Ryan Breslow

But to build something unique where you're constantly finding the unique path that gives you an advantage is what all of these companies have in common. Whether that unique path was made by an experienced hired person or a first-time founder, it's this ability to kind of build a unique competency that I think makes them all distinct as a group.

But to build something unique where you're constantly finding the unique path that gives you an advantage is what all of these companies have in common. Whether that unique path was made by an experienced hired person or a first-time founder, it's this ability to kind of build a unique competency that I think makes them all distinct as a group.

J. Cal, you've interviewed thousands of founders, CEOs you've seen successful, unsuccessful. Do you have a point of view on whether this concept applies and if you have a general kind of heuristic for the difference between success and not success?

J. Cal, you've interviewed thousands of founders, CEOs you've seen successful, unsuccessful. Do you have a point of view on whether this concept applies and if you have a general kind of heuristic for the difference between success and not success?

Well, Eric Schmidt came into Google through his relationship with John Doerr. And John Doerr, as a mentor to Larry and Sergey, an investor in Google, had suggested that they bring in a professional manager that can help them successfully scale the business. And John had this relationship with Eric and Larry and Sergey started to socialize with Eric and it was a very long process.

Well, Eric Schmidt came into Google through his relationship with John Doerr. And John Doerr, as a mentor to Larry and Sergey, an investor in Google, had suggested that they bring in a professional manager that can help them successfully scale the business. And John had this relationship with Eric and Larry and Sergey started to socialize with Eric and it was a very long process.

And they ultimately respected Eric because of his technical capabilities and technical background, which was quite distinct from the other candidates that they had met during this process. but it was necessary. They were first time, they'd never worked anywhere. They'd never had a job. They had never had experience.

And they ultimately respected Eric because of his technical capabilities and technical background, which was quite distinct from the other candidates that they had met during this process. but it was necessary. They were first time, they'd never worked anywhere. They'd never had a job. They had never had experience.

I think similarly, Sheryl Sandberg as a partner to Zuck ultimately helped him level up and obviously Chamath and others prior to that. But these first time founders that haven't had any sort of work experience and have no concept of kind of organizational dynamics and the challenges that will arise as you try and build and scale a team to execute a mission,

I think similarly, Sheryl Sandberg as a partner to Zuck ultimately helped him level up and obviously Chamath and others prior to that. But these first time founders that haven't had any sort of work experience and have no concept of kind of organizational dynamics and the challenges that will arise as you try and build and scale a team to execute a mission,

typically need to have some degree of counseling, mentorship and support. And so bringing in that degree of experience with someone who's ready and willing to partner with the founders, meaning not necessarily direct them, but partner with them and help them learn as Eric did, and then ultimately handed the reins back to Larry.

typically need to have some degree of counseling, mentorship and support. And so bringing in that degree of experience with someone who's ready and willing to partner with the founders, meaning not necessarily direct them, but partner with them and help them learn as Eric did, and then ultimately handed the reins back to Larry.

And as Cheryl did, and ultimately Zuck continued to kind of lead the company. have been really powerful enabling forces. But Chamath is right. The early days of Silicon Valley venture capital were really framed around this concept where you find some smart technical founding team, and then you bring in a professional manager.

And as Cheryl did, and ultimately Zuck continued to kind of lead the company. have been really powerful enabling forces. But Chamath is right. The early days of Silicon Valley venture capital were really framed around this concept where you find some smart technical founding team, and then you bring in a professional manager.

But that's because so much of the origin of technology in Silicon Valley was about selling technology into an enterprise. So there was kind of a bit of a tried and true business model and business structure that made sense. The new era since the internet has been quite different. Every business model imaginable has been reinvented in Silicon Valley.

But that's because so much of the origin of technology in Silicon Valley was about selling technology into an enterprise. So there was kind of a bit of a tried and true business model and business structure that made sense. The new era since the internet has been quite different. Every business model imaginable has been reinvented in Silicon Valley.

And so success, I think, has largely arisen in reinventing businesses, reinventing industries by kind of novel independent thinking leaders, not necessarily bringing in experienced managers to scale up a known business model.

And so success, I think, has largely arisen in reinventing businesses, reinventing industries by kind of novel independent thinking leaders, not necessarily bringing in experienced managers to scale up a known business model.

I'm not sure that giving people a choice of an algorithm is going to work. Consumers just want to have stuff that incites emotion. There's a reason, you know, horror movies do well and also romantic comedies and also adventure films, like they're all emotive.

I'm not sure that giving people a choice of an algorithm is going to work. Consumers just want to have stuff that incites emotion. There's a reason, you know, horror movies do well and also romantic comedies and also adventure films, like they're all emotive.