Masters of Scale

Masters of Scale

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How leaders scale companies; blend of interviews (classic/Rapid Response) on strategy, growth, fundraising, and failures.

Humanize AI Before It Dehumanizes Us, with Dr. Rana El Kaliouby at SXSW
PodcastApr 9, 202643 min

Humanize AI Before It Dehumanizes Us, with Dr. Rana El Kaliouby at SXSW

In this live SXSW conversation, Dr. Rana el‑Kaliouby, AI scientist and founder of Affectiva, argues that the next frontier of artificial intelligence is emotional intelligence (EQ), not just cognitive ability (IQ). She highlights how current AI benchmarks ignore non‑verbal cues...

By Masters of Scale
How to Think Faster and Talk Smarter, with Matt Abrahams
PodcastApr 2, 202636 min

How to Think Faster and Talk Smarter, with Matt Abrahams

In this episode of Masters of Scale, communication expert Matt Abrahams—Stanford Business School professor and host of the Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast—shares science‑backed strategies for speaking confidently and persuasively. He explains why public‑speaking anxiety is a universal, evolution‑rooted response...

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The Internet Is Breaking. So What’s Next? With Cloudflare’s Matthew Prince
PodcastMar 31, 202634 min

The Internet Is Breaking. So What’s Next? With Cloudflare’s Matthew Prince

In this episode, Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince discusses how the rapid rise of AI is reshaping the internet, from traffic dynamics and bot proliferation to cybersecurity threats. He explains the surge in nation‑state hacking—particularly from Iran and Russia—amid the Israel‑Hamas...

By Masters of Scale
Crisis at Hormuz, and Your $160b Tariff Refund Clock, with Flexport’s Ryan Petersen
PodcastMar 24, 202629 min

Crisis at Hormuz, and Your $160b Tariff Refund Clock, with Flexport’s Ryan Petersen

In this Rapid Response episode, Flexport CEO Ryan Petersen explains how the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is rippling through global trade, driving up oil and air‑freight costs while leaving container shipping relatively unscathed. He highlights secondary crises such...

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The C-Suite Is Messier than You Think, with Maryam Banikarim
PodcastMar 17, 202631 min

The C-Suite Is Messier than You Think, with Maryam Banikarim

In this episode, Maryam Banikarim—former CMO of Univision, Gannett, and Hyatt and host of The Messy Parts—discusses the often‑overlooked challenges of C‑suite careers, the importance of embracing "messy" moments, and how to navigate career transitions with resilience. She shares personal...

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FanDuel CEO Amy Howe: ‘My Whole Career Has Been Sliding Doors Moments’
PodcastMar 12, 202635 min

FanDuel CEO Amy Howe: ‘My Whole Career Has Been Sliding Doors Moments’

In this Masters of Scale episode, FanDuel CEO Amy Howe recounts how she navigated the COVID‑driven crisis at Ticketmaster and then seized a "sliding doors" opportunity to lead FanDuel, quickly moving from president to CEO. She highlights the importance of...

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How Zoom Grew 30x Almost Overnight
PodcastFeb 5, 202627 min

How Zoom Grew 30x Almost Overnight

In this episode, Eric Yuan recounts his journey from a frustrated employee at a video‑conferencing startup to founding Zoom, detailing the company’s rapid 30‑fold expansion during the COVID‑19 pandemic. He explains how Zoom scaled its technology, culture, and operations to...

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Possible: Amjad Masad on Vibe Coding, AI Agents, and the End of Boilerplate
PodcastJan 31, 20261h 16m

Possible: Amjad Masad on Vibe Coding, AI Agents, and the End of Boilerplate

In this episode, Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger interview Amjad Masad, CEO of Replit, about how AI is democratizing software creation by turning natural language into functional code. Masad shares his journey from self‑teaching in Jordan to building a platform...

By Masters of Scale
How to Break Through a Fear of Failure, with Fawn Weaver & Van Jones
PodcastJan 29, 202622 min

How to Break Through a Fear of Failure, with Fawn Weaver & Van Jones

In this episode, Fawn Weaver, founder of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, discusses how she overcame a fear of failure while scaling one of the fastest-growing spirit brands. She shares strategies for aligning business growth with personal purpose, emphasizing resilience, storytelling,...

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The $800M Exit that Started with a Single Muffin
PodcastJan 8, 202632 min

The $800M Exit that Started with a Single Muffin

In this episode, Katlin Smith recounts how she turned a humble almond‑flour muffin experiment into Simple Mills, a clean‑snack brand that grew into a $800 million exit. She discusses the challenges of scaling a health‑focused food company, the strategic decisions that...

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How to Unlock Your Team’s Creative Potential
PodcastDec 25, 202533 min

How to Unlock Your Team’s Creative Potential

In this episode, Reid Hoffman talks with former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi about how to cultivate an environment that unlocks a team’s creative potential. Nooyi shares the leadership principles and talent‑development initiatives she implemented at PepsiCo, emphasizing psychological safety, clear...

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Resurrecting Dire Wolves Is Just the Beginning for Colossal Biosciences’ Ben Lamm
PodcastDec 23, 202533 min

Resurrecting Dire Wolves Is Just the Beginning for Colossal Biosciences’ Ben Lamm

In this Rapid Response encore, Ben Lamm, co‑founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences, walks host Bob Safian through the company’s de‑extinction of the dire wolf, explaining the scientific process, the high‑profile investor backing, and the broader implications for conservation, biodiversity,...

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How to Be 'Fearless' In the AI Age, with Fei-Fei Li and Reid Hoffman
PodcastNov 20, 20250 min

How to Be 'Fearless' In the AI Age, with Fei-Fei Li and Reid Hoffman

Fei-Fei Li, the "Godmother of AI," discusses with Reid Hoffman the necessity of fearlessness for scientists and entrepreneurs navigating an uncertain AI-driven future. She emphasizes the importance of human‑centered AI and spatial intelligence, drawing on her experience founding Stanford's Human‑Centered...

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AI: The New Frontier for Mental Health Support?
PodcastNov 18, 20250 min

AI: The New Frontier for Mental Health Support?

In this episode, host Bob Safian discusses the contentious link between AI and mental health with Ellie Pavlick, director of Brown University's new AI‑mental health institute, and venture capitalist Soraya Darabi, an early backer of mental‑health AI startups. They examine...

By Masters of Scale