#50 Pete Flint: Co-Founder of Trulia
Pete Flint is a General Partner at NFX, a venture capital firm in Silicon Valley. He was the co-founder of Trulia, the popular real estate application that has 50 million monthly users. Trulia merged with Zillow in 2015 and was valued at $3.5 billion. Pete shares a treasure trove of life and career advice ranging from his time at Oxford, Stanford, Trulia, and now.
In this episode we discuss:
-Why he saw the need to start Trulia
-4 reasons why he went to Stanford for b-school
-His appetite for risk tolerance
-The hardest part of going from 50 to 250 employees
-His best advice for hiring the right talent
-The value he found from investors saying no
-How to cultivate self-awareness
-How Trulia was able to pivot successfully out of the housing crisis in 2008
-How the truly exceptional entrepreneurs focus their time/energy and more..
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Follow Pete on LinkedIn
Watch the Trulia case study here
Visit NFX, the VC firm here
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This episode is brought to you by AquaLiv, in my opinion the best water filter system that is the best tasting water that is also healthy and alkaline. You can learn more about AquaLiv here.
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#49 Bayard Winthrop: Building a Brand Based on Values
Bayard Winthrop is the CEO and founder of American Giant, an apparel brand that is widely known as producing the greatest hoodie ever made — coined by Slate Magazine. Bayard has a rigorous focus on quality and to source and manufacture apparel in the US. We discuss his upbringing and journey while unpacking his leadership philosophies. American Giant hit virality after the article in Slate published and it’s fascinating to learn about the impact of that and the key decisions Bayard had to make moving forward.
Check out American Giant
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This episode is brought to you by AquaLiv, in my opinion the best water filter system that is the best tasting water that is also healthy and alkaline. You can learn more about AquaLiv here.
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#48 Bruce Smith: How He Built the Peloton of Rowing
Bruce Smith is the CEO and founder of Hydrow which is like the Peloton of rowing. It's designed as a connected fitness device that has classes in a live outdoor reality setting. Bruce was also an elite rowing coach. He won the Head of the Charles, coached the US Lightweight Eight to a Bronze medal at the 2015 World Rowing Championships and was the former Executive Director of Community Rowing in Boston.
In this episode we discuss:
How his team was able to bring the product to market in half the time
Why it was important to nail the live outdoor reality aspect of Hydrow
The values Bruce looks for in a hire
Why rowing has some of the best benefits of any other alternative for fitness, and more..
Check out Hydrow at www.hydrow.com
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This episode is brought to you by AquaLiv, in my opinion the best water filter system that is the best tasting water that is also healthy and alkaline. You can learn more about AquaLiv here.
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#47 Adam Schefter: Using Setbacks to Fuel Your Career
Adam Schefter is widely known for being the leading news-breaking sports journalist on ESPN. We discuss his memoir and lessons learned from an amazing 30-year career.
Adam Schefter is a Senior NFL Insider at ESPN. He joined ESPN as an NFL Insider in August 2009, and now appears on a variety of programs, including NFL Live, Sunday NFL Countdown, Monday Night Countdown, SportsCenter and more throughout the year. He also hosts his own ESPN Audio podcast, “The Adam Schefter Podcast”, and regularly contributes to other ESPN platforms, such as ESPN.com and ESPN Radio.
Before joining ESPN, Schefter was a reporter/analyst for NFL Network (2004-08) and a sportswriter for more than 15 years for the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News, where he covered the NFL and the Denver Broncos.
A former president of the Pro Football Writers of America, Schefter has authored five books. His most recent, The Man I Never Met: A Memoir (co-authored by Michael Rosenberg), is a powerful story of loss and hope, centered around his family and the memory of his wife Sharri’s first husband, Joe Maio, who died in the September 11 terror attacks.
In this episode we discuss:
His memoir, The Man I Never Met
How he transitioned to fatherhood later in life
How he earned the job he has today
His advice on how to build trust with people
How setbacks he endured fueled his career and more..
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Check out Adam’s memoir here
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This episode is brought to you by the AquaLiv Water System, one of the best tasting and most healthy water filter systems which you can learn about here
#46 Jay Rao: CEO of Molekule
Jaya Rao is the co-founder and CEO of Molekule, one of the most innovative air purifiers in the market. The prototype of Molekule was developed by her father who is a solar energy scientist and professor because her brother had severe asthma and respiratory issues. Jaya shares the lessons and pitfalls of being the CEO of a young company and other inspirational career advice.
