Mr. Helmer is the Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Strategy Capital. He has spent his career as a practicing business strategist: advising companies, investing based on strategic insights, and teaching strategy. At Helmer &amp; Associates (later Deep Strategy), a consulting firm he founded, he led over 200 strategy projects with major clients such as Adobe Systems, Agilent Technologies, Coursera, Hewlett-Packard, John Hancock Mutual Life, Mentor Graphics, Netflix, Raychem, and Spotify.&nbsp;
With the Strategy Capital team, he continues to advise the founders of companies such as Brex, Scale AI, Lyft, Convoy, Intro, and Ginkgo Bioworks. In the last three decades, he has also utilized his strategy concepts as a public equity investor, first with proprietary accounts and, more recently, with Strategy Capital. Prior to Helmer &amp; Associates, he was employed at Bain &amp; Company.&nbsp;
He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Yale University and is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Williams College. Mr. Helmer taught Business Strategy in the Economics Department of Stanford University for a decade until 2018.

Hamilton

John D. Saunders is an experienced Digital Marketing Strategist, entrepreneur, and web designer. He has worked with some of the world’s biggest brands, including Land Rover, Audi, the NAACP, and Google, to help them create profitable websites and digital products. He is the founder of 5Four Digital, a digital marketing agency that helps startups achieve success in their online marketing efforts.
John has a passion for helping individuals and businesses achieve their goals through digital marketing. He believes in utilizing the power of the web to reach a wider audience and increase brand awareness. He has extensive knowledge of SEO, PPC, content marketing, design, and analytics. His clients have seen tremendous success in their campaigns thanks to his expert guidance.
John’s entrepreneurial spirit has led him to create several successful projects, including blackwallet.org, blackillustrations.com, and illustratorhub.com. These platforms are dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and creatives of color find success online. John has also been a mentor to several startups, helping them create and implement digital marketing strategies that have resulted in increased revenue and visibility.
John’s commitment to excellence is evident in his work. He is constantly striving to stay ahead of the curve, learning new techniques and technologies to ensure his clients get the best results. He is an avid learner and remains dedicated to helping others succeed. He is passionate about helping businesses reach their goals and create lasting success.

John

Adam Grant is an American psychologist and author widely known for his work on the science of giving, creativity, and organizational psychology. He is the top-rated professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a former professor at the University of Michigan. His first book, Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success, was a New York Times bestseller.
Grant is a leading authority on the science of giving, creativity, and organizational psychology. He has written or co-written six books, including Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World and Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy. He has also written for The New York Times, The Atlantic Monthly, Harvard Business Review, and other publications.
Grant's research focuses on how giving, taking, and exchanging advice affects an individual’s success. He has studied how to maximize the benefits of giving, how to encourage more successful collaborations, and how to foster an environment of innovation and creativity. He has also explored how to assess and develop leadership potential within organizations and how to build workplace cultures where employees are empowered to do their best work.
Grant has received numerous awards and honors, including being named one of the world's 40 most influential management thinkers by Thinkers50 in 2015, one of the world's 50 most influential management thinkers by Thinkers50 in 2018, and one of the world's most influential management gurus by The Observer in 2018. He is a recipient of the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Mentoring and was named the Most Influential Thinker of the Decade by Poets &amp; Quants in 2020.
In addition to his academic and writing career, Grant is a frequent speaker for organizations, universities, and conferences around the world. He has presented to audiences of thousands at TEDx events, and he has been featured on television and radio programs such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, 60 Minutes, and NPR’s Fresh Air. He has also served as a visiting professor at Stanford, Cornell, and INSEAD, and he is currently a visiting professor at the London School of Economics.

