Who Got Me Here: Recent Episodes
Connect The Dots
We've all heard it a hundred times: Your network is your net worth. Who Got Me Here features leading executives looking back on the relationships that transformed their careers, unearthing lessons that anyone can use to build more meaningful connections and make the most of them.
Rebecca Agostino is an entrepreneur in the world of education, and she’s on a mission to teach the next generation how to build the relationships and durable skills that power career transitions. She has served with Teach for America, helped scale edtech platforms, and at just 25 years old became the founding principal of Freedom Prep High School in Camden, New Jersey. Today, through her company Prentice, she is tackling a gap almost no one is addressing head-on. Networking is one of the most important skills in modern life, and it isn’t taught in school.
In this conversation, Rebecca shares the truth that quietly shapes every career: the best opportunities are almost never found through job boards or career fairs. They come from people — a warm introduction, a follow-up email, a thoughtful question, a hand raised in a room. She walks through how she breaks networking into micro skills for teenagers: how to map the 25 people you already know, how to write the email, how to follow up without nagging, and how to turn a single conversation into a job shadow, a referral, or a mentor.
It is a conversation about agency, self-advocacy, and the quiet truth that most of us got our foot in the door because someone gave us a shot. Rebecca’s work is making sure the next generation knows how to ask for that shot — and how to be ready when it comes.
www.whogotmehere.com
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction: Why teaching networking matters
02:49 – Networking is a skill schools rarely teach
05:07 – The childhood lesson that shaped Rebecca’s mindset
08:33 – Talent is everywhere, opportunity is not
10:05 – The student who changed everything
11:51 – Founding a high school at age 25
14:28 – The mentor who taught her how to lead
17:09 – How networking opened the next chapter of her career
19:07 – Why apprenticeships are so powerful
21:47 – Rethinking how students access opportunity
25:27 – Teaching the hidden language of networking
27:26 – Helping students overcome fear and self-doubt
30:11 – Why most adults actually want to help
34:24 – Rebecca’s advice for young people
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whogotmehere.substack.com
Frederick Riley grew up in Saginaw, Michigan surrounded by eviction notices, food insecurity, and the constant feeling that something might go wrong at any moment. Yet his story is ultimately one of possibility. Along the way, a remarkable network of people — a determined mother, a pastor, a principal, teachers, mentors, and neighbors — helped shape the path that would eventually lead him to become Executive Director of Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute.
In this deeply personal conversation, Fred reflects on the moment he met his father for the first time at age eleven, the mentors who helped him see a bigger future, and the painful lessons that ultimately strengthened his commitment to community and service.
Fred also shares how his work today focuses on identifying and supporting “weavers,” the everyday people quietly rebuilding trust and connection in communities across America.
It is a powerful reminder that none of us gets where we are alone. Our lives are shaped by the people who see us, challenge us, and lift us up along the way.
www.whogotmehere.com
Time Stamps:
00:00 – A Defining Moment: Feeling Seen for the First Time
02:20 – Growing Up with Instability
04:20 – How High Expectations Shape Young Minds
07:00 – Finding Role Models When Few Exist
09:00 – Identity, Confidence, and Being “The Collar Boys”
12:00 – Teachers Who Change Trajectories
15:30 – Purpose Through Service: Building Mentorship Programs
18:00 – Investing in Youth: Why Developing the Next Generation Matters
21:30 – Joining Weave and Building Community Trust
23:30 – The “Weavers” of America
25:00 – Volunteering vs. Weaving: Building Relationships
27:00 – What Thriving Communities Look Like for Young Boys
29:00 – Can Strong Communities Be Built at Scale?
30:30 – How Relationships Are Built in Everyday Life
32:00 – Learning to Be Honest and Kind to Yourself
34:30 – The Power of One Person Reaching Out
36:00 – Advice to His 12-Year-Old Self
37:30 – The Mentors Who Still Shape Him Today
38:30 – Networking as Humanity: Treating Everyone with Equal Dignity
39:30 – Three Simple Actions to Rebuild Community Today
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whogotmehere.substack.com
Geoffrey Garrett, Dean of the Marshall School of Business at USC and former Dean of the Wharton School, has spent his career at the center of some of the world’s most respected institutions. But in this conversation, he makes a compelling case that even the most established business schools must evolve quickly to meet the demands of the AI age.
