customers, and prioritizing. He also discusses the importance of detailed planning, leaving things better than you found them, and showing the world who you are.

Lex Gillette, Blind Paralympic Medalist, shares his advice on courage, motivation, optimism, and inspiring life lessons. He discusses overcoming obstacles, finding courage, and the importance of support and accessibility tools. The guest also talks about motivation, regaining confidence, and staying focused. They discuss advocating for inclusivity, turning negative encounters into educational moments, and the power of having a vision.

Lan Ye, Corporate Vice President of the Microsoft Teams Calling, Meetings and Devices group, shares advice on career, art and tech, running effective meetings, and the importance of overcoming challenges. They discuss unconventional career paths, morning rituals, and developing senses to identify clarity amidst ambiguity.

Jeff Teper, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, shares his best advice and lessons from his journey at Microsoft. Topics include the success of Microsoft Teams, the importance of clear communication, challenges and success in building SharePoint, efficient meetings and decision-making, finding balance as a pay setter, childhood heroes, advancements in medicine and history, music making with Ableton Push, and the importance of learning and collaboration with Microsoft Teams.

Scott Van Vliet, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, shares his best advice & lessons on leadership, career trajectory, hiring talent, future of remote work, and insights from industry leaders. They discuss hybrid work models, introversion benefits, investment in improving internet connection, and the impact of role models. The importance of learning, empathy in leadership, and advice for newcomers in the tech industry are also highlighted.

Walt Mossberg, the kingmaker of tech products, shares his best advice & lessons on entrepreneurism, personal brand, and insights from industry leaders like Bill Gates & Steve Jobs. He discusses news literacy education, the power of the media, and the importance of being present in conversations. He also explores the relationship between procrastination and creativity, techniques for unplugging, and lessons in entrepreneurialism.

Brian MacDonald, the creator of Microsoft Project, Outlook, and Microsoft Teams, shares his best advice and life lessons in this podcast. Topics include retirement during the pandemic, the importance of healthy disagreement within a team, life-changing purchases like Airpods and Kindle, book recommendations, starting out as a developer or project manager, and the evolution of work-life balance.