Adam

Antonio García Martínez is an entrepreneur, investor, writer, and tech industry veteran. He has had a long and varied career, beginning in the early days of the dot-com boom and continuing today. Early in his career, Antonio worked in a variety of roles at companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and Goldman Sachs.
At Apple, Antonio held a variety of positions, including working on the retail side of the business, developing software, and helping to launch the Apple Store. At Microsoft, Antonio was involved in the development of a number of products, including Windows 95 and Windows 98. After leaving Microsoft, Antonio founded Adify, a venture-backed ad network that WPP eventually acquired.
More recently, Antonio has become an investor, author, and thought leader in the technology and venture capital industries. He has invested in a variety of startups, including Twitter, Uber, and Stripe. He is also the author of the book Chaos Monkeys: Obscene Fortune and Random Failure in Silicon Valley, which chronicles his experiences in the tech industry.
In addition to his work as an investor and author, Antonio is a sought-after speaker and thought leader. He has appeared on the TED stage, as well as at conferences including SXSW, DLD, and TechCrunch Disrupt. Antonio is often called upon to provide his expertise and insight into the tech industry, as well as his views on the current state of venture capital and startups.
Overall, Antonio García Martínez is an accomplished entrepreneur, investor, author, and thought leader. His wealth of experience and knowledge from working in and around the tech industry, combined with his excellent communication skills, make him a highly sought-after individual in the industry.

Antonio García

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, and others. He is cofounder and chairman at Color Genomics.&nbsp;
Previously, he was the VP of Corporate Strategy at Twitter, where he also ran various product (Geo, Search) and other operational teams (M&amp;A and Corporate Development). Elad joined Twitter via the acquisition of MixerLabs, a company where he was co-founder and CEO. MixerLabs ran GeoAPI, one of the early developer-centric platform infrastructure products. Elad spent many years at Google, where he started the mobile team and was involved in all aspects of getting that team up and running. He was involved with three acquisitions (including the Android team) and was the original product manager for Google Mobile Maps and other key mobile products.&nbsp;
Prior to Google, Elad had product management and market-seeding roles at a number of Silicon Valley companies. He also worked at McKinsey &amp; Co. 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.

Elad

Jocko Willink is an American retired Navy Seal officer, author, podcaster, and public speaker. He is best known for his involvement in the Battle of Ramadi, his success in the Navy SEALs, and his leadership philosophy, which is based on discipline, hard work, and respect for others.
Willink was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, on September 8, 1971. He joined the Navy in 1990 and, after graduating from Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training, was assigned to SEAL Team 3. During his service in the Navy, Willink completed multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and was eventually assigned to Task Unit Bruiser, the most decorated special operations unit of the Iraq War. During the Battle of Ramadi, Willink and his team helped to clear the city of insurgent forces, and their exemplary performance earned them the Navy Cross.
Willink retired from the Navy in 2010 and soon after began to share his leadership philosophy. He has authored several books, including Extreme Ownership, Leadership Strategy and Tactics, and Way of the Warrior Kid, as well as co-hosting the popular podcast Jocko Podcast.
Willink is also a respected public speaker, giving talks all over the world on topics such as leadership, discipline, and team building. He is a sought-after keynote speaker for both corporate and military events.
Willink is an advocate for physical and mental fitness, often speaking about the importance of proper nutrition and exercise. He also encourages people to push themselves and strive to become the best versions of themselves.
Willink is a highly respected figure in the military and business worlds, and his words have been an inspiration to many. His leadership philosophy is one that emphasizes discipline, hard work, and respect for others, and these values are ones that have served him well throughout his career.

Jocko

Tim Ferriss is an American author, entrepreneur, and public speaker. He is best known for his bestselling book, The 4-Hour Workweek, and for his podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show. Ferriss has been featured in the Time 100 Most Influential People list and has been recognized as one of Fast Company's "Most Innovative Business People."
Ferriss was born in East Hampton, New York, in 1977. He attended St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, and graduated from Princeton University with a degree in East Asian Studies in 2000. After college, he worked in sales and marketing for a data storage company before starting his own business, BrainQUICKEN, which he eventually sold.
In 2007, Ferriss wrote The 4-Hour Workweek, which became an international bestseller. The book proposed a new way of working that focused on efficiency and productivity and encouraged readers to pursue their dreams and passions. The book was credited with launching the "lifestyle design" movement and has been translated into 35 languages.
In 2010, Ferriss launched his podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, which is now one of the most popular podcasts in the world. He interviews high-profile guests from various fields, including business, sports, and entertainment. Ferriss has also written several other books, including The 4-Hour Body, The 4-Hour Chef, Tools of Titans, and Tribe of Mentors.
Ferriss has been an active investor, advisor, and board member for a number of companies, including Uber, Evernote, Shopify, and Duolingo. He is a founding member of the Silicon Valley investment firm K9 Ventures and is also a venture partner at the venture capital firm Collaborative Fund.
Ferriss is active in the philanthropic community and has been involved with a number of charities, including DonorsChoose.org, The International Rescue Committee, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. He is also a member of the Clinton Global Initiative.

