I’ll never forget that lesson on ethics — taught by one of my favorite grad school professors, Irv Grousbeck. A business manager is asked a tough question. She has the choice to reply without technically lying, but leave out important details and not be fully transparent. It’s the type of response that leaves you with…
Category: Execution
Your Board as a Braintrust
As a startup founder, one of your most important tasks toward long-term success is building a supportive board of directors. However, a supportive board doesn’t just cheer you on — it operates as a brain trust. Ed Catmull, former CEO of Pixar, delves into this concept in his book Creativity, Inc.: One of Pixar’s key mechanisms…
In Times of Froth, Choose Your Venture Investors Wisely
History doesn’t repeat itself, but it certainly rhymes—or so the saying goes. For entrepreneurs, I believe 2021 and the years to come will rhyme with 2007. Froth Rhymes In 2007, I worked in leveraged finance at a top Wall Street investment bank. When I started my job, it was so busy that I could barely…