Jaya Rao is the co-founder and CEO of Molekule, one of the leading air purifiers in the market that is disrupting an industry with little innovation in decades. After getting her degree in mechanical engineering degrees from the University of Florida and Stanford, she earned her masters in public policy at Stanford as well. Jaya shares the lessons and pitfalls leading a young company through such a unique time. The story of Molekule is extraordinary and she shares how her father who is a solar energy scientist and professor developed the first prototype because of her brothers respiratory issues. Jaya also shares inspirational career advice that is a must listen.
Check out Molekule here
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If you enjoyed this episode, the best way to support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Thank you for listening!
#45 Joe Boyle: EVP of Columbia Sportswear Company
Joe Boyle shares lessons he’s learned throughout his career, including cherished ones from his grandmother, Gert Boyle, who helped turn Columbia Sportswear Company into one of the largest outdoor companies in the world.
Joe Boyle is the Executive Vice President of Columbia Sportswear Company and Columbia Brand President. Through his years at one of the largest outdoor companies in the world, Joe served in several roles of increasing leadership and responsibility, ranging from sales and planning to merchandising and product design.
Joe is a fourth-generation member of the founding Boyle family. His grandmother, Gert Boyle, and his father, Tim Boyle, grew the company over the last several decades to become a multi-billion dollar organization. Joe discusses the adversity the company had faced through those times, the secret sauce from a product perspective, career advice, and much more.
Check out Columbia Sportswear here
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This episode is brought to you by the AquaLiv Water System, one of the best tasting and most healthy water filter systems which you can learn about here
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If you enjoyed this episode, the best way to support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Thank you for listening!
#44 Richard Krulik: CEO of Briggs & Riley
Richard is the CEO of Briggs & Riley, one of the most well respected luggage brands in the world. We discuss the heritage of the company, the values he instills in his company to maintain lifelong relationships with customers, and inspirational lessons learned along his journey.
Richard Krulik is Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Luggage consisting of its two brands, Briggs & Riley and Solo, two leading innovators of high-quality luggage and business case products. Krulik is passionate about the travel goods industry. His philosophy is deeply rooted and reflective of the principles that guided his grandfather almost 100 years ago when he owned a prestigious luggage and leather goods store in Vienna, Austria. After getting off the boat in 1940 with his family and nothing more than what he could carry, his grandfather started the company that Krulik’s father eventually joined and grew further. After finishing his formal education, and then working alongside his father for several years, Krulik took the reins as CEO in 1995.
Check out Briggs & Riley here
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If you enjoyed this episode, the best way to support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Thank you for listening!
#43 Ryan Hawk: Welcome to Management
Ryan Hawk discusses his new book, Welcome to Management, that’s the guide book for new managers he wishes he had when he was promoted to a leadership position.
Ryan Hawk is the host of the most dynamic leadership podcast where he’s interviewed over 350 of the most forward thinking leaders in the world. He surgically distills the commonalities amongst them. He’s had a range of guests from the sports world, corporate, and military on The Learning Leader Show.
Ryan has published a book titled Welcome to Management: How to Grow From Top Performer to Excellent Leader — which is the guide book he wishes he had when he was promoted. We discuss a broad range of topics including his new book, adversity he’s faced, and the most life changing interview he’s ever done.
Buy Welcome to Management on Amazon
Check out the Learning Leader Show here
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#42 Bryant Barr: The Story Behind Stephen Curry's SC30 Inc.
Bryant Barr is the President of SC30 Inc. He shares the lessons he’s learned in his career and the opportunity that led him to reconnect with his college basketball teammate, Stephen Curry.
Bryant Barr is the President of SC30 Inc. where he oversees Stephen Curry’s investments, brand partnerships, and philanthropy. While he and Stephen were college roommates and played basketball together, they went their separate ways after school. Bryant spent the next several years in corporate America also working at Nike, attending Stanford for his MBA, and becoming the founder of a tech start-up which eventually shutdown. He currently lives in the Bay Area with his wife and two children.
In this episode we discuss:
-Life after basketball at Davidson
-Important lessons getting his Standford MBA and launching a company
-The ethos behind SC30 Inc. and the role he plays
-The importance of their investment in PALM creating a new category
-Remembering to be present and mindful as a father
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#41 Chris Herren: The First Day
Chris Herren gives a talk that helps students address their struggles. He does this by sharing his setbacks with substance abuse during and after his professional basketball career.