Arianna Huffington is a Greek-American author, syndicated columnist, and businesswoman. She was born Arianna Stassinopoulos on July 15, 1950, in Athens, Greece. She moved to the United Kingdom with her family when she was 16 and later studied economics at Girton College, Cambridge.
After graduating, Huffington began her career as a writer and commentator and was a prominent conservative commentator in the UK during the 1970s and 1980s. She later moved to the United States, where she continued her career as a political commentator and became a naturalized citizen in 1990.
In 2005, Huffington co-founded The Huffington Post, a news and opinion website, with Kenneth Lerer and Jonah Peretti. AOL acquired the site in 2011 for $315 million. She served as the site's editor-in-chief from 2005 to 2016.
Huffington is also a prolific author and has written several books, including "The Sleep Revolution," "Thrive," and "The Fourth Instinct: The Call of the Soul." She is also a public speaker and has delivered speeches on various topics, including well-being, media, and politics.
In 2016, Huffington resigned as editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post to focus on her health and wellness startup, Thrive Global, which focuses on reducing workplace stress and burnout. She is still the CEO of Thrive Global.
AOL acquired the Huffington Post in 2011 for $315 million. In 2016, she stepped down as editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post to focus on her new startup, Thrive Global, which aims to end the "epidemic of stress and burnout" by offering corporate wellness programs and products. Huffington is also an author, having written 14 books, including the best-seller "Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder."

Arianna

Nassim Nicholas Taleb is a Lebanese-American essayist, scholar, statistician, and former trader and risk analyst whose work focuses on problems of randomness, probability, and uncertainty. He is the author of several books, including "The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable," which was published in 2007 and became a bestseller.
Taleb is a former trader and risk analyst and has worked as a professor of risk engineering at New York University's Tandon School of Engineering. He has a background in mathematics, statistics, and computer science and has published numerous papers in academic journals on topics related to randomness and uncertainty.
Taleb's main area of research is the study of "black swans," which he defines as rare events that have a large impact and are typically not predictable. He argues that traditional risk assessment methods, such as using historical data to predict future events, are inadequate because they fail to consider the possibility of black swan events.
Taleb is also known for his criticism of the concept of "normalcy" in statistics and his skepticism of the use of mathematical models in finance and economics. He has argued that the assumptions made in these models are often unrealistic and can lead to dangerous oversimplifications.
In addition to his work in academia, Taleb is also a public intellectual and has written several books for a general audience. His books have been widely discussed and debated in the media and have been translated into multiple languages.
Taleb is a strong advocate for antifragility, a concept he has developed and popularized in his books. Antifragility is the property of a system or entity that improves when subjected to volatility, shocks, stressors, or disorder and doesn't just remain indifferent to them.
Taleb's writing style is often characterized as provocative and contrarian, and he is known for his strong opinions on a wide range of topics. His work has been influential in the fields of economics, finance, and risk management and has also been discussed in the broader cultural and intellectual conversation.

Nassim Nicholas

Alan George "A.G." Lafley has rejoined Procter &amp; Gamble (P&amp;G) as president and CEO, effective immediately. He has also been elected to the board of directors and will serve as its chairman. Lafley joined Cincinnati, Ohio-based P&amp;G in 1977 and served as president and CEO from 2000 to 2009. He succeeds Robert A. “Bob” McDonald, who is retiring from the company on June 30, 2013, after 33 years of service.
"A.G.’s track record and his depth of experience at P&amp;G make him uniquely qualified to lead the company forward at this important time,” said Jim McNerney, presiding director of P&amp;G’s Board. “The board expects A.G. to further improve results, implement the current productivity plan, and facilitate an ongoing succession process," and further expressed confidence that Lafley "will continue improving P&amp;G’s performance.”
“I wish Bob well and thank him for his service to P&amp;G,” Lafley said. “I am looking forward to working with P&amp;G’s outstanding leadership team to continue to improve the company’s performance. I am confident that we will deliver strong innovation, productivity, and growth to win with consumers, customers, and shareholders.”
McDonald joined the company in 1980 and served as president and CEO from 2009 to 2013. “It has been a privilege to work with the people of Procter &amp; Gamble to serve consumers around the world,” McDonald said. “I’m proud of what we have accomplished together, and I am confident in the company’s future.”

