E1108: SurveyMonkey CEO Zander Lurie on leading a public company thru COVID, role of a modern CEO | Summary and Q&A

27.4K views
September 12, 2020
by
This Week in Startups
YouTube video player
E1108: SurveyMonkey CEO Zander Lurie on leading a public company thru COVID, role of a modern CEO

TL;DR

In a conversation with Jason Calacanis, SurveyMonkey CEO Zander Laurie talks about leading companies during times of crisis and the importance of taking a stance on social issues. He also addresses the challenges of remote work and the changing role of CEOs in the modern business landscape.

Install to Summarize YouTube Videos and Get Transcripts

Key Insights

  • 🥺 CEOs are facing the challenge of leading companies during times of crisis by making good decisions, staying curious, and providing a path towards a better future.
  • 💦 Remote work has brought about the need for more clear strategic priorities and managerial focus on performance and delivery.
  • ❓ The role of a CEO now extends beyond the traditional product and market fit to include stakeholder management and engagement with employees, customers, and the community.
  • 🪡 Companies need to take a stance on social issues and actively engage in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion to attract and retain top talent.
  • 🥺 The expectation for CEOs to engage in social issues is growing, and failure to do so may lead to negative impacts on employee morale, customer loyalty, and overall company success.
  • 😀 California, while facing challenges such as high taxes and social issues, still attracts businesses due to access to talent and the lifestyle it offers. However, improvements in policies are necessary, particularly regarding taxation and homelessness.

Transcript

Read and summarize the transcript of this video on Glasp Reader (beta).

Questions & Answers

Q: When did Zander Laurie realize that the pandemic would be a significant and long-lasting event?

Laurie had an inkling in mid-February when he heard about the high demand for web conferencing platforms due to people sheltering in place and travel restrictions. San Francisco also had discussions about travel shutdowns, which led to the decision to encourage work from home.

Q: How has remote work affected the management of people at SurveyMonkey?

SurveyMonkey was fortunate to have already built a strong management team and a culture based on trust, mentorship, and respect. The company has had to be more focused and measurably-driven in a remote work environment. Managers are held accountable for their employees' well-being, performance, and the achievement of critical objectives.

Q: How does Zander Laurie plan to navigate the return to work once the pandemic subsides?

SurveyMonkey is actively reimagining work and considering the purpose of physically coming into the office. They plan to have more flexible schedules and prescriptive reasons for coming to the office, such as team events, cross-functional meetings, and customer engagements. They also recognize the importance of inclusivity and finding ways to involve remote employees.

Q: How does Zander Laurie balance the need for a diverse workforce and the challenges of hiring within a specific location?

Laurie believes there is no pipeline problem, but rather a lack of diverse networks within the industry. Companies need to create inclusive environments and actively seek out diverse talent. While SurveyMonkey hires with the intention of bringing people back to the office, they are making exceptions to hire diverse talent and may consider more remote work options in the future.

Summary & Key Takeaways

  • Zander Laurie discusses the challenges of leading companies during the COVID-19 pandemic and the current social unrest in the United States.

  • He talks about the early signs of the pandemic's impact and the decision to implement remote work policies.

  • Laurie emphasizes the importance of trust, communication, and maintaining a strong company culture in a remote work environment.

Share This Summary 📚

Summarize YouTube Videos and Get Video Transcripts with 1-Click

Download browser extensions on:

Explore More Summaries from This Week in Startups 📚

Summarize YouTube Videos and Get Video Transcripts with 1-Click

Download browser extensions on: