The Blind Ambition with Jack Kelly

David Cohen is the cofounder and CEO of Techstars, a global startup accelerator and venture capital firm. In this episode of the Blind Ambition podcast, David gives us an inside look of how his firm supports and mentors tech founders and has the willingness to bet early on. He emphasizes that successful investments often seem counterintuitive at first. David notes that there are rarely "aha" moments in investing, and ideas that initially sound bad can turn out to be the most valuable opportunities. This approach has led Techstars to invest in unicorn companies like Uber. He emphasizes the critical role of startups in driving job growth, challenging the traditional notion that large corporations are the primary employment engines. Lastly, David talks about growing his startup community and how he plans to scale tech hubs on the ground everywhere. 

Norm Ashkenas, a financial services veteran with over 30 years of experience, transitioned from traditional investment banking to the financial technology sector, becoming Robinhood's Chief Compliance Officer  In this episode, Norm discusses what it was like making the jump and the importance of candidates evaluating potential employers during interviews. He emphasizes how diverse backgrounds lend to new ways of thinking, enhancing team dynamics and growth. Additionally, Norm explains his approach to balancing fostering innovation while maintaining regulatory adherence. He describes compliance as an integral part of all operations and shares how it has evolved over time. Norm also highlights how compliance efforts contribute significantly to the fight against terrorism, human trafficking and arms trafficking, among other major concerns. Lastly, he addresses the challenges faced by those in non-revenue-generating roles, stressing the importance of demonstrating personal and departmental value.

Dave Lu is a seasoned Silicon Valley technology professional who transitioned from being a successful entrepreneur, Emmy Award-winning producer to a venture capitalist. He established Hyphen Capital, an investment firm dedicated to supporting and empowering Asian American founders by providing early-stage funding and access to a robust professional network.  In this episode, Dave shares his personal journey of overcoming the scarcity mindset that was deeply ingrained in him. He describes how he diverged from the conventional career trajectory, which he found unfulfilling, and highlights the challenges faced by individuals from cultures that stigmatize failure. Dave emphasizes that this cultural aversion to failure can significantly hinder one's ability to take risks and believe in oneself.  Instead of seeking validation from peers or waiting for permission, Dave stresses the importance of proactively creating opportunities. He suggests that this can be achieved by identifying one's unique strengths or "superpower" and developing a personal brand centered around these distinctive abilities.   Lastly, Dave advocates for the power of building relationships and trust as a means to open new doors and advance one's career.

Dale Bendler served in Force Recon and is a former CIA paramilitary officer for the United States. In this episode, Dale reflects on how his study abroad through Rutgers University was a litmus test for a career in intelligence, and walks us through his journey in the CIA. He addresses the recent drone sightings in NJ and other parts of the world, and how Americans deserve more transparency. He speaks to the importance of cybersecurity in an increasingly digitized world, as he is the founder and current COO of a cyber and urban safety consultancy. ONE.61 is a one-stop shop for safety preparation for corporate executives, private individuals and their family members, including teenagers, teaching them street smarts and cyber knowledge.

Daniel Chait is the cofounder and CEO of Greenhouse, a cloud-based hiring software.  In this episode, Daniel delves into the current state of the job market, describing it as the most challenging he's ever encountered, despite misleading headline figures that paint a rosier picture.  He offers insights on how employers can improve their hiring practices to benefit job seekers from the start of the recruitment process. Daniel highlights the numerous frustrations faced by applicants, including the disheartening experience of being ghosted by potential employers and confronting biased, unfair interview questions.  The discussion also touches on the impact of AI technology, which has enabled candidates to submit more applications, subsequently overwhelming companies and exposing flaws in their recruitment processes. Daniel reassures job hunters that their struggles are shared by many others and provides guidance on how to navigate the complexities of the current job market effectively.

Becky Frankiewicz is the Chief Commercial Officer, President North America at ManpowerGroup, a global leader in staffing and recruitment.In this episode, Becky discusses the overwhelming nature of the Gen-Z experience, highlighting their increased susceptibility to workplace stress stemming from feelings of disconnection. She delves into the underlying reasons for this generation's sense of frustration and emphasizes how their resilience could be advantageous.Despite feeling disempowered, Gen-Z maintains elevated expectations for their employers and is unafraid to express these demands. Becky also examines the implications of artificial intelligence on traditional "entry-level" positions. This generation is forging its own path and does not view success as a straightforward journey.She shares the bright spots in today's job market, as seen in Manpower's real-time data.