A.G.

Chris Anderson is the Head of TED, a non-profit organization devoted to spreading ideas through short, powerful talks. He is also the founder of TEDx, a program that allows communities and organizations to host TED-like events.
Anderson has been involved with TED since 2001 and took over as Head of TED in 2002. Under his leadership, TED has grown into a global phenomenon, with talks being viewed by millions of people in more than 100 languages. He has also been instrumental in expanding the reach of TED by making the words available for free online and by launching the TEDx program.
In addition to his work with TED, Anderson is also an entrepreneur and author. He is the founder of several successful companies. In addition, he has written several books, including "The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More" and "TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking."
Anderson is a firm believer in the power of ideas to change the world, and he has dedicated his career to promoting this idea through TED. He is a charismatic and dynamic speaker and has been praised for his ability to bring together diverse groups of people to share their thoughts and inspire change.
Anderson is also known for his innovative approach to curation, which has helped to make TED one of the most respected and widely-watched platforms for ideas. He has a keen eye for identifying new and emerging trends and is always looking for ways to bring fresh perspectives and voices to the TED stage.
He has also been a champion of using technology to democratize knowledge and ideas, making them more accessible to people worldwide. In addition, he has been an early adopter of new technologies, such as online video and social media, to help spread TED's message and reach new audiences.
Various organizations and publications have also recognized Anderson's work with TED. He has been honored with numerous awards for his contributions to the field of communications and education and has been named one of the most influential people in the world by Time Magazine.
In addition to his role at TED, Anderson is a sought-after speaker and advisor and has been invited to speak at conferences and events worldwide. In addition, he is a regular contributor to various publications, where he shares his insights on the future of technology, business, and culture.
Overall, Chris Anderson is a respected leader and a thought leader in the field of ideas and education, and he continues to inspire and innovate in his role as Head of TED. His work has helped make TED one of the most critical and influential platforms for sharing knowledge and ideas, and his contributions to the field will continue to be felt for years.

Chris

Benjamin Abraham Horowitz is an American businessman, investor, blogger, and author. He is a technology entrepreneur and co-founder along with Marc Andreessen of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. He previously cofounded and served as president and chief executive officer of the enterprise software company Opsware, which Hewlett-Packard acquired in 2007. Horowitz is the author of The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers, a book about startups and What You Do Is Who You Are: How to Create Your Business Culture.
Horowitz began his career as an engineer at Silicon Graphics in 1990. In 1995, Horowitz joined Marc Andreessen at Netscape as a product manager. From 1997 to 1998, Horowitz was vice president for the Directory and Security Product Line at Netscape. After AOL acquired Netscape in 1998, Horowitz served as Vice President of AOL's eCommerce Division.
In September 1999, Horowitz cofounded Loudcloud with Andreessen, Tim Howes, and In Sik Rhee. Loudcloud offered infrastructure and application hosting services to enterprise and Internet customers such as Ford Motor Company, Nike, Inc., Gannett Company, News Corporation, the United States Army, and other large organizations. Horowitz took Loudcloud public on March 9, 2001.
In June 2002, Horowitz began a transformation of Loudcloud into Opsware, an enterprise software company. He took the first step by selling Loudcloud's core managed services business to Electronic Data Systems for $63.5 million in cash. This transaction transferred 100% of Loudcloud's revenue to EDS while the company was publicly traded on NASDAQ. Beginning with EDS as its first enterprise software customer, Horowitz grew Opsware to hundreds of enterprise customers, over $100 million in annual revenue, and 550 employees. In July 2007, Horowitz sold Opsware to Hewlett-Packard for $1.6 billion in cash.
Horowitz was Loudcloud's and Opsware's President and Chief Executive Officer for the company's entire history. Along the way, shares of Opsware IPO'ed at $6, sank to $0.35 per share at its nadir and traded at $14.25 a claim at the time of its sale to HP. Following the sale of Opsware to Hewlett-Packard, Horowitz then spent one year at Hewlett-Packard as Vice President and General Manager in HP Software, responsible for 3,000 employees and $2.8 billion in annual revenue.

