Masters of Scale
Business & Finance
About
Reid Hoffman shows how startups grow from zero to gazillions.
Episodes
- Raising Cane’s secret recipe for scaling, with CEO Todd Graves
Todd Graves, CEO of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, talks about the company's growth into a large restaurant chain. He discusses their menu, staff, and his perspective on private equity in the restaurant industry.
- Mellody Hobson: When investors head for the exit, run to the fire
Mellody Hobson, co-CEO of Ariel Investments, joins Rapid Response to discuss exploiting market volatility rather than just surviving it. She shares financial lessons, including an admonition against making choices solely based on money, an…
- The Devil Wears Prada workplace: Toxic or timeless?
This episode of Masters of Scale explores business lessons from The Devil Wears Prada. Host Bob Safian, Janice Min, and Sarah Ball discuss changes in publishing, fashion, and power, and how the film's depiction of ambition and management r…
- How Poppi’s founders built a new soda brand worth $2 billion
Allison and Stephen Ellsworth, founders of Poppi, discuss the growth of their soda brand to a $2 billion exit. They also cover balancing company and family, social media strategy, and their experience with Superbowl advertising.
- Maria Sharapova’s centre court tricks for the boardroom
Maria Sharapova joins for a discussion about her career as an investor, entrepreneur, and podcaster. She shares insights from her experiences in the business world, including negotiating with major brands and developing her own company.
- Possible: Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings: stories, schools, superpowers
Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix, joins ""Possible"" to discuss the impact of AI on storytelling, education, and the future of work. He shares insights from his extensive experience in technology, including his early studies in AI and…
- The art of the steal: Serial founder Eric Ryan on finding inspiration
Eric Ryan, founder of Method and Olly, discusses his strategies for building disruptive companies and successful brands. He explains his approach to creating businesses that can challenge existing market categories.
- A first look at Samsung’s blueprint to win the AI era, with Mauro Porcini
Mauro Porcini, Samsung's President and Chief Design Officer, discusses the company's new design manifesto. He also talks about their rivalry with Apple and the shift from hardware to human experience.
- Why CEOs need to think more like athletes, with investor Byron Deeter
Byron Deeter, an investor focusing on tech companies, shares his perspective on why CEOs should adopt an athlete-like approach. He also provides advice for founders and investors navigating the current AI transformation.
- LIV Golf’s gambit to rewrite global sports, with Scott O’Neil
Scott O'Neil, CEO of LIV Golf, discusses his efforts to disrupt the sport of golf. He shares insights into managing a sports franchise and working with Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund.
- Humanize AI before it dehumanizes us, with Dr. Rana el Kaliouby at SXSW
In this episode recorded at SXSW, Dr. Rana el Kaliouby discusses human-centered AI and its importance for societal well-being. She also addresses common AI myths and examines its applications in therapy and Meta Glasses.
- The “most stressed” wellness CEO, with Calm’s David Ko
David Ko, former CEO of the mental wellness app Calm, discusses his experience leading the company and his decision to step down. He explores the pressures of a C-suite role and how to differentiate between productive and destructive stres…
- How to think faster and talk smarter, with Matt Abrahams
Matt Abrahams, a communication expert and Stanford lecturer, shares strategies for public speaking and overcoming anxiety. He discusses techniques for winning over a crowd, closing deals, and inspiring a team.
- The internet is breaking. So what’s next? with Cloudflare’s Matthew Prince
Matthew Prince, CEO of Cloudflare, discusses the impact of AI on the Internet, including its economic implications and the reactions of major tech companies. He shares insights from his company's position routing a significant portion of g…
- Arthur Brooks on how to build a meaningful life
Arthur Brooks, a bestselling author and Harvard professor, joins host Jeff Berman on Masters of Scale. He shares insights from his new book, "The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness."
- Crisis at Hormuz, and your $160b tariff refund clock, with Flexport’s Ryan Petersen
Ryan Petersen, CEO of Flexport, returns to discuss the Strait of Hormuz crisis, its impact on supply chains, and the implications of a Supreme Court ruling on tariff refunds. He also touches on how AI is reshaping logistics and software co…
- Futurist Amy Webb: Trends are not enough
Amy Webb, futurist and CEO of the Future Today Strategy Group, explains why convergences are more critical than trends for understanding change. She advises leaders to focus on preparing for the disruption of convergences.
