Building in a Brave New World - Cloud 100 2021

TL;DR

CEOs of Canva, Service Titan, and NFL player Larry Fitzgerald discuss how their organizations adapted to challenges during the pandemic and the importance of community, solving real problems, and maintaining a winning culture.

Transcript

hi i'm melanie perkins and i am the ceo and co-founder of canva hi i'm ara madesian i'm co-founder and ceo of service titan hi i'm larry fitzgerald jr i played nfl wide receiver for the last 17 years i'm a passionate venture investor as well given how much the world has changed then we're in the middle of a global pandemic in crisis how has all thi... Read More

Key Insights

• 👶 Larry Fitzgerald Jr. focused on supporting education and breast cancer research through his foundation during the pandemic, finding fulfillment in involving his children and adapting to decreased funding.
• 👋 Service Titan responded to the crisis by creating a community of contractors to share best practices and support each other, resulting in increased revenue.
• 👣 Canva adapted to the changing needs of customers during the pandemic by focusing on solving real problems, such as transitioning from print materials to online marketing, and maintaining their guiding principles.
• 😤 Creating a culture of openness, trust, and inspiration is crucial for high-performance sports teams and organizations.
• 🖐️ Community plays a central role in both Service Titan and Canva's businesses, with customer feedback and support informing product development.
• 🚛 Innovation involves serving both articulated and unarticulated customer needs, requiring observation, anticipation of future trends, and hiring industry experts.
• 👨‍🏫 The CEOs are inspired by making a positive impact, such as bridging the technology gap in schools, solving world suffering, and helping governments and non-profits be more effective in achieving their goals.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Larry Fitzgerald Jr.'s foundation focus on education and breast cancer research during the pandemic?

Larry's foundation intensified its efforts in supporting education and breast cancer research due to reduced funding worldwide, caused by job losses and uncertainty. He found fulfillment in involving his children and being intentional in his projects.

Q: How did Service Titan assist contractors during the pandemic?

Service Titan built contactless features for contractors to interact with homeowners and provided masks for technicians. They also formed a community to share best practices, resulting in increased revenue for the industry and a thriving community.

Q: What challenges did Canva face during the pandemic, and how did they stay focused on their success?

Canva's focus on solving real problems for customers transitioned well to the changing needs during the pandemic. They shifted from print materials to online marketing, aligning with remote learning and businesses moving online. Their guiding principles of supporting the community, ensuring safety, and rallying together helped them stay focused.

Q: How do high-performance sports teams inspire and motivate team members during tough times?

Larry Fitzgerald Jr. emphasized creating a culture of openness, trust, and inspiration among teammates. Open dialogue, motivation, and finding what motivates each individual help build a winning culture, both in sports and in organizations.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Larry Fitzgerald Jr. focused on his foundation's mission to support education and breast cancer research during the pandemic, with an added sense of responsibility and fulfillment from involving his children in philanthropy.

• Ara Madesian, CEO of Service Titan, shared how their company responded to the crisis by creating a community of contractors and sharing best practices to help them thrive.

• Melanie Perkins, CEO of Canva, highlighted the importance of focusing on solving real problems for customers and adapting their platform to meet changing needs during the pandemic.