Ryan Holiday is an American author, marketer, media strategist, and entrepreneur. He is the author of several bestselling books, including his most recent, Perennial Seller, as well as popular titles such as The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy, Conspiracy, and Growth Hacker Marketing. Holiday has written for the New York Times, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, and other publications. He has also been featured in Time, The New Yorker, and The Washington Post.
Holiday is the founder of Brass Check, a creative consulting agency that specializes in marketing, media strategy, and creative consulting. He has worked with some of the world’s most successful authors, entrepreneurs, and public figures, including Tony Robbins, Tim Ferriss, Robert Greene, and Tucker Max. His clients also include media companies such as VICE, MTV, and Complex. He has also served as a consultant to brands such as American Apparel, Google, and Gillette.
As an author, Holiday has written nine books, three of which have become New York Times bestsellers. His books focus on topics such as personal and professional development, marketing, and media strategy. His most recent book, Perennial Seller, is a guide to creating and sustaining success in business, publishing, and life.
As a media strategist and consultant, Holiday has helped launch and reinvigorate several brands and campaigns. His work spans from creating marketing campaigns for startups and Fortune 500 companies to working as a creative consultant for media companies and major brands.
Holiday's work has been featured in major publications, including the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and The Washington Post. He has also appeared on television shows such as the Colbert Report, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and podcasts such as the Tim Ferriss Show and the Joe Rogan Experience.&nbsp;
In addition to his work as an author, media strategist, and consultant, Holiday is a frequent public speaker. He has been a keynote speaker at events such as SXSW, the World Business Forum, and the Inc. 5000 Conference. He also teaches marketing and media strategy classes at the University of California, Berkeley.
Holiday is passionate about helping others achieve their goals and dreams. He has created several online courses and resources to help entrepreneurs, creatives, and marketers better understand the media landscape, marketing, and creative strategies. He also serves as the Managing Director of the media startup, Contently and is an adviser to several startups and companies. He is also a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs and creators.

Ryan

Nir Eyal is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and lecturer on the topics of consumer psychology and behavior design. He is well-known for his book Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products, which focuses on understanding how technology companies create products that users become addicted to.
Eyal has a background in business and psychology, having received his MBA from Stanford University and a BSc in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. He has worked in the tech industry for over a decade and has held executive positions at several companies, including Yahoo and Time Warner.
Eyal has also founded two tech companies, AdNectar and Insightera, and is an investor in several startups. He has been an advisor or board member for numerous companies, including Eventbrite, Product Hunt, and BloomThat.
In addition to his business career, Eyal has written several books, including Hooked, Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life, and The Business of Habit: Designing Products and Services That Create Loyalty. He also writes a popular blog and hosts a podcast called The Nir and Far Show.
Eyal is a sought-after speaker, presenting to audiences all over the world. He has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes and has been a guest on many podcasts, including The Tim Ferriss Show and The Joe Rogan Experience.
If you are interested in gaining a better understanding of how to design products and services that capture and keep users’ attention, Nir Eyal is an excellent resource. His books, blog, podcast, and talks offer valuable insights into the world of consumer psychology and behavior design.

