The {Closed} Session

With vaccines on the horizon, the idea of getting back to the workplace doesn't seem so far-fetched anymore. In this episode of The Closed Session, Tom and Vivek discuss what it's been like working from home, their likes, dislikes, and lessons learned. What pandemic habits are here to stay, and what pre-pandemic routines are likely to re-emerge? Between the 'back-to-workers' and the 'work-from-homers,' Tom and Vivek wonder whether a middle course is within reach. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The drums are beating for Big Tech, and for good reason. In this episode, Tom and Vivek break it all down and explain why you need to watch your wallet, or at least raise your antenna, whenever Google or Facebook say they're making a new product decision "to protect user privacy." Exactly how do their product decisions erode competitive markets and our own data dignity? Recorded at the tail end of 2020 before all of the post-election events unfolded, this episode explains exactly how the major platforms abuse data, why you should care, and what we can do to fix it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tom and Vivek talk about inclusion and reflect on their personal experiences as brown guys in tech. Inclusion feels like a moral imperative, but does it really make for stronger, better companies? Are there unintended consequences of acting on good intentions to 'fix' an inclusion problem at a company? Why is tech so lacking in diversity, and what can we do to get it right? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you came to this edition for deep company-building wisdom, prepare to be disappointed. Being cooped up in a pandemic has turned Tom and Vivek into a couple of curmudgeons, and they're in need of catharsis. Why is Jared Kushner in charge of COVID response, and what makes rich people think they're so smart? Why does Siri perfectly nail the pronunciation of Vivek's name, but she can't retrieve a contact or anything useful on the web when you need it? How long will it take for new entrepreneurs to unlearn all the bad lessons they've picked up on the heels of Softbank's recent run? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Should you sell your company—or keep building? In this episode, Tom and Vivek break down the timeless founder’s dilemma with lessons from their own exits at Rapt and Krux. They explore the frameworks entrepreneurs can use to decide, from evaluating whether you have a feature, a product, or a category to weighing investor, employee, and personal motivations. Along the way, they share candid stories of near misses, tough boardroom conversations, and what it really takes to “land the plane” when opportunity knocks.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Season 2 of The Closed Session! In this first episode of 2020, Tom and Vivek talk about the five companies super{set} launched in 2019 and the lessons they’re learning as they go. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the last episode of this season, Tom and Vivek take up the question of philanthropy and giving back in the context of tech. Are tech companies stingy? If they are, what explains it and how did we get here? Should tech companies even engage in or care about philanthropy? Least important, what's the best burrito joint in SF? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.