From his unlikely journey growing up in Australia to teaching Rhodes Scholars at Oxford to leading at Yale, UCLA, Wharton, and now USC, Geoff reflects on the mentors, pivotal moments, and leadership lessons that shaped him. Yet the heart of this episode is his vision for the future of higher education.
What does it mean to prepare students for a world of “vertical” technological change? Should admissions prioritize technical fluency? How do universities balance AI productivity with deep learning and responsible leadership? And what does “AI for X” (applying artificial intelligence across every discipline) mean for the next generation of business leaders?
Geoff shares why AI literacy must become an entry condition, why distinctiveness matters more than ever in admissions, and why the real challenge isn’t adopting AI, it’s doing so responsibly.
If you care about the future of business education, leadership, or the role universities will play in shaping the AI era, this conversation is for you.
www.whogotmehere.com
Time Stamps:
00:00 – An Unlikely Beginning
03:00 – Leadership Is a People Business
04:30 – The Pivot from Scholar to Builder
07:00 – Breaking Academic Silos
10:30 – Why Relationships Still Matter (Especially in a Digital World)
13:50 – The Real Power of Business School Networks
17:52 – AI Comes To Campus
18:50 – Responsible AI and the Hard Questions
22:10 – Designing Curriculum at “Vertical” Speed
24:30 – Your Bain on ChatGPT
28:05 – Admissions In The Age of AI
29:40 – Lightning Round
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whogotmehere.substack.com
What if a single, well-timed email could change the trajectory of your entire career? In this episode of Who Got Me Here, Annie Riley sits down with Drew Sechrist, one of Salesforce’s earliest employees and the founder & CEO of Connect the Dots. Drew shares how a cold email to Marc Benioff landed him a front-row seat on Salesforce’s rise from pre-revenue to over $1B—and how intentional relationship-building made him a top-performing sales leader.
Together, they unpack why meaningful networking isn’t about volume, how to stand out when everyone around you is an A-player, and why imposter syndrome is often a signal, not a weakness. This conversation is a masterclass in being curious, being intentional, and building relationships that compound over decades.
www.whogotmehere.com
Time Stamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Drew Sechrist
00:48 - Drew’s Early Career and Salesforce Journey
01:45 - The Power of a Well-Timed Cold Email
05:48 - Navigating Relationships and Networking at Salesforce
08:50 - Mentorship and Early Sales Lessons
16:14 - Building Community Across Geographies
18:55 - Learning from Mistakes and Iterating
20:18 - The Importance of Feedback in Networking
23:16 - Tools for Building and Maintaining Relationships
27:51 - Final Thoughts on Relationship Building
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whogotmehere.substack.com
In this episode of Who Got Me Here, Sarah Franklin traces her path from chemical engineer to CEO—and makes a compelling case that relationships, not resumes, are what truly shape a career. Through stories of being rejected 14 times, creatively breaking into tech, and rising from individual contributor to President at Salesforce before becoming CEO of Lattice, Sarah shares how self-awareness, gratitude, and intentional networking quietly compound over time. This conversation goes beyond titles and transitions, exploring how clarity of purpose, generosity toward others, and the courage to ask for help can redefine success and unlock opportunities you can’t see looking forward—but only connect looking back.
www.whogotmehere.com
Time Stamps:
00:00 Introduction: Why Relationships Matter
02:04 Defining Fulfillment & Purpose at Work
04:54 From Chemical Engineering to Tech
07:58 Learning to Translate Tech for Business
08:33 How Relationships Actually Create Opportunity
10:00 The 14 Rejections That Changed Everything
14:14 Salesforce: From IC to President
16:01 Leaving, Returning, and Seeing Clearly
17:33 Servant Leadership & Helping Others Rise
19:08 Goal Setting That Works (V2ME Framework)
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whogotmehere.substack.com
Whitnie Narcisse has built her career around a simple but uncommon truth: the strongest companies—and the strongest careers—are built through real relationships. As a longtime operating partner at First Round Capital, she’s been a quiet force behind some of the most trusted founder and operator communities in tech.