Eliyahu Moshe Goldratt (March 31, 1947 – June 11, 2011) was an Israeli business management guru. He originated the Optimized Production Technique, the Theory of Constraints (TOC), the Thinking Processes, the Drum-Buffer-Rope, Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM), and other TOC-derived tools. He was the author of several business novels and non-fiction works, mainly on the application of the theory of constraints to various manufacturing, engineering, and other business processes.
The processes are typically modeled as resource flows; the constraints typically represent limits on flows. In his book The Goal, the protagonist is a manager in charge of a troubled manufacturing operation. At any point in time, one particular constraint (such as inadequate capacity at a machine tool) limits total system throughput. When the constraint is resolved, another constraint becomes the critical one. The plot of Goldratt's stories revolves around identifying and raising the current limiting constraint, followed by finding out which is the next limiting constraint.&nbsp;
Another common theme is that the system being analyzed has excess capacity at a number of non-critical points, which, contrary to conventional wisdom, is essential to ensure the constant operation of the constrained resource. Goldratt was born into a rabbinic family, the son of Avraham-Yehuda Goldrat, in British Mandatory Palestine one year prior to Israel's modern statehood. He obtained a BSc degree from Tel Aviv University and MSc and a Ph.D. degree from Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan, Israel.&nbsp;
Goldratt died from complications arising from lung cancer on June 11, 2011, at noon, in his home in Israel. After some experience helping Israeli manufacturers, Goldratt left the academic world to join a company called Creative Output. The company developed and sold the Optimized Production Technology (OPT) software package. OPT was billed as the first software to provide finite capacity scheduling for production environments. A number of major publications analyzed this software and the principles behind it.
Goldratt was actively involved in many controversies, such as Cost Accounting v Throughput Accounting culminated in the publication of "A Town Without Walls." Within the company, Goldratt noticed elements that made him uncomfortable. For instance, in the second edition of The Goal, several software implementations did not come close to their estimated potential. After some work, Goldratt discovered that the habits and assumptions (paradigms) of employees and managers prior to using the software were still prominent and negatively influenced results after implementation.
His answer was the book The Goal, which took 13 months to write. After completion, the book was not well received by the company staff and by large publishers. Finally, with help from Larry Gadd, the owner of North River Press, the book was published and became a great success. After a while, Goldratt noticed that many implementations were conducted using the book but not the software. This caused further stress in the company, and Goldratt tried to capture the essence of implementing the solution directly in what is now known as the Drum-Buffer-Rope method.&nbsp;
He published The Race to explain some of the concepts he was working on and developed a course to teach people how to manage their production using a computer simulation game. Goldratt tried to move the company toward "consulting," trying to help people rethink how they did things. Still, Creative Output's declining revenues and Goldratt's involvement with things other than the sales of OPT software convinced the shareholders to fire Goldratt (and, afterward, his closer collaborators).

Eliyahu

Aaron Dignan sees the same phenomenon everywhere he looks. Our most trusted and important institutions in business, healthcare, government, philanthropy, and beyond are struggling. They’re confronted with the fact that the scale and bureaucracy that once made them strong are liabilities in an era of constant change. For the past ten years, he has studied organizations and teams with a new way of working that prioritizes adaptivity and autonomy over efficiency and control. Aaron contends that teams everywhere need to join them in the future of work.
As the founder of The Ready, a global organizational transformation and coaching practice, he helps companies large and small adopt new forms of self-organization and dynamic teaming. Clients include GE, Kaplan, Lloyds Banking Group, Microsoft, Citibank, FreshDirect, Hyatt, Airbnb, Bloomin’ Brands, Charles Schwab, PG&amp;E, Fidelity, New York Public Radio, and charity: water.&nbsp;
Dignan is an active angel investor and helps build partnerships between the startups and end-ups he advises. He has sat on advisory boards for GE, American Express, PepsiCo, and Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, as well as the board of directors for Smashburger. He is currently traveling and speaking in support of his new book Brave New Work (Portfolio 2019).

Aaron

Derek

Entrepreneurship is not what most people think it is. The myths that permeate our culture about founding a company causes countless people to throw away money, destroy relationships, and lose precious years of their life--all without a successful business to show for it at the end.&nbsp;
At the same time, giving up on entrepreneurship means ditching the greatest engine for personal advancement, freedom, and fulfillment the world has ever known. So how can you become an entrepreneur without giving up your health, your security, your friends, and your sanity?&nbsp;
Building on Bedrock is about answering this question. This book focuses on how and when you should take the leap and whether entrepreneurship is even the right thing for you in the first place.