In this episode, we are joined by three tech recruiting heavyweights from the banking, fintech and startup sectors to discuss the 2024 tech job market.  They highlight the growing prevalence of contract  roles, which can be just as lucrative as full-time positions, if not more. They give insights into what financial services firms are the best for tech professionals looking to pivot into banking, a trend we are seeing surge as a result of the softening tech labor market in recent years.  Additionally, the recruiting experts forecast the impact of AI on tech jobs, as well as share their optimism in how they see the market panning out in 2025. They offer valuable advice for those looking to engage in a job search in the new year, emphasizing the need for adaptability in a rapidly changing landscape and building connections with recruiters who can support their efforts.

Jeff Schwartz is the VP of Insights and Impact at Gloat, an AI talent marketplace platform. What's happening today in the white-collar job market is as slow as it's ever going to be, according to Jeff. We're going to see disruption and substantial change in optimizing the current processes and redesigning the work with superjobs and superteams. The job you are doing today will not exist in the same form in the near future. It's not a matter of will you lose your job, but will you lose your job to someone leveraging AI and other emerging technologies. Jeff emphasizes the importance of a growth mindset during this period of transition, characterized by new approaches, mindsets and ways of thinking beyond an optimization mindset. He speaks to the importance of creative destruction. Jeff talks about how startups should focus on falling in love with solving a problem rather than the technology. He shares how Gloat is helping people find internal jobs, projects and gig markets to grow their careers or make a pivot, and companies redeploy and re-skill talent when sunsetting roles. Lastly, Jeff reflects on his storied career from public policy to the Peace Corps., investment banking to management consulting, living in several countries across the world, and how that informs his views on the global talent pool and distributed workforce.

Company holiday parties are an extension of the workplace, and it's important to maintain a professional image when enjoying the festivities. These events can be a minefield of potential missteps that could have lasting consequences on your career and workplace relationships. It's easy to get caught up in the moment and overindulge, potentially landing you in hot water. Here's how to maintain your decorum at these events, with a list of do's and don'ts.

A recent survey has unveiled a startling disconnect between young people's perception of financial success and their economic reality. The study revealed that Gen-Z believe an annual salary of $587,797 and a net worth of $9.47 million are necessary to achieve financial success.  In this episode, we talk about why this generation has such a high benchmark for financial success and why it may be unrealistic. We explore alternative career routes that could be high-paying for people looking to make a lot of money.

There is an ongoing debate about whether or not you should bring your authentic self to work. Critics say that you should check all that at the door, leaving behind your personal politics, social causes and sob stories.  In this episode, we discuss the extent to which we should allow people to be their authentic selves in the workplace. Do you allow the rockstar jerk to continue to be a jerk if he is bringing in a lot of money? We also explore how there is power in embracing your true self, giving you the confidence to go after “crazy” ideas, advocate for yourself and effect change

Aaron Terrazas is an economist who has worked for the U.S. Treasury, Zillow and was most recently, the chief economist at Glassdoor. He spent his career providing research, analysis and commentary on today's evolving workplace and fast-changing labor market. Aaron discusses how there are two different job markets concurrently happening, and delves into the undercurrent beneath the headline numbers we are seeing in the economy and job market, primarily the erosion of the quality of work for white-collar workers.Aaron talks about the cloud of uncertainty heading into 2025 and the importance of nuance when talking about issues such as illegal immigration and labor supply. We speak about the shift of demographics in the workforce, with the exodus of Baby Boomers and the implications that has on the job market and upward mobility, as well as intergenerational wealth transfers. Lastly, we talk about the impact of inflation in the near and long term, and how high interest rates alter the calculus of capital and startup investments.

Phil Willburn leads the People Analytics division at Workday, a platform serving human resources and finance needs with over 70 million users and handling 800 billion transactions annually. The current job market for white-collar workers is highly competitive, with job applications being submitted at a rate four times higher than the number of job openings. This disparity highlights the challenges faced by job seekers, who also perceive limited opportunities for advancement within their current organizations.For those feeling stagnant in their careers, Phil emphasizes the importance of “crushing your job” and making efforts to be noticed. Despite the competitive environment, there are still opportunities for growth as companies set higher standards for hiring. Phil underscores the distinction between human capital and social capital, advocating for a focus on both to enhance networking and build a professional reputation. He notes that professional connections are a key factor in securing new positions, as referrals have become increasingly influential in the hiring process.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) called for a breakup of Google, divesting its Chrome browser and potentially Anthe droid operating system. This move comes after a federal judge ruled in August that Google illegally monopolized the online search and advertising markets. The DOJ argues that forcing Google to sell Chrome would eliminate its dominance. Things will be changing quickly in 2025!

Robert Israch is the President of Tipalti, a global finance automation platform, who has over 20 years of leadership experience. During Rob's tenure, Tipalti has experienced 50x growth, while helping the company receive a valuation of over $8.3 billion. The company has appeared on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 and Inc. 5000 lists for the last five years running. In this episode, Rob talks about the importance of the 3 P's when balancing your career: Place, People and Profession and how he went against the advice of his mentors by following his gut and taking a less-senior role in a position he knew he could grow in. Rob walks us through the framework of when is the right time to switch companies, as well as assessing a potential employer. He gives insight into what makes a company successful, such as its commitment to hard work, grit, problem-solving and conflict resolution. Rob also breaks down the concept of customer centricity.

