Nov 01 2024 51 mins 1
Frank Slootman turns the 'founder mode vs. manager mode’ debate on its head.
Frank’s track record in B2B land is iconic: He took Data Domain from pre-revenues to a $2.5B acquisition by EMC. He led the IPO at ServiceNow, and when he left the company, it was worth $34B. Frank then took Snowflake public, and the company was worth over $70B when he retired earlier this year.
After three successful CEO stints, Frank isn’t buying Silicon Valley’s fairytales about founders. His leadership style combines a manager’s prowess with a founder’s passion. Frank epitomizes what some might call “owner mode!”
(00:07) Frank's thoughts on 'founder mode' vs. 'manager mode'
(00:47) The role of non-founder managers and CEOs
(09:59) How to manage effectively without micro-managing
(17:11) The importance of intellectual honesty (18:32) Frank's thoughts on being 'in the arena'
(21:04) What it really takes to build a viable business
(28:34) Contrasting ServiceNow and Snowflake
(33:40) The impact of AI on business
(39:01) The future of app ecosystems
(44:50) Becoming a student of leadership
(46:31) Managing investor relationships
(48:04) Why Frank doesn't think about his legacy
(50:17) Closing Thoughts