Edwin Van Wyck Zschau represented California's 12th District in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 1987. In 1986 he ran as the Republican candidate for a seat in the United States Senate. He prevailed in a crowded Republican primary that included, among others, conservative commentator Bruce Herschensohn, Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, and Congresswoman Bobbi Fiedler. Still, he then lost to incumbent Democrat Alan Cranston by a narrow margin.
Zschau briefly re-entered the political arena as the vice presidential running mate to former Colorado Governor Dick Lamm, a Democrat, who challenged Ross Perot for the Reform Party presidential nomination in 1996. On May 26, 2019, Dr. Zschau became the Interim President of Sierra Nevada College, a role he held until the appointment of his successor the following year.
During the 1960s, Zschau was an assistant professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business for five years, teaching courses in computer systems, management science, and business policy. In 1967–68 he was a visiting assistant professor at the Harvard Business School, where he taught the required first-year MBA course in managerial economics.
In 1968 Zschau founded a computer company, System Industries. One of his collaborators in founding this company was Henry B. Eyring. Zschau served as CEO of System Industries from 1968 to 1981. In the same year, he became a general partner of Brentwood Associates, a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm. In 1988, he was elected chairman and CEO of Censtor Corp. Brentwood founded the company to develop advanced magnetic recording components for disk drives. In addition, he was recruited to be chairman and CEO of Austar, the IBM Storage Systems Division, in 1993.
Zschau is also the founding chairman, emeritus, and a member of the National Advisory Board of The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose is on the board of scholars of the ACCF Center for Policy Research in Washington, D.C., and is a fellow of the California Council on Science and Technology. In addition, he serves as chairman of the board of NanoOpto Corporation, Princeton Power Systems, and StarTek, Inc., President of Polyera Corporation, a director of The Reader's Digest Association, Inc., and Washington Live, Inc.
Zschau is currently a visiting lecturer with the rank of professor at Princeton University in the Departments of Electrical Engineering, Operations Research, and Financial Engineering and in the Keller Center for Innovation in Engineering Education. Before his current post at Princeton, from 1997 to 2000, he was a professor of management at the Harvard Business School and a visiting professor at Princeton University. During his years at Princeton, Zschau was a professor and mentor to Tim Ferriss. In the summer of 2019, Zschau accepted a pro bono position as Interim President of Sierra Nevada University in Incline Village, Nevada.

Steve Blank

Reid Hoffman

Peter Thiel

Elon Musk

Mark Cuban

In Building on Bedrock, Derek Lidow explores the differences between 'high-risk' and 'bedrock' entrepreneurs. High-risk entrepreneurs are those who chase after innovative ideas, while bedrock entrepreneurs build on proven concepts. Lidow encourages readers to understand which type they are, as it can significantly impact their entrepreneurial journey.

Understanding the Two Types of Entrepreneurs

Lidow emphasizes the importance of self-awareness in entrepreneurship. He suggests that understanding your strengths, weaknesses, and motivations can help you make better decisions and lead more effectively. So, take some time to reflect on your personal traits and how they can contribute to your business success.

The Importance of Self-Awareness

Building on Bedrock shows that success doesn't come overnight. Lidow shares stories of entrepreneurs who faced numerous challenges but persisted and eventually succeeded. If you're feeling discouraged, this book will remind you that persistence is key in the entrepreneurial world.

The Power of Persistence

According to Lidow, leadership is not just about managing a team. It's about setting a vision, making tough decisions, and inspiring others. In Building on Bedrock, you'll find valuable insights on how to become a better leader in your entrepreneurial journey.

The Role of Leadership

Lidow stresses the importance of having a solid business model. He argues that a good idea is not enough - you need a viable business model to turn that idea into a profitable venture. So, if you're planning to start a business, make sure to check out Building on Bedrock for tips on creating a strong business model.

The Value of a Solid Business Model

Building on Bedrock

Derek Lidow is unique in having successful careers as CEO of a global publicly traded semiconductor company, a founder and CEO of an innovative and valuable startup, and now as a teacher and scholar of entrepreneurship and innovation. Dr. Lidow is a professor of the practice at the Keller Center for Innovation in Engineering Education at Princeton University.&nbsp;
He is the author of Startup Leadership: How Savvy Entrepreneurs Turn Their Ideas Into Successful Enterprises (2014), Building on Bedrock: What Sam Walton, Walt Disney, and Other Great Self-Made Entrepreneurs Can Teach Us About Building Valuable Companies (2018), and THE ENTREPRENEURS: The Relentless Quest for Value (2022), as well as more than a hundred articles on innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Lidow graduated summa cum laude from Princeton and received a Ph.D. from Stanford as a Hertz Foundation Fellow.

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