“No one sets out to be an addict. No one sets out to ruin their life and the lives of all the people around them. No one sets out to see the anguish in the eyes of the people who love them. No one sets out to live in constant chaos. No one sets out to live the life I led. It happens over time, sure. But it also happens when you don’t address your issues.”
Chris Herren's story was publicized in 2011 through an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary titled Unguarded. It was the story of his rise and sudden fall of his professional basketball career due to substance abuse. The film also shows how Chris turned his life around.
Over the years, Chris has been telling his new story. The First Day is the evolution of that talk where he weaves in his experiences but truly makes it about the students he's speaking to and about their struggles. His superpower is the ability to connect with these students -- and everyone should watch this film.
In this episode we discuss:
-What led to make this film
-How Coach Tarkanian convinced Chris to play basketball at Fresno State
-The advice he gives to handle criticism
-Bonus interview from the award-winning producer, Jonathan Hock
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Social media:
Watch The First Day film here
Order his book on Amazon
Visit his treatment center, The Herren Project
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#40 Mike Tyson: Preparing for Big Moments
Mike Tyson shares how he used to prepare for big moments and we discuss how we could apply those lessons in our own lives.
“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”
Mike Tyson is the former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and also became the youngest boxer to win the title at 20 years old. His career had a resurgence after the movie The Hangover a decade ago. Later, he partnered with Spike Lee where he starred in his autobiographical Broadway show titled Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth.
In this episode we discuss:
-How his mentor impacted his life
-How he prepared for big matches
-His self talk prior to a fight and more..
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This episode is brought to you by Timbuk2
Timbuk2 is a San Francisco-based company that designs my favorite backpacks and messenger bags, it’s where great design meets function. Check them out here.
#39 Scott Galloway: The Algebra of Happiness
Professor Galloway provides in-depth, unsolicited career advice based on a class he teaches in business school which was also a YouTube video that went viral titled The Algebra of Happiness.
“The most important decision you’ll ever make is who you choose to partner with, and that’s your spouse. If there’s ever a chance to punch above your weight class, it’s with who you end up with the rest of your life.”
Scott Galloway is a marketing professor at NYU Stern School of Business and an entrepreneur. He’s started nine companies and recently sold his last company, L2, to the research firm Gartner. Scott is a thought leader at the intersection of technology, business and politics. He’s often seen on CNBC and various media outlets. He currently ho-hosts the Pivot podcast with Kara Swisher.
Scott has published two books. His most recent is titled The Algebra of Happiness which is focuses on life advice ranging from love, family, and business. Scott released a YouTube video with the same title that went viral and earned over one million views in the first ten days of release.
In this episode we discuss:
-Why some people with all the resources fail to lead a meaningful life
-The number one thing in a person's life that can predict unhappiness
-The two most significant attributes of entrepreneurs
-Why nothing truly great will happen unless you take risks
-Whether or not you should go to business school and more..
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#38 Julie Zhuo: A Handbook for New Managers
Julie has written a book that’s a great handbook for new managers.
“Our performance at work in a particular moment in time does not need to be our identity, and it does not need to be the thing in which we judge others worth on.”
Julie Zhuo is one of the leading design executives in Silicon Valley. She’s currently the VP of Design at Facebook where she was also the social network’s first intern years ago. At the age of 25, Julie was a rookie manager where she felt unprepared.
She has published a book that serves as a handbook for new managers called The Making of a Manager. It’s a great read for people thinking about getting into management, those who are new managers, and seasoned managers looking to compare notes with a world-class leader.
In this episode we discuss:
-How to know if you will like management
-How to run stellar one on one meetings
-Why it’s important to be vulnerable as a leader are more..
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#37 Ricky Williams (Part 2): On Redefining Yourself
Ricky reads my astrology chart. We talk about relationships, parenting, and redefining yourself.
“Successful people are clear about who they are and where they’re headed and share that clarity with people around them so they know what the expectations are.
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To football fans Ricky Williams is known as a Heisman Trophy Winner and two-time All American at Texas. He's scored many touchdowns during his 12-year career in the NFL. In 2004, he retired at the peak of his career. He returned to the NFL with his future in mind and treated his work as his craft to set himself up for his next career.