Kiranbir Sodhia is a Senior Engineering Manager, leading teams developing machine learning frameworks for Google and the open-source community. He has over 15 years of experience working in AI, AR, gaming, mobile app and semiconductor industries at companies like Microsoft, Apple and Garmin International. Notably, at Microsoft he led development teams in Azure, Xbox and HoloLens. Kiranbir has always known exactly what he wanted to do, since the age of 12, and used that vision to build the stepping stones and skill sets to achieve his goals. He walks us through his trajectory to becoming a manager and how he has maintained the same enthusiasm all these years later. Kiranbir talks about why you shouldn't fear failure and how it can be a key motivator for greatness. He gives us insight into the interviewing process at the prestigious Big Tech companies, from the perspective of both a job candidate and as a leader who has built his own teams. Lastly, Kiranbir shares how he turned down pre-IPO Facebook to work at his then-dream employer Apple, a decision he calls “comical” and humbling.

Mark McCaffrey is the CFO of GoDaddy. McCaffrey joined the company in 2021 after a long and successful career at PwC—a decision that was swiftly made within 24 hours of a conversation with the company's CEO. He was drawn to GoDaddy's passion for its customers and its underdog mentality, as well as the opportunity to contribute to the company's transformation from a domain business. In this episode of the Blind Ambition Podcast with Jack Kelly, we discuss the importance of controlling your personal career narrative, which often involves taking risks and getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. Mark talks about why passion is crucial, as well as surrounding yourself with a network of sponsors, mentors and coaches. His career journey not only provides an interesting case study on opportunities after a lifetime in public accounting, but also highlights the importance of recognizing opportunity, identifying emotional leadership and developing the confidence needed to bet a career on a gut feeling.

Although we are having an American Presidential election, it looks like people from other countries can bet on the outcome of who wins the US Presidency. For example, a French trader known only as "Théo" has made headlines for placing a massive $30 million bet on Donald Trump winning the 2024 presidential election through the cryptocurrency prediction market platform Polymarket. If successful, his bet could yield approximately $80 million in returns, but he risks losing most or all of his investment if Kamala Harris wins. Some experts and politicians have raised concerns about election betting potential influence on voter perception and democratic processes, with Senator Jeff Merkley proposing legislation to ban such practices. Prediction markets can significantly influence public opinion on elections through several mechanisms. They provide real-time updates and respond quickly to new developments, offering a dynamic alternative to traditional polling, which captures only periodic snapshots of voter sentiment. Does Betting Make The Elections Better? By incorporating various factors beyond mere voter intention—such as economic data and current events—prediction markets compel participants to "put their money where their mouth is," potentially leading to more honest assessments of candidates' chances. This can create perceived momentum for candidates with strong odds, and the media often amplifies market movements, further shaping voter sentiment. However, concerns about reliability persist, as market manipulation practices like wash trading can distort outcomes; reports suggest that approximately one-third of Polymarket's trading volume may be artificial.

Jack Kelly and Rick Chen react to Home Depot's policy requiring all corporate employees to work eight hours at one of its retail stores every quarter. Rick discusses the practicality and what it'd be like to have senior executives, remote workers or people who don't have any day-to-day understanding of retail policy or frontline experience working. Jack compares the policy to an episode of "Undercover Boss" and wonders if the company can improve its supply chain and corporate policies to be a more effective, profitable company. Finally, Rick and Jack reflect on the potential impact the policy could have on Home Depot customers and the company's bottom line. ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blind-podcast⁠ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2024/10/09/home-depot-asks-corporate-employees-to-get-out-of-their-offices-and-work-8-hour-shift-in-stores/⁠ ⁠https://www.teamblind.com/post/Home-Depot-doing-the-Corporate-Employees-Work-in-Retail%E2%80%9D-Bulls-B8WUQWSi⁠ ⁠https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2021/12/23/could-doordash-executives-and-white-collar-employees-be-required-to-make-food-deliveries-to-customers/

Chip Hazard, Co-Founder and General Partner of Flybridge Chip shares how he became a venture capitalist, including how he convinced Greylock to hire him when they hadn't added anyone to their team in 10 years. He explains what the day-to-day work is like as an investor and even what it's like to be a member of a company's board of directors. Finally, Chip shares how he gained the insights and confidence to advise the countless executives and startup founders he works with. Chip also gives us a sneak peek into how he makes his investments and what qualities he looks for in a startup founder. We explore how to apply his methodology to finding the next job or choosing the next startup to bet a career on. ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blind-podcast

