#03: Evan Spiegel, SNAP CEO—Secrets of Fostering Innovation

07/30/20 • 61 min

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Today’s guest is Evan Spiegel, CEO of Snap.

The tech world is driven by innovation. And Snapchat has set the gold standard for getting new ideas to take off, ever since 2011 when Evan Spiegel co-founded the company while he was a student at Stanford.

But there’s a lot more to Snapchat’s success than just having these good ideas. They have created a culture where those ideas can actually develop.

They have communicated those ideas to teams and stakeholders. Oh, and most importantly, they have actually turned those ideas into reality.

But it hasn’t always been easy – especially back in 2018 when some of those new ideas triggered an 80% drop in stock price and a very public outcry.

Now, of course, you may not be out to build Silicon’s Valley’s next big thing.

But every leader needs to know how to create a culture where big ideas thrive and become reality. So if you want to understand the secrets of fostering innovation, then you don’t want to miss this episode.

You’ll also learn:

A fundamental insight about human nature that will change how you think about product development
The one thing Evan wished he’d fully understood about going public
The #1 piece of advice Evan got early on – and probably what you need to hear today
What mistakes to avoid when you’re growing quickly
His surprising response to competitors ripping off his company’s products
Practical ways Evan grew – and keeps growing – in his leadership role
The one common denominator in all Evan’s biggest past mistakes (and how it helps him now)

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go

Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day

Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

Today’s guest is Evan Spiegel, CEO of Snap.

But there’s a lot more to Snapchat’s success than just having these good ideas. They have created a culture where those ideas can actually develop.

They have communicated those ideas to teams and stakeholders. Oh, and most importantly, they have actually turned those ideas into reality.

But it hasn’t always been easy – especially back in 2018 when some of those new ideas triggered an 80% drop in stock price and a very public outcry.

Now, of course, you may not be out to build Silicon’s Valley’s next big thing.

You’ll also learn:

A fundamental insight about human nature that will change how you think about product development
The one thing Evan wished he’d fully understood about going public
The #1 piece of advice Evan got early on – and probably what you need to hear today
What mistakes to avoid when you’re growing quickly
His surprising response to competitors ripping off his company’s products
Practical ways Evan grew – and keeps growing – in his leadership role
The one common denominator in all Evan’s biggest past mistakes (and how it helps him now)

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go

Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day

Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

Previous Episode

#02: Larry Fitzgerald, Former Arizona Cardinals WR—How to Lead by Example

Today’s guest is Larry Fitzgerald, who has played for the Arizona Cardinals for 17 years and is widely regarded as one of the best wide receivers to ever play the game. He’s also an incredible philanthropist, investor, and businessman.

When we think about leadership, often what comes to mind for us is the person who’s up in front of the crowd, leading the meeting, or giving the big speech.

But when you listen to Larry you remember: not all leaders are vocal and up front. Our best leaders are often the ones who just quietly go about their work with excellence. And they earn their role as a leader by setting an example that other people just want to follow.

In this conversation we cover a lot of ground – how Larry grew up, how he prepares for games, how he is navigating social justice issues, and now how he’s developing as a businessman.

And in every scenario, Larry just quietly exerts so much influence – for the good! – on the people around him.

It’s the perfect reminder that great leaders lead by example.

You’ll also learn:

Advice for adjusting to new leadership and teammates (from a guy who’s played with almost 20 different quarterbacks over the years!)
The simple but powerful way Larry prepared for every game – and how it applies to you
Three traits that separate great coaches and leaders from mediocre ones
How to lead well even when you’re not the one calling the plays

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go

Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day

Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

Next Episode

#05: Seth Waugh, PGA of America CEO—Spend Time with All Levels of Your Organization

Today’s guest is Seth Waugh, CEO of the PGA of America.

Seth Waugh’s background is actually in finance – most recently, as the CEO of Deutsche Bank. That’s obviously impressive, but what really sets him apart is his unique ability to relate to people at every level of an organization.

And that’s exactly what he did when took over as CEO of the PGA of America. He listened, he learned, and he gave his team members a chance to show their character.

Along the way, he uncovered some tough issues. But he also was able to see for himself how to address them. Now he and his team are really digging into their big mission, which is to grow the game of golf and make it more inclusive and accessible.

Great leaders “get their uniform dirty,” as Seth says, by spending time with all levels of their organization. Seth is a master at this, and you’re gonna be so inspired by this conversation.

You’ll also learn:

Specific things you need to do in the first six months of any new leadership role
What you can do to rebuild trust and communication in an organization
How Seth sees the game of golf evolving for the future
The tough-but-fair policy that Seth uses to hire and develop team members
A key caution leaders need to be mindful of as work becomes increasingly virtual

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go

Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day

Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.