Ricky is becoming well-known for his work as a holistic healer, a journey that began nearly 15 years ago after his first retirement from the NFL. He has immersed himself in the study of evolutionary astrology as well as other healing modalities including Ayurvedic medicine, cranial sacral therapy, meditation, pranic healing and yoga. Ricky is currently pursuing his doctorate in Chinese medicine and continues to help people around the world gain a deeper understanding of their lives through his evolutionary astrology practice.
In this episode we discuss
Ricky reads my astrology chart (about 45 minutes long)
Relationships and parenting
The idea of redefining yourself and more..
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Social media:
Follow Ricky on Instagram
Watch A Football Life of Ricky Williams on YouTube here
Watch Ricky’s TEDx Talk here
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Enjoyed this episode?
If you enjoyed this episode, the best way to support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Thank you for listening!
#36 NFL All-Pro Ricky Williams: On Redefining Yourself
Ricky has redefined himself from being an NFL All-Pro to becoming a holistic healer by immersing himself into the study of evolutionary astrology, meditation, yoga, and Chinese medicine. He draws lessons from life on the field and off.
“Successful people are clear about who they are and where they’re headed and share that clarity with people around them so they know what the expectations are.”
To football fans Ricky Williams is known as a Heisman Trophy Winner and two-time All American at Texas. He's scored many touchdowns during his 12-year career in the NFL. In 2004, he retired at the peak of his career. He returned to the NFL with his future in mind and treated his work as his craft to set himself up for his next career.
Ricky is becoming well-known for his work as a holistic healer, a journey that began nearly 15 years ago after his first retirement from the NFL. He has immersed himself in the study of evolutionary astrology as well as other healing modalities including Ayurvedic medicine, cranial sacral therapy, meditation, pranic healing and yoga. Ricky is currently pursuing his doctorate in Chinese medicine and continues to help people around the world gain a deeper understanding of their lives through his evolutionary astrology practice.
In this episode we discuss
How Ricky defines success
The common traits of successful people
The most successful person he’s been around
Why he chose to play college football at Texas
What it means to be conscious and more self-aware
Why parenting is an inner-reflection and more..
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Social media:
Follow Ricky on Instagram
Watch A Football Life of Ricky Williams on YouTube here
Watch Ricky’s TEDx Talk here
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Enjoyed this episode?
If you enjoyed this episode, the best way to support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Thank you for listening!
#35 Karla Starr: Can You Learn To Be Lucky?
Karla has the ability to uncover how we can cultivate luck in our personal and professional lives — backed by science.
Karla Starr has written for O, The Atlantic, Slate, Popular Science, the Guardian, and the Los Angeles Times, and appeared on CBS Sunday Morning as an expert on luck. The recipient of a Best Science/Health award from the Society of Professional Journalists, she lives in New York and spends an inordinate amount of time lifting heavy things. Her first book, Can You Learn to Be Lucky? Why Some People Seem to Win More Often Than Others, was published by Penguin in 2018.
She has since co-authored The Hilton Effect with Made to Stick co-author Chip Heath. Starr currently helps organizations foster lucky traits in their employees and business practices.
In this episode we discuss:
-How to nail a first impression
-The benefits of going last in an interview
-Tips to become the safe choice in a job search
-Networking advice for introverts
-Why it’s important not to outshine the hiring manager
-When beauty can be a liability in your job hunt
-How to cultivate more confidence
-How to embrace your inner Kanye West
-Why it’s sometimes good to fake it until we make it, and more..
-Why a near-death accident was the best thing that ever happened to Karla
-The common traits of lucky people
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Social media:
Follow Karla on Twitter
Learn more about her on her website here
Check out her book on Amazon here
Connect with me on LinkedIn
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#34 Scott Shute: The Art of Work-Life Integration
Scott’s journey in Silicon Valley has diverged from sales leadership to helping companies improve from the inside out by focusing on its people. He shares how an increase of self-awareness can impact your work and your life.
Scott Shute is at the heart of LinkedIn's quest to create a culture of compassionate leadership, serving as the Head of Mindfulness and Compassion Programs. The programs are in service to the employees, building characteristics like emotional intelligence, resilience, and a better sense of well-being. This ultimately translates to a better experience for LinkedIn's customers.
As a mindful leader, he has cultivated his mastery of meditation and awareness from his early days farming with his family in rural Kansas to leading thousands in meditation in Silicon Valley and beyond. Scott's journey has led him from an engineering degree, to sales leadership, impacting thousands of employees at LinkedIn, all weaved in with his love of photography.
