The Future of EVs, with Rivian’s RJ Scaringe
In this episode of Masters of Scale, Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe discusses the massive complexity of building an electric‑vehicle company that must juggle hardware, software, logistics, and a sprawling supply chain. He explains how Rivian coordinates thousands of engineers across 40 million decisions by fostering a culture of distributed decision‑making, clear vision frameworks, and intentional cross‑team debate. Scaringe also shares the strategic choice to own the vehicle’s software platform, which later enabled a $5 billion licensing deal with Volkswagen, illustrating how early technical convictions can become major revenue streams. Throughout, he emphasizes the importance of evolving organizational structures as the company scales from a handful of people to over 17,000 employees.
Rapid Response: The Guardian’s Secret Weapon Against Media’s Collapse, with CEO Anna Bateson
In this episode, Bob Safian talks with Anna Bateson, CEO of Guardian Media Group, about how The Guardian has become the fifth most‑visited news site worldwide despite industry turmoil. Bateson credits early digital adoption, a unique ownership model under the...
Rohan Oza: The Playbook for Building Billion-Dollar Consumer Brands
In this episode, Rohan Oza shares the playbook behind turning ordinary consumer products into billion‑dollar brands, from his early days at Mars and Coca‑Cola to reviving Powerade and catapulting Vitamin Water to cultural relevance. He emphasizes the power of bold...
How Coach Scaled From a Single Store Into a Global Icon
Lou Frankfurt recounts his journey from a public‑service career to becoming the driving force behind Coach’s transformation from a $6 million handbag maker into a global, billion‑dollar "accessible luxury" brand. He describes how he used deep consumer research, a catalog strategy,...
The “Invisible Army” Behind Amazon’s Robotaxi Revolution
In this episode, Bob Safian talks with Ayesha Evans, CEO of Zoox, about the company’s autonomous robotaxi program and its recent partnership with Uber. Evans explains Zoox’s purpose‑built vehicle design, the milestones they’ve reached (over 2 million driverless miles and a...
Duolingo’s Battle for Learning in an AI World, with Luis Von Ahn
In this episode, Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn discusses how the company balances fun, engagement, and effective learning, emphasizing that entertainment drives user retention across ages. He reflects on the backlash from an internal AI memo, clarifying that the intent...
Raising Cane’s Secret Recipe for Scaling, with CEO Todd Graves
In this episode of Masters of Scale, Todd Graves, co‑founder and CEO of Raising Cane’s, recounts how he turned a simple chicken‑finger concept into a multibillion‑dollar fast‑food chain. He emphasizes the power of relentless focus on a single, craveable product,...
Maria Sharapova’s Centre Court Tricks for the Boardroom
In this episode, former tennis champion Maria Sharapova discusses how the discipline, strategic planning, and high‑pressure decision‑making she honed on the court translate to the boardroom and entrepreneurship. She shares insights from her early brand deals, her role on the...
A First Look at Samsung’s Blueprint to Win the AI Era, with Mauro Porcini
In this episode, Samsung’s President and Chief Design Officer Mauro Porcini discusses the company’s new design manifesto unveiled at Milan Design Week, outlining four strategic pillars—Live Longer, Live Better, Live Loud, and Live On—that guide Samsung’s AI‑driven product roadmap. He emphasizes...
LIV Golf’s Gambit to Rewrite Global Sports, with Scott O’Neil
In this episode, Bob Safian talks with Scott O’Neill, CEO of LIV Golf, about the league’s disruptive model that blends team‑based competition with traditional individual play, rapid global expansion, and a high‑stakes financial structure backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...