Jack Kelly and Rick Chen dive into the growing popularity of ayahuasca, ketamine and other mind-altering substances in the tech industry. We look into why tech CEOs are becoming more outspoken about their drug use and how some telehealth-style startups are cashing in on the craze for psychedelics. Jack takes an inventory of all the reasons Silicon Valley might find ayahuasca so appealing, including California's general openness and risk-taking culture. Rick wonders if it's all just an escape, as young people increasingly find themselves lost without community, meaning or purpose. ⁠https://bit.ly/blind-podcast https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2024/09/26/why-tech-ceos-are-drawn-to-ayahuasca-and-other-psychedelic-drugs/ https://fortune.com/well/article/psychedelic-leadership-retreat-magic-mushrooms-mdma-ayahuasca/ https://www.wsj.com/business/elon-musk-illegal-drugs-e826a9e1 https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/young-american-men-lost-c1d799f7

Jack Kelly and Rick Chen investigate whether recent news reports of tech jobs disappearing are accurate. Rick explains that the tech industry isn't one of the hardest-hit industries by job cuts and casts some doubt into the methodology of how reporters and their sources count jobs and job losses. He also shares how some companies have slowed hiring without enacting hiring freezes. Jack shares his reporting about the AI industry and why every company wants to say they are hiring AI jobs. He also covers the growing trend of companies outsourcing some jobs to other countries where compensation can be lower than in the U.S. and whether it should be a cause for concern for Americans. Finally, we examine why job interviews have gotten longer, especially in the tech industry, and how tech roles have changed to become more specialized. Jack and Rick then share advice about how professionals might avoid layoffs by returning to the office or find greater success in the job market by adjusting their expectations. ⁠https://bit.ly/blind-podcast https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2024/09/23/why-the-once-mighty-tech-career-is-no-longer-safe/ https://www.wsj.com/tech/tech-jobs-artificial-intelligence-cce22393 https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2024/09/24/american-consumer-confidence-plunges-as-the-job-market-weakens/

Naveen Rao, Vice President of Artificial Intelligence at Databricks Naveen recalls his journey to become a trained neuroscientist and how his PhD studies at Brown University informed his entrepreneurism in AI. We explore how he convinced venture capitalists to invest in hardware startups when it was out of fashion and why the first AI startup founders were often computational neuroscientists. We also learn how he became a serial entrepreneur after successfully selling multiple AI startups. Finally, Naveen takes us on a deep dive into how AI has evolved and whether the current interest has any signs of a dot-com era bust. ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blind-podcast

Jack Kelly and Rick Chen react to the viral social media video of a Waymo driverless car getting stopped and tagged with graffiti in the streets of San Francisco. We look into how it happened, including how driverless cars work and their safety record, and whether the incident might be part of an anti-tech movement and sentiment. Jack and Rick then talk about how fast they adopted new technology and compare and contrast today's startups and the startups and businesses from the not-so-distant past. We then debate whether tech like driverless cars and the gig economy might cause more layoffs or job losses or if they are a net positive for the world like Silicon Valley suggests they are. ⁠https://bit.ly/blind-podcast https://www.ktvu.com/news/taggers-target-waymo-autonomous-vehicle https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2024/cruise-sf-collision-timeline/

Gordon Wintrob, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Newfront Gordon co-founded Newfront, an insurance-technology startup and brokerage firm last publicly valued at $2.2 billion, but he did not start his career in insurance. We dig into his career from his days in college and how he pivoted from his electrical engineering and computer science studies to investment banking and then to the world of startups. Gordon credits shadowing for a lot of his success. We explore how he and his co-founder got the idea for Newfront, how they found an insurance broker to let them observe his work and the aha moments along the way. He even shares some of the startup ideas they left behind, how shadowing is still part of Newfront's culture today and a unique part of the startup's job interviews. https://bit.ly/blind-podcast

Christopher Garzon, Founder and CEO of Data Engineer Academy Christopher shares his Big Tech insider's perspective on the prospects for the data engineering profession. He reveals how companies like Amazon and Lyft hire data engineers and why they can't seem to get enough, which might make breaking into Big Tech easier than other roles. We also explore why he started Data Engineer Academy and how it helps professionals, even those without previous data or tech experience, land a job as a data engineer. Christopher walks through the selection process, the curriculum, the white-glove resume, job interview, and job-coaching services, and how his alumni have made it after completing the program. This episode of "The Blind Ambition with Jack Kelly" is brought to you by Data Engineer Academy. https://dataengineerinterviews.com/ ⁠https://bit.ly/blind-podcast⁠