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In this episode we discuss:
The importance of a mindfulness practice and how to develop one that works for you
How to think about work-life integration instead of work-life balance
Scott’s advice for a first time manager
Ideas to lead better meetings and more..
Social media:
Connect with Scott on LinkedIn
Check out Scott’s photography website here
Connect with me on LinkedIn
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#33 Laura Vanderkam: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done
The foundation of Laura’s work is grounded in time management. She discusses her latest book in which she shares some of the most fascinating findings from studying the most successful people as well as illustrating examples from her own life (as a mother of four). She gives advice on how to find the time we think we don’t have to live a more rich and fulfilled life.
Laura Vanderkam is the author of several time management and productivity books. Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done(Portfolio, May 29, 2018) explores, through more than 900 time diaries collected on a single March day, why some busy people feel relaxed about time, while others do not. I Know How She Does It: How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time (Portfolio, 2015) tackles the question of how women combine work and life through an analysis of 1001 days in the lives of women with demanding careers and children at home. What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast (Portfolio, 2013) profiles prominent people who use time creatively to achieve their goals. 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think (Portfolio, 2010) argues that time is best approached from the holistic perspective of a week (168 hours) rather than any single day.
Laura is also the author of a time management fable, Juliet’s School of Possibilities, which will be released by Portfolio in early 2019. Another novel, The Cortlandt Boys, is available as an ebook.
Laura’s work has appeared in publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, City Journal, Fortune, and Fast Company.
She has appeared on numerous television programs, including The Today Show and Fox & Friends, hundreds of radio segments, and has spoken about time and productivity to audiences of all sizes. Her TED talk, “How to gain control of your free time,” has been viewed more than 7 million times. She is the co-host, with Sarah Hart-Unger, of the podcast Best of Both Worlds.
She lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and four children. She blogs most days at LauraVanderkam.com.
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In this episode we discuss:
How the most successful people schedule their days
The most common blindspots that appear when you track your time
The one question to ask yourself daily to live a more rich and fulfilled life
Advice on creating most lasting memories
Social media:
Check out Laura’s website here
Order a copy of her latest book, Off the Clock, here
Watch her TED Talk titled “How to gain control of your free time” here
Follow her on Instagram & Twitter @lvanderkam
Enjoyed this episode?
If you enjoyed this episode, the best way to support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Thank you for listening!
#32 A.J. Jacobs: Finding More Happiness Through Gratitude
A.J. Jacobs is a renowned NYC journalist who immerses himself in real-life experiences. He shares some of the most surprising lessons he’s learned and we dive into his latest journey about gratitude where he was on quest to literally thank one thousand people who helped create his morning cup of coffee.
“We are so good at noticing the 3 or 4 things that go wrong every day, but we have to notice the hundreds of things that go right.”
A.J. Jacobs is a renowned NYC author, journalist, lecturer and human guinea pig. He has written four New York Times bestsellers that combine memoir, science, humor and a dash of self-help. He is also editor at large at Esquire magazine, a commentator on NPR and a columnist for Mental Floss magazine.
He immerses himself in experiences and lives to tell about it. His book The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible has over 1,000 reviews on Amazon.
He has given several TED talks, including ones about living biblically, creating a one-world family, and living healthily.
He recently published Thanks A Thousand: A Gratitude Journey which is about his quest to thank everyone who had something to do with creating his cup of morning coffee including the farmers to the lid manufacturer and everyone in-between. This is a story about gratitude and there are many important lessons through his journey.
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In this episode we discuss:
What we can learn from about his new book about gratitude
How we can instill some of these lessons with our kids
Fascinating lessons from his other experiments of telling the truth no matter & when he tried to literally follow rules from the bible
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#31 Mike Grossman: High-Stakes Decisions in Silicon Valley
Mike shares some of the most incredible stories from his career as an entrepreneur and CEO in Silicon Valley. What he’s learned and how he made some of the most critical decisions.
Mike Grossman has been a CEO in Silicon Valley for over 25 years. He’s started companies from the ground up, successfully sold them, and he’s had to make some tough decisions while doing so. He’s currently the CEO of Inflection and he’s an adviser to companies like Quicken.
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In this episode we discuss:
What he learned from his mentor who helped shape him as a CEO
How he handled one of the most crucial business meetings of his career
A high-stakes decision he had to make as an entrepreneur early on in his career
Career advice he would give a college graduate about to enter the real world
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