Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders Video Series

Latest Episodes:

David Heinemeier Hansson (37signals) - Unlearn Your MBA Jan 20, 2010

Show notes

David Heineimeier Hansson, the creator of Ruby on Rails and partner at 37signals in Chicago, says that planning is guessing, and for a start-up, the focus must be on today and not on tomorrow. He argues that constraints--fiscal, temporal, or otherwise--drive innovation and effective problem-solving. The most important thing, Hansson believes, is to make a dent in the universe with your company.

John Adler (Accuray), Trip Adler (Scribd) - Evolution of a CEO Jan 13, 2010

Show notes

John Adler and Trip Adler discuss their entrepreneurial experience and evolution as business leaders: John Adler describes his bumpy course in developing his biotechnology company, Accuray Incorporated; while his son Trip emphasizes the need for persistence and confidence in developing Scribd, a social publishing site. Despite building companies in different fields, the two offer the same central advice toward building a successful business: trust yourself, focus on developing a great product, and remember that there are no rules.

Steve Blank (Stanford Engineering) - Fall 2009 Quarter Roundup: What Did We Learn? Nov 11, 2009

Show notes

Stanford instructor and seasoned serial entrepreneur Steve Blank looks back at the commonalities and quirks of the quarter's previous speakers. Blank outlines a thorough checklist of questions and analysis helpful to any new enterprise leader, and offers insight and case studies from industry giants and new technology plays alike.

Chamillionaire (Music Artist & Performer) - Successful Independent Promotion: From Artist to Entrepreneur Nov 04, 2009

Show notes

Hip-hop artists Quincy Jones III and Chamillionaire discuss mastering the business side of the music industry. Keeping up with cutting-edge technologies, production logistics, and finding creative ways to gain direct audience contact are essential tactics for the self-produced artist in the digital age.

Mark Pincus (Zynga) - A Serious Take on Internet Game Play Oct 28, 2009

Show notes

Serial entrepreneur and Zynga founder Mark Pincus and Bing Gordon, longtime Electronic Arts creative mind and investor on behalf of KPCB, provide a very laid-back and desultory conversation. Topics touched upon include successful CEOs, building sustainable companies, mentorship, and the consumer pay-driven Web 3.0.

Craig Barrett (Intel Corporation (Formerly)) - A Historical Perspective on Semiconductors and Moore's Law Oct 21, 2009

Show notes

Intel Corporation legend, former CEO, and Chairman of the Board Craig Barrett discusses his personal career path from a Stanford Associate Professor, to Silicon Valley consultant, to a 35-year career inside one of the globe's most prominent players in technology. His talk concentrates on Moore's Law and the myriad factors in place to ensure its continued progeny.

Greg Papadopoulos (Sun Microsystems) - Responsible Engineering in the Modern Age Oct 14, 2009

Show notes

Whereas the 20th century belonged to the scientist, the 21st century, says Sun Micosystems' CTO Greg Papadopoulos, is the domain of the engineer. Rather than secretly toiling away on new discoveries, modern engineers are concerned about social responsibility, renewable materials and product lifecycles, collaborative and open source discovery, and furthering industry-wide innovation.

Steve Jurvetson (Draper Fisher Jurvetson) - Innovation in a Disruptive Environment Oct 07, 2009

Show notes

Steve Jurvetson, partner at Draper Fisher Jurvetson, offers perspective on the market opportunities in innovation and technology. Topics discussed include the necessity for utter market disruption, interdisciplinary solutions, and advice for those interested in working in the venture capital arena.

Eric Ries (Author) - Evangelizing for the Lean Startup Sep 30, 2009

Show notes

Speaker, author, and entrepreneur Eric Ries shares rapid fire wisdom on building nimble, responsive, and efficient online software-based businesses. He also offers his wisdom on streamlining processes and progressing engineering systems, and puts forth front line insight into why some new ideas succeed where others have failed.

Robin Li (Baidu) - Lessons From China: The Evolution of The Globe's Largest Search Engine Sep 23, 2009

Show notes

Robin Li, CEO of Baidu, speaks in detail about the launch and growth of the company and the search engine. He discusses how its intimate understanding of Chinese language and culture - and a unique social approach to search - have allowed it to succeed where many North American search giants have faltered.