- The C-suite is messier than you think, with Maryam Banikarim
Maryam Banikarim, former CMO of Univision, Gannett, and Hyatt, shares insights on C-suite politics and career disruption. She discusses navigating career changes and her unique perspective on the Middle East conflict.
- How Shantanu Narayen transformed Adobe
Outgoing Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen discusses the company's transformation of creative tools like Photoshop to cloud-based subscriptions, which he says unlocked faster innovation and is serving the company well in the age of AI.
- FanDuel CEO Amy Howe: ‘My whole career has been sliding doors moments’
Amy Howe, CEO of FanDuel, talks about her career, including leading Ticketmaster during the pandemic and navigating the competitive landscape of sports betting. She discusses the challenges of shifting regulations and the emergence of pred…
- Stop waiting for clarity. Unfreeze and act, with Accenture’s Julie Sweet
Accenture CEO Julie Sweet speaks with host Bob Safian about navigating AI disruption and geopolitical shifts. She shares insights from Accenture's clients, emphasizes AI proficiency for promotions, and discusses the importance of entry-lev…
- Your Rich BFF dishes on dopamine spending and the new money minefield, with Vivian Tu
Vivian Tu, CEO of Your Rich BFF, joins Rapid Response to discuss personal finance risks, opportunities, and common money mistakes. She also shares insights on navigating market volatility and offers advice on who to trust for financial gui…
- Rapid Recap: Iran, Anthropic vs. Pentagon, Paramount’s win, and more
This episode of Rapid Recap on Masters of Scale features host Bob Safian and producer Alex Morris discussing current geopolitical and business news. Topics include the impact of geopolitics on business leaders, media shake-ups, and technol…
- Hailey Bieber, AI and fast launches: how e.l.f. Beauty is winning
Tarang Amin, CEO of e.l.f. Beauty, shares insights into the company's growth strategies. He discusses fast product launches, AI use, and brand partnerships that have contributed to their market success.
- Unrivaled is rewriting the business of women’s basketball
Micky Lawler, Commissioner of Unrivaled, discusses the launch of this new women's basketball league. The episode explores the growth of women's sports, brand investment, and the process of building a sports startup.
- Inside the business of hosting the Super Bowl
This episode of Masters of Scale features an interview with Zaileen Janmohamed, CEO of the Bay Area Host Committee. She discusses the complexities of planning and executing major sporting events, including the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Game…
- Uncovering the $7 trillion reputation economy
Corey duBrowa, CEO of Burson, explains the $7 trillion reputation economy, highlighting its power as a business asset. He discusses how leaders can navigate reputational risk, AI disruption, and other marketplace challenges.
- DraftKings’ next big bets, with CEO Jason Robins
DraftKings CEO Jason Robins discusses prediction markets and AI. He also talks about company culture and navigating the regulatory landscape.
- Super Bowl ads, Bad Bunny, and the business of cultural risk, with Autodesk’s Dara Treseder
Dara Treseder of Autodesk joins Masters of Scale to discuss Super Bowl LX advertising trends. The episode covers various ad campaigns and the business implications of cultural events like Bad Bunny's halftime performance.
- GaryVee on how to make Super Bowl ads that are actually funny
Gary Vaynerchuk of VaynerMedia talks about producing Super Bowl ads, including a future ad for Kellogg's Raisin Bran, and discusses shifts in marketing and social media adoption by large brands. He shares insights with Jeff Berman.
- How Zoom grew 30x almost overnight
Eric Yuan, founder of Zoom, joins host Jeff Berman to discuss how Zoom grew into a major platform, managed exponential growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, and navigated a round of layoffs.
- Padma Lakshmi’s secret to authentic leadership? Stop trying.
Padma Lakshmi discusses authentic leadership, speaking out, and remaining true to oneself. She also talks about her show, America's Culinary Cup, and her approach to modern work life.