In this episode, Whitnie traces her non-linear path from Teach for America and nonprofit work into venture capital, sharing how curiosity, bold outreach, and genuine care opened doors she couldn’t have planned for. Along the way, she unpacks the mindset shifts required to navigate career transitions, advocate for yourself, and move forward—even when you don’t fit the traditional mold.
We also dive into the how: practical, creative approaches to networking and mentorship that actually work. From async advice and Loom videos to game nights, curated gatherings, and her FACE framework—Facts, Authenticity, Credibility, and Engagement—Whitnie offers a masterclass in building relationships with intention and generosity.
This conversation is a reminder that community isn’t built overnight. But when it’s built well, it compounds—and becomes one of the most powerful forces in a career.
www.whogotmehere.com
https://whogotmehere.substack.com
Time Stamps:
00:00 – Meet Whitnie Narcisse: From Teaching 8th Grade Science to Venture Capital
01:00 – Saying Yes Early: Teach for America, Nonlinear Careers, and Learning by Doing
02:45 – The Trivia Night That Quietly Changed Everything
07:00 – Breaking Into Venture Without a Straight Line (or a Perfect Plan)
09:00 – Networking with Agency: Confidence, Bold Outreach, and Assuming Positive Intent
14:00 – Modern Mentorship: Loom Videos, Async Advice, and Protecting Your Time
16:00 – Building Community at First Round: Why Relationships Compound Over Time
18:30 – What Makes a Great Event: Guest Lists, Small Groups, and Intentional Design
20:30 – Rethinking Networking: Game Nights, Poker, and Making Connection Fun
22:30 – The FACE Framework: How to Be Memorable, Human, and Credible
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whogotmehere.substack.com
Michael Palmisano didn’t stumble into success—he earned it through years of uncertainty, persistence, and an unwavering belief that the things worth having take time. In this episode of Who Got Me Here, Michael shares how the collapse of the traditional music industry forced him to rethink everything, ultimately leading him to build a global audience by teaching guitar online and breaking down songs.
Guided by his mantra—working hard, getting better every day—Michael reveals how showing up authentically, being vulnerable, and embracing imperfection helped him connect with nearly a million subscribers on a deeply human level. From betting his family’s savings on an unproven idea to launching his next entrepreneurial act with Teleport pedals, this is a powerful story about patience, self-trust, and building a life around what matters most.
www.whogotmehere.com
https://whogotmehere.substack.com
https://www.youtube.com/@whogotmehere-podcast
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whogotmehere.substack.com
In this episode, Kraig Swensrud—3x founder, CEO of Qualified, and former CMO of Salesforce, reflects on the people and pivotal moments that shaped his career. From early bets placed on him as a rookie sales engineer, to mentors who opened doors, to colleagues who pushed him to take bold risks, Kraig shares how relationships powered his path from Oracle to founding three companies.
He opens up about the leaders who invested in him, why he now pays it forward by spotting future superstars inside his own company, and the simple practices that build lifelong bonds. Kraig also offers grounded advice for early-career professionals: take more risks than you feel comfortable with, lean into emerging technology, never burn bridges, and remember that today’s peers will be tomorrow’s industry leaders.
A candid, inspiring look at how great careers are never built alone, but together.
www.whogotmehere.com
Time Stamps:
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01:33 - Introduction to Kraig’s Journey
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01:47 - The Salesforce Acquisition Story
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05:04 - Taking Risks and Building Relationships
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06:19 - Breaking into Tech and Early Mentorship
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08:18 - Paying It Forward: Mentorship Today
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10:26 - Forging Relationships Through Work
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11:45 - The Tech Industry Is Smaller