#44: Jeff Lawson, Twilio Cofounder & CEO—Dig for Problems and Then Solve Them

Today’s guest is Jeff Lawson, the co-founder & CEO of Twilio, one of the world’s fastest growing technology companies. Millions of software developers use their platform to add communications to apps and websites we all use, like airbnb and Lyft. Jeff has a unique point of view as an entrepreneur. He has a foot in both the technical developer world AND the executive world. So if you need to make your business more digital or get more from your technical talent, then his perspective is going to be invaluable to you. But he may also challenge you a bit. So often in business we get wrapped up in our solutions – features, shiny products, sales roll-outs, and all that good stuff. But in all our obsession over the solution, we often overlook the problem. What huge unsolved issue is out there that customers are struggling with every day? Jeff says THAT’S what we should all be looking for. And if you want to find it, this conversation is a great place to start. You’ll also learn: Two things you can take away from any startup experience, even if it doesn’t work out How to structure teams so even big companies can stay agile and innovative One often-overlooked insight to getting the most out of your technical talent How to inject accountability and leadership at every level of your organization Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.