Jack Kelly and Rick Chen take on Andy Jassy's memo, which, among other things, ends remote work and calls for Amazon to "operate like the world's largest startup." We break down what that means, including Jassy's decision to create a "bureaucracy mailbox" for people to snitch on bureaucratic processes, a companywide reorganization to cut management layers, and a five-day-a-week in-office work schedule beginning January 2025. Rick explains how CEO and leadership memos are drafted and why Amazon might have feared the memo might leak before it was released. He dissects how Amazon's PR team likely planned the memo's release and why reporters quickly covered the announcement. Jack and Rick also look into how this might have impacted Amazon's share price and the downstream impacts of Amazon's new management and remote work policies. Jack shares some potential winners and losers in the stock market, and Rick speculates how the job market might react. https://bit.ly/blind-podcast https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-16/amazon-ceo-wants-workers-in-five-days-a-week-leaner-management https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/ceo-andy-jassy-latest-update-on-amazon-return-to-office-manager-team-ratio https://www.teamblind.com/post/Amazon-manager-mass-layoff-fNgYBCEA

With Blind Bytes, Jack Kelly and Rick Chen reveal insider tips about professional life, which you can use immediately to level up your career. In this episode, we take on why you didn't get the job despite acing the interview. Jack explains how interview cycles are set up at most companies and why a hiring manager, recruiter or HR team might take their sweet time with the process and the decision. He also takes us into the minds of the hiring manager and the behind-the-scenes work they might have to do to get approval for a job offer and things like benefits or pay packages. Finally, Jack gives us a script of what to say in the job interview, which might unlock the job offer and make the decision easier for everyone involved. https://bit.ly/blind-podcast

Christine Tao, Founder and CEO of Sounding Board Christine's career has been marked by some challenging economic climates. We look into how she persevered and ultimately landed an executive role at a startup. Christine generously shares the step-by-step process of how she identified and seized opportunities, how she developed into a leader along the way, and how her experience might be a good roadmap if you're looking to become a manager or executive. We also dig into how she got access to a one-on-one executive coach and how it changed her career. Christine explains how executive coaches and why it's a shame that everyone doesn't get one, given how much potential they can unlock. Finally, we learn how her experience led her to start Sounding Board with her actual coach and how the company has built a personalized coaching and leadership program at scale with technology. Get access to Sounding Board's world-class coaching and mentoring software at www.soundingboardinc.com. Use the promo code BLIND10 to get 10% off one-on-one coaching individual plans. Sounding Board may be reimbursable or covered by your company's leadership and development or training benefit. https://bit.ly/blind-podcast

Jack Kelly and Rick Chen take on the ultimate question: "Should I stay, or should I go?" in response to some recent viral Blind discussions. We react to how many high-earning professionals feel financially stretched and falling behind and the paradox where million-dollar compensation packages still leave people feeling like they're living paycheck to paycheck. Jack and Rick explore the decision to leave these lucrative positions and the calculus you might use to determine whether your current role is worth staying and if the new offer is good enough to take. https://bit.ly/blind-podcast https://www.teamblind.com/post/Golden-handcuffs-in-highly-political-environment-rMtVuBqc https://www.teamblind.com/post/Former-Reddit-CEO-calls-on-CEOs-to-fire-incels-7m8hswpY

Jack Kelly and Rick Chen react to a viral Blind poll that found that 76% of Nvidia professionals claim to be millionaires, and 33% may have a net worth of $20 million or more as a result of Nvidia's incredible stock price appreciation since 2019. Rick reveals how much stock you might have gotten depending on when you joined Nvidia. Rick explains how stock-based compensation works and why employers have set up stock grants to unlock over long periods of time. We look into how companies purposefully try to create golden handcuffs and lock in their employees. Jack explores what it might be like when many of your coworkers are millionaires and what Nvidia's work culture is like. https://bit.ly/blind-podcast https://x.com/FilledWithMoney/status/1807020496677957931 https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2024/09/04/nvidia-employees-become-multi-millionaires-but-at-what-price/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-26/what-s-it-like-working-at-nvidia-you-may-get-rich-but-work-remains-stressful

Jack Kelly and Rick Chen break down Goldman Sachs' latest planned layoffs of 1,300 to 1,800 people as part of its annual performance review process. We react to the mega investment bank's plans to "cull" its workforce and why so many Wall Street firms and banks have annual layoffs. Jack reflects on how the situation is exacerbated by the stigma associated with being labeled a so-called "low performer" and how it typically impacts someone's job prospects in the future. Rick compares the pay packages common on Wall Street and the finance industry with what you might earn at Nvidia, Meta or a startup in the tech industry. He also explains how stock options and restricted stock unit grants work and whether people really earn $500,000 or more in tech. Jack contrasts the tech industry's stock-based compensation with Wall Street's cash bonuses and explains which might be the better bet for your career. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blindpodcast⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackkellywecruitr⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/chenrick https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2024/09/03/goldman-sachs-plans-to-lay-off-around-1300-employees/

