Marissa Mayer On the Last Two Years | Disrupt NY 2014 | Summary and Q&A

Summary

This video features an interview with Marissa Mayer, the CEO of Yahoo. Mayer discusses various topics, including Yahoo's mission, their focus on mobile, the acquisition of Tumblr, and their plans for the future.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is Yahoo's mission statement?

Yahoo's mission is to be the world's daily habits, focusing on search, mail, and digital magazines. They aim to bring interesting content, both partner and original, to their users.

Q: Is Yahoo a tech or media company?

According to Mayer, it doesn't matter how Yahoo is labeled. They build products that people love, use everyday, and find inspiring. The focus is on creating a relevant and useful experience for users.

Q: Can you talk about Yahoo's video content strategy?

Yahoo has been a leader in video content for a long time. They have done some experimentation with original series, such as the successful sitcom "Burning Love." They have also partnered with well-known producers to create series like "Other Space" and "The Sin City Saints."

Q: How much does it cost to produce a series?

The cost of producing a series can vary, but for Yahoo, they are focused on doing fewer, bigger projects. They want to create high-quality content that has a larger chance of success. The specific budgets were not mentioned in the video.

Q: Why did Yahoo rebrand their video content?

Yahoo rebranded their video content to avoid confusion and failed branding exercises. They now have original content aligned with their digital magazines, making it easier for users to find and engage with the content.

Q: Does Yahoo have a channel on Apple TV?

Yahoo has a product called Yahoo Screen that includes partner and original content. It has already been integrated into both Roku and Apple TV platforms.

Q: Has Yahoo removed the dead weight from the company?

According to Mayer, the company is executing much better and performing stronger now. When she joined Yahoo, she was surprised by the number of talented people in the company. They were eager to build great products, and she has focused on eliminating distractions and creating a clear path for them to succeed.

Q: Is Yahoo worth anything without its investments in Yahoo Japan and Alibaba?

Mayer believes that there is a lot of potential in the core of Yahoo. While there are different financial analyses, she remains optimistic about the value of the company's core products and services.

Q: What will Yahoo do with the funds from selling their stake in Alibaba's IPO?

Yahoo intends to be good stewards of capital. They have previously returned some proceeds to shareholders and made smart investments in talent and technology. The handling of the funds is critical, and they want to continue being responsible with their capital.

Q: Did Yahoo overpay for the acquisition of Tumblr?

Mayer does not believe that Yahoo overpaid for Tumblr. She sees great potential in the platform's network and the freedom it provides for content creation. They focus on building quality apps that align with their core business.

Q: Why are Yahoo's apps becoming more feature-rich instead of slimmer?

Yahoo wants to provide a serendipitous experience for users. Their goal is to keep users engaged within their apps by offering additional functionalities. They want to be the largest mobile-first company and leverage their ability to store and organize data.

Q: Is getting mobile right a critical issue for Yahoo?

Yes, Mayer considers getting mobile right a critical issue. She acknowledges that mobile was a missed opportunity for Yahoo in the past, but they have been making significant strides to become mobile-first. They are focused on providing a seamless app experience for users.

Q: Why is mobile organization at Yahoo divided among different executives?

Mayer explains that when she joined Yahoo, mobile was everyone's hobby and no one's job. To bring focus to mobile, they centralized it under Adam Cahan's leadership. They see it as a two-year experiment, but in the future, they will evaluate how mobile should be organized in the company.

Q: Do you believe Google is evil?

Mayer does not believe Google is evil. She has a lot of respect for Google and considers many people there as her closest friends. She believes that their consistent culture and focus on the user are admirable qualities.

Q: What Yahoo app or service should non-users check out?

Mayer suggests trying the Yahoo News Digest for a lightweight user, the Yahoo Mail app for deeper engagement, or Flickr for users with a large amount of data to store. She highlights the quality of content and services provided by these apps.

Takeaways

In summary, Marissa Mayer discusses various aspects of Yahoo's strategy and mission. She emphasizes their focus on mobile, the importance of building products that users love, and their strategic investments in video content and app development. Mayer also addresses some criticisms and challenges faced by Yahoo, such as their rebranding efforts and the value of their core business. She highlights some of the apps and services that users should check out to experience the quality and innovation Yahoo is striving for.