Company Conversations

Matt Ridleyis the author of books that have sold well over a million copies in 32 languages. He has been a scientist, a journalist, and a national newspaper columnist, and is the chairman of the International Centre for Life, in Newcastle, England. Matt Ridley is a member of the House of Lords in the UK and also a visiting professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York. In conversation with Nick Weinberg, Director of Content @ Company Ventures.

John Doerr is an engineer, acclaimed venture capitalist, and the chairman of Kleiner Perkins. For 37 years, John has served entrepreneurs with ingenuity and optimism, helping them build disruptive companies and bold teams. In 2018, he authored Measure What Matters, a handbook for setting and achieving audacious goals. Through his book and platform, WhatMatters.com, he shares valuable lessons from some of the most fearless innovators of our time. John was an original investor and board member at Google and Amazon, helping to create more than half a million jobs and the world’s second and third most valuable companies. He’s passionate about encouraging leaders to reimagine the future, from transforming healthcare to advancing applications of machine learning. Outside of Kleiner Perkins, John works with social entrepreneurs for change in public education, the climate crisis, and global poverty. John serves on the board of the Obama Foundation and ONE.org. In conversation with Matt Harrigan, CEO & Managing Partner @ Company Ventures.

Scott Belsky is an entrepreneur, author, and investor. He is currently Chief Product Officer at Adobe, serves as a board member to several early stage companies, and is a Venture Partner at Benchmark, a leading venture capital firm based in San Francisco. He was previously the founder and CEO of Behance, a leading online platform to showcase and discover creative work. He is also the creator of 99U, Behance's think tank and annual conference devoted to execution in the creative world. Belsky is the author of The Messy Middle: Finding Your Way Through the Hardest and Most Crucial Part of Any Bold Venture, Making Ideas Happen, and coauthor of the 99U book series. In conversation with Matt Harrigan, CEO & Managing Partner @ Company Ventures.

Yancey Strickler is a writer and entrepreneur. He’s the Founder of The Bento Society, the Co-Founder of Kickstarter, the Co-Founder of the artist resource The Creative Independent, and the author of This Could Be Our Future: A Manifesto for a More Generous World. In conversation with Lindsay Siegel, Head of Impact @ Company Ventures.

Walter Isaacson is a Professor of History at Tulane and an advisory partner at Perella Weinberg, a financial services firm based in New York City. He is the past CEO of the Aspen Institute, where he is now a Distinguished Fellow, and has been the chairman of CNN and the editor of TIME magazine. Isaacson’s most recent biography offers gripping account of how Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna and her colleagues launched the CRISPR revolution that will allow us to cure diseases, fend off viruses, and have healthier babies. He is also the author of Leonardo da Vinci (2017), The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution (2014), Steve Jobs (2011), Einstein: His Life and Universe (2007), Benjamin Franklin: An American Life (2003), and Kissinger: A Biography (1992), and coauthor of The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made (1986). In conversation with Alexi Nazem, Founder & CEO @ Nomad Health.

Cal Newport is an associate professor of computer science at Georgetown University. He’s also a writer who focuses on the impact of technology on society. He’s the author of six books, including Digital Minimalism and Deep Work, and writes regular essays for his popular website, calnewport.com. In conversation with Nick Weinberg, Director of Content @ Company Ventures.

Jacqueline Novogratz is the Founder and CEO of Acumen. She has been named one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy, one of the 25 Smartest People of the Decade by the Daily Beast, and one of the World’s 100 Greatest Living Business Minds by Forbes, which also honored her with the Forbes 400 Lifetime Achievement Award for Social Entrepreneurship. In addition to Acumen, she is a sought after speaker and sits on a number of philanthropic boards. In conversation with Lindsay Siegel, Head of Impact @ Company Ventures.

Emily Chang is the anchor and executive producer of Bloomberg Technology, a daily TV show focused on global technology and Bloomberg Studio 1.0, where she regularly speaks to top tech executives, investors, and entrepreneurs. She was previously a CNN correspondent based in Beijing and London, and has won five regional Emmy awards for her reporting. She is a graduate of Harvard University and lives in San Francisco with her husband and three children. In conversation with Nick Weinberg, Director of Content @ Company Ventures.

Elad Gil is an entrepreneur, operating executive, and investor or advisor to private companies such as Airbnb, Coinbase, Checkr, Gusto, Instacart, OpenDoor, Pinterest, Square, Stripe, Wish. He is cofounder and chairman at Color Genomics. He was the VP of Corporate Strategy at Twitter, where he also ran product (Geo, Search) and operational teams (M&A and Corporate Development). Elad joined Twitter via the acquisition of MixerLabs, where he was co-founder and CEO. Elad spent many years at Google, where he started the mobile team-involved in all aspects of getting it up and running. He was involved with three acquisitions (including the Android team) and was the original product manager for Google Mobile Maps. Elad received his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has degrees in Mathematics and Biology from the University of California, San Diego. In conversation with Matt Harrigan, CEO & Managing Partner @ Company Ventures.

Guy Raz is an acclaimed radio and podcast personality and creator of the popular podcasts “How I Built This,” and “TED Radio Hour,” which have found a consistent home on the top charts. “How I Built This” is a podcast about the greatest innovators, entrepreneurs, and idealists, and the stories behind the movements they built. Guy is also the creator of NPR's first-ever podcast for kids, “Wow in the World” as well as Spotify’s “The Rewind” and Luminary’s “Wisdom From The Top.” His shows are heard by more than 19 million people each month around the world. “How I Built This” and “TED Radio Hour” have been named top podcasts by Apple Podcasts, and Inc. Magazine has called “How I Built This” “the best podcast to take on the New Year." In conversation with Christina Ducruet, Director of Venture Development @ Company Ventures.