- Possible: Amjad Masad on vibe coding, AI agents, and the end of boilerplate
Amjad Masad, CEO of Replit, joins Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger to discuss AI's impact on software development, the role of "vibe coding," and the future of AI agents. The conversation also explores the implications for work, creativity, an…
- How to break through a fear of failure, with Fawn Weaver & Van Jones
Fawn Weaver, founder of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, and CNN host Van Jones discuss building a meaningful life, overcoming the fear of failure, and the growth of her spirits brand.
- Reid Hoffman on AI’s new tune, Davos, and the need for CEO courage
Reid Hoffman discusses AI's impact on industries like music and healthcare, global challenges such as political headwinds, and the importance of CEO courage. He also shares insights on being an AI-first organization and his investment phil…
- Reid Hoffman & Inflection AI’s Sean White on designing AI that makes us better humans
Reid Hoffman and Sean White of Inflection AI discuss responsible AI systems and building AI-powered businesses. They explore AI's potential to transform various sectors.
- How to make smarter changes, with cognitive scientist Maya Shankar
Cognitive scientist Maya Shankar discusses applying behavioral economics insights to foster resilience during times of change. This episode features Maya Shankar speaking with host Jeff Berman.
- Anti-polarizing strategies from a purple city, with OKC Mayor David Holt
OKC Mayor David Holt discusses how cities navigate macroeconomic forces and improve public trust. He shares what it means to govern a politically "purple" city and strategies for reducing polarization.
- How to save a magazine, with The Atlantic’s Nicholas Thompson
Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, discusses the magazine's financial turnaround and strategies for media companies to navigate AI disruption. He also shares insights from his experiences in long-distance running.
- The AI agents in your wallet, with Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach
Michael Miebach, CEO of Mastercard, joins Rapid Response to discuss consumer confidence and global spending trends. He also unpacks the role of AI in financial security and the future of credit cards, crypto, and digital wallets.
- How Baby2Baby stepped up as LA wildfires raged
This episode revisits a conversation with Baby2Baby co-CEOs Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof. They discuss using their nonprofit scaling experience to help Los Angeles during wildfires.
- The $800M exit that started with a single muffin
Katlin Smith, founder of Simple Mills, shares her journey of building the brand from muffin recipes to an $800 million exit. She discusses scaling the company and her focus on nutrient-dense ingredients.
- Business world predictions for 2026
Bob Safian and Alex Morris discuss business world predictions for 2026, including AI, energy prices, immigration, and the World Cup. Safian presents his predictions for issues business leaders may face.
- The science of fresh starts
Katy Milkman, a behavioral scientist, shares insights on creating lasting positive changes. She discusses methods applicable to individuals and organizations.
- Pioneers of AI: Mark Cuban’s investment strategy in this new era of tech
Mark Cuban joins host Rana El Kaliouby to discuss his investment philosophy regarding AI. He shares his thoughts on the current state of AI, including whether there is an AI bubble and why he is becoming less excited about the field.
- How to unlock your team’s creative potential
Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi shares her approach to fostering creativity within a team. She discusses creating an environment that supports talent, drawing from her experience at PepsiCo.
- Resurrecting dire wolves is just the beginning for Colossal Biosciences’ Ben Lamm
This episode of Rapid Response features Colossal Biosciences’ co-founder and CEO Ben Lamm. He discusses the company's work on de-extinction, including the dire wolf project, and its implications for conservation and human health.
- The Salesforce CFO who left to save lives
Amy Weaver, former Chief Legal Officer and CFO at Salesforce, discusses her transition to CEO of Direct Relief. She shares how she is applying lessons from Salesforce to amplify Direct Relief's work.
- Lessons of Rapid Response for 2026
This episode of Masters of Scale addresses leading through disruption, with host Bob Safian sharing five lessons from the Rapid Response series. It includes insights from guests such as Brian Chesky, Clara Shih, Marc Lore, and José Andrés…
- Make the office a destination, not just an obligation
Gensler co-CEO Elizabeth Brink and global co-chair Andy Cohen join host Jeff Berman to discuss collaborative leadership, AI's disruption of the architecture and design industry, and designing for the future of work.