Terence Bennett, CEO of DreamFactory Software Terence has long known he would join the U.S. Navy, but it was unclear what he might do after leaving the armed services. We explore his remarkable career journey, marked by different transitions: specialties within the Navy, military life to civilian life, and going from an individual contributor to becoming a startup COO and then CEO. Terence also shares how he stood out when applying for a job at Google, including the tip he tells every veteran to ace their job interviews. (Hint: Hardly anyone ever takes the time to do it!) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blindpodcast⁠

Kyle Elliott, Founder of Kyle Elliott Consulting Kyle helps senior professionals and executives land their dream jobs at some of the hottest companies in Silicon Valley. We get Kyle to coach us on how to network—even when you feel like you have to start from zero—optimize your resume so that you can better compete against AI and the tens of thousands of other applicants, and how you can package your experience into standout stories to wow recruiters, hiring managers and executives. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blindpodcast⁠

Charles Beadnall, Chief Technology Officer at GoDaddy Charles was one of the early builders of the Internet. We learn how Turner Broadcasting, Yahoo!, and other tech companies influenced how he leads his engineering teams and the experimental and innovation-focused culture at GoDaddy today. Charles shares his insights into how technologists can use their problem-solving skills to hack faster promotions. He emphasizes the importance of understanding business goals and problems and matching skill sets, mentors and drive to overcome each challenge to drive impact at the company and your career. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blindpodcast⁠

Jack Kelly and Rick Chen react to Wall Street's 100-hour-plus workweeks and its culture of grinding out employees, especially in the junior ranks. We explore the compensation available and whether the money is worth the sacrificed weekends, social relationships and mental health. Jack also walks through all of the available functions and roles in the finance industry and why tech professionals might want to make the switch. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blindpodcast⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackkellywecruitr⁠⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/chenrick https://wsj.com/finance/banking/bank-of-america-worker-death-policies-89eff5f6 https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2024/05/30/the-dark-side-of-investment-banking-stress-pressure-and-100-hour-workweeks/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2021/03/19/the-price-to-pay-for-success-and-wealth-young-goldman-sachs-bankers-complain-of-100-hour-workweeks-sleep-deprivation-and-micromanagement/

Angie Hicks, Co-Founder and Chief Customer Officer of Angi Angie shares the unlikely story of how she became an entrepreneur as a 22-year-old right out of college. We explore the origins of Angie's List, including how they created a marketplace startup before it became popular, why the company bears her name and the marketing tactics the company used to grow to attract venture capital funding and eventual acquisition. We learn how anyone can be an entrepreneur or startup founder, even if you don't consider yourself a risk-taker. Angie provides a rare glimpse into her leadership approach and how the company maintains a people-first and adaptable culture. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blindpodcast⁠

Carlo di Florio, Global Advisory Leader at ACA Group Carlo spent a decade as a senior regulator, overseeing the financial services industry at the SEC and FINRA. He gives us a rare look into what it's like to be a regulator and how someone lands a role in these top jobs. He also shares the common scams and naughty things bankers, brokers, finance executives and traders might do. Carlo also takes some time to debunk some myths about a career in compliance, risk and regulatory work. He shares the common career paths for these roles and how many are not accountants or lawyers, plus the typical work-life balance, organization culture and compensation in the field. Finally, we learn about how seamlessly someone can transition from government work as a regulator to the private sector and consulting and back again. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blindpodcast⁠

Lynne Oldham, Chief People Officer at Stash Lynne made it as an HR executive through a circuitous route across companies, industries, and even countries. We tackle all of the different HR tropes out there, including whether HR is your enemy, how they might only serve executives or the companies, and how mass layoffs might happen. Lynne gives us a sneak peek into what it's like working in HR as we tackle and dispel each of these myths one by one and through the lens of her time as the chief people officer at Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic and her transition to Stash, a purpose-focused company. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blindpodcast⁠

Jeff Bogdan, Former Director, Learning & Development - Microsoft Windows at Microsoft Jeff began his career as a software engineer at Microsoft. We explore the company's culture in the '90s and discuss the launches of Windows 95, the Zune media player, and Windows Phone. Jeff shares what he learned from the failures and how they propelled him to new career opportunities, including a new role he pitched to a corporate vice president. This episode is a must-listen if you've ever thought about creating your own perfect job. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blindpodcast⁠

Gal Josefsberg, Vice President, Product and Operations - Cloud Platform at Guidewire Software Gal has seen it all as a product management executive. He walks us through what it is like to be a product owner at an early-stage startup, a more mature startup, and how an IPO or acquisition changes the role. We explore how to work with startup founders and CEOs, navigate egos and micromanagement, and why many product managers might have impostor syndrome. Gal also gives us his best interview advice, including how to tell if a startup is serious about its product and what you can learn from its investors. Finally, he explains how you can land your first product manager role and even the best questions to ask in a job interview. As a bonus, Gal also tells us how to ace the case study. This episode of "The Blind Ambition with Jack Kelly" is brought to you by BetterHelp. BetterHelp offers affordable online therapy on a flexible schedule. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betterhelp.com/teamblind⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 20% off your first month. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blindpodcast⁠

Jayesh Govindarajan, Senior Vice President, Salesforce AI at Salesforce Jayesh explains how AI is already changing how people work. We dig into how copilots work and how people are already using them to get better at their jobs and explore the new roles and career opportunities created. Finally, we explore how Salesforce hires professionals for its AI teams, which roles are needed, and how they all work together to build and ship new AI products and technology. This episode of "The Blind Ambition with Jack Kelly" is brought to you by BetterHelp. BetterHelp offers affordable online therapy on a flexible schedule. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betterhelp.com/teamblind⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 20% off your first month. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blindpodcast⁠

Jack Kelly and Rick Chen respond to Brittany Pietsch's viral LinkedIn status, revealing that she is still looking for a job nearly six months after recording herself as CloudFlare laid her off. We look into why HR and management teams like the impersonal layoff by video and how hiring managers and executives can do better. We also take on the hundreds of people who wished her well on social media after she uploaded her layoff video and the perils of social media posts on your career. Finally, Rick explains why he is frustrated by the performative nature of LinkedIn and shares how you can take a more active role to land your next role if you're currently job-hunting. This episode of "The Blind Ambition with Jack Kelly" is brought to you by BetterHelp. BetterHelp offers affordable online therapy on a flexible schedule. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betterhelp.com/teamblind⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 20% off your first month. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blindpodcast⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackkellywecruitr⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/chenrick⁠⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7212149110898896896/ https://nypost.com/2024/01/17/business/tech-worker-brittany-pietsch-who-went-viral-after-posting-herself-getting-fired-on-tiktok-speaks-out-i-dont-regret-sharing-that/

Liz Young, Head of Investment Strategy at SoFi Liz's investment strategies and insights are sought the world over from CNBC, where she is a regular contributor on TV, to SoFi, where she leads the financial technology company's strategy function. We get the tactical low-down into how someone can break into a career on Wall Street, the experience needed to become an investment strategist, and how she became a go-to woman in the finance industry. Notably, Liz reveals how to achieve professional success, especially if you have to create your own opportunities. We dig into how to diversify your resume and avoid getting pigeonholed into a specialty, especially earlier on in your career, and how to find your unique "it" factor and stand out. This episode of "The Blind Ambition with Jack Kelly" is brought to you by BetterHelp. BetterHelp offers affordable online therapy on a flexible schedule. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betterhelp.com/teamblind⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 20% off your first month. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blindpodcast⁠

Awa Kone, Global Head of Operations at Flutterwave Awa is a go-to expert for multinational corporations and multi-billion-dollar startups looking to expand worldwide, especially on the continent of Africa. In this exclusive episode, she reveals the top three secrets she's used to develop her career and the businesses she's scaled on a global stage. We dive into Swiss Re and Flutterwave's tactics and expansion strategy and how the two giants think about new countries, markets and verticals. Awa also shares the lessons she's learned from her experiences as a former actuary and how you can level up your career similarly, even if you don't plan on a career in actuarial sciences or risk. Plus, she explains how to deal with interpersonal or company politics and real-life politics. This episode of "The Blind Ambition with Jack Kelly" is brought to you by Hims and BetterHelp. Get access to affordable and discrete sexual health treatments with a free online visit at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hims.com/blind⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. BetterHelp offers affordable online therapy on a flexible schedule. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betterhelp.com/teamblind⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 20% off your first month. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blindpodcast⁠

Rich Lesser, Global Chair of BCG Rich didn't start his career in management consulting. We explore how he decided to give up his plum engineering job at Procter & Gamble to join Boston Consulting Group as a consultant. He shares how he rose through the ranks at BCG over 35 years before ending up as CEO and a trusted advisor to CEOs, politicians, and other global influence-makers. We also get Rich to share his best secrets for leveling up your career and the skills he learned as a management consultant that everyone can learn and use to succeed professionally. (Hint: They involve breaking some barriers!) This episode of "The Blind Ambition with Jack Kelly" is brought to you by Hims and BetterHelp. Get access to affordable and discrete sexual health treatments with a free online visit at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hims.com/blind⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. BetterHelp offers affordable online therapy on a flexible schedule. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betterhelp.com/teamblind⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 20% off your first month. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blindpodcast⁠

George Bezerra, Senior Vice President, Head of Data George explains how he transitioned from academia to industry and why earning a master's or PhD can help you unlock a career in data science or machine learning. We also get George to explain the difference between analytics, data science, machine learning and AI roles and why even companies and hiring managers get it wrong so often. He also shares why everyone suddenly wants to become a data scientist and how much analysts and data scientists can expect to earn. Finally, we get him to reveal what heads of data actually look for when hiring. This episode of "The Blind Ambition with Jack Kelly" is brought to you by Hims and BetterHelp. Get access to affordable and discrete sexual health treatments with a free online visit at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hims.com/blind⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. BetterHelp offers affordable online therapy on a flexible schedule. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betterhelp.com/teamblind⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 20% off your first month. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blindpodcast⁠

Amit Bendov, Founder and CEO of Gong Amit is now the founder of a startup last publicly valued at more than $7 billion, but fundraising and getting the attention of investors and customers weren't always easy. We dig into the inspiration for Gong and how he persevered through the venture capitalists' many rejections in the early days. Amit also shares how Gong stood out in a crowded market and how to land a job at the sales-intelligence software company. This episode of "The Blind Ambition with Jack Kelly" is brought to you by Hims, MobSquad and BetterHelp. Get access to affordable and discrete sexual health treatments with a free online visit at ⁠⁠⁠⁠hims.com/blind⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you were unsuccessful in the H-1B visa lottery, MobSquad can help. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mobsquad.io/blindambition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. BetterHelp offers affordable online therapy on a flexible schedule. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betterhelp.com/teamblind⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 20% off your first month. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blindpodcast⁠

Andrea Guerzoni, Global Vice Chair, Strategy and Transactions at EY Andrea, with more than 20 years of experience in taking companies public, advising CEOs and boards of directors about mergers and acquisitions, and helping orchestrate corporate spin-offs, explains how these IPOs and corporate deals really work. We also get a sneak peek into some of the advice he shares with executives, what his transaction and deals teams look like, and how to get hired on a strategy and transactions team at a consulting firm. As a bonus, Andrea tells all about what happens after an IPO, merger, or corporate spin-off, including how companies merge cultures, technology, products, operations, and even teams. This episode of "The Blind Ambition with Jack Kelly" is brought to you by Hims, MobSquad and BetterHelp. Get access to affordable and discrete sexual health treatments with a free online visit at ⁠⁠⁠hims.com/blind⁠⁠⁠. If you were unsuccessful in the H-1B visa lottery, MobSquad can help. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mobsquad.io/blindambition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. BetterHelp offers affordable online therapy on a flexible schedule. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betterhelp.com/teamblind⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 20% off your first month. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blindpodcast⁠

Whitnie Narcisse, Operating Partner at First Round Capital Whitnie shares how you can work in venture capital without having an investing or finance background. We explore the world of venture capital platform and all the functions and professionals that make a venture capital firm successful for the firm and its portfolio companies. She also explains why venture capital firms hire their own engineers and how they build their recruitment networks and pipelines for their portfolio companies and the hottest startup jobs. We also explore how First Round Capital helps startup founders and their early employees succeed beyond the first check. Whitnie tells us how she developed and launched the First Round Expert Network, the firm's Fast Track mentorship program, the intensive product-market fit bootcamp PMF Method, and more. This episode of "The Blind Ambition with Jack Kelly" is brought to you by Hims, MobSquad and BetterHelp. Get access to affordable and discrete sexual health treatments with a free online visit at ⁠⁠hims.com/blind⁠⁠. If you were unsuccessful in the H-1B visa lottery, MobSquad can help. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠mobsquad.io/blindambition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. BetterHelp offers affordable online therapy on a flexible schedule. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betterhelp.com/teamblind⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 20% off your first month. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blindpodcast⁠

Monty Fowler, Vice President, Revenue Strategy and Enablement at Kentik Monty reveals that at many companies, the most highly paid professionals are often the salespeople, and in some cases, they might make as much as a Fortune 500 CEO. We break down the total compensation and pay structures most common in tech sales roles and a possible blueprint to earn $100,000 or more in an entry-level tech sales role. Monty also explains the archetypes of sales professionals and why it might not be what you think. We learn about the introverted people who succeed in sales roles and how some sales teams are made up of former engineers. He also shares the necessary skills someone might need to do well and the potential career paths in sales. This episode of "The Blind Ambition with Jack Kelly" is brought to you by Hims, MobSquad and BetterHelp. Get access to affordable and discrete sexual health treatments with a free online visit at ⁠hims.com/blind⁠. If you were unsuccessful in the H-1B visa lottery, MobSquad can help. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠mobsquad.io/blindambition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. BetterHelp offers affordable online therapy on a flexible schedule. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betterhelp.com/teamblind⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 20% off your first month. ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blindpodcast⁠