Podcast: Episode 56: Masters of Scale

How to start a revolution

Xapo’s Wences Casares

What if your idea is so radical that people have trouble grasping what it is – or even believing it won't harm them? Every founder believes their product is revolutionary – and the more revolutionary their product, the more reassuring they'll need to be to get consumers on board. No one knows this better than Wences Casares, the trailblazing entrepreneur credited with bringing crypto to Silicon Valley (and convincing Reid himself). With his unicorn startup Xapo, a Bitcoin wallet, Wences aims to reassure the masses that Bitcoin isn’t as different – or as dangerous – as they may think.

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Podcast: Episode 54: Masters of Scale

When to zoom in, when to zoom out

Etsy’s Josh Silverman

Building a company to scale requires a delicate balance of macro and micro – and knowing where to focus. Josh Silverman has perfected the skill over decades of experience at multiple companies and three CEO roles, at Evite, Skype, and most recently, Etsy. Josh has learned that success isn't just about zooming in on the details OR taking the long view but about knowing exactly WHEN to switch between these perspectives. Cameo appearances: Scott Suko (Domino expert); Nik Money (professor at Miami University).

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Podcast: Episode 47: Masters of Scale

How to accelerate history (Part 1)

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Bill Gates

How did Bill Gates scale both a global business and a global philanthropy? He spotted an inflection point in history — and accelerated it, with a great idea, great timing and great partners. Because even Bill Gates doesn’t go it alone. In Part 1 of a two-part episode, Bill reflects with Reid on the founding and growth of Microsoft — how he not only spotted an inflection point (hello, PCs) but accelerated it to massive scale (forget PCs, let's talk software platforms).

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Podcast: Episode 14: Masters of Scale

The infinite learner (Part 1)

IAC’s Barry Diller

Tinder. Top Gun. Roots. The Simpsons. What do they have in common? Media icon Barry Diller. Barry is what we call an "infinite learner." He’s only interested in things he's never done before. And if they’ve never been done by anyone? Better yet. He succeeds by embracing that he is, in fact, a master of nothing. Entrepreneurs, take note: You just might be an infinite learner yourself, and Barry shares a lesson or two you can use.

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Podcast: Episode 12: Masters of Scale

Look for the ideas that come at you sideways

Google’s Diane Greene

You don’t need a scaleable idea from day one. You might not know what your product will look like, or how you’ll get to market, or how you’ll make money. It's OK. The most scalable ideas often come at you sideways. We talk to Diane Greene, who brought us into the age of cloud computing as the founding CEO of VMWare and now the head of Google’s cloud division. Learn how she leaned sideways into a market of boundless potential.

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Podcast: Episode 5: Masters of Scale

Lead, lead again

Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg

To lead a fast-changing organization, you have to be as skilled at breaking plans as you are at making them. Take it from Sheryl Sandberg, who helped grow Facebook to 2 billion users and 14,000 employees in her first six years. She shares the practical, tactical, on-the-ground lessons she learned at Google and Facebook — everything from hiring people for roles that never existed before to navigating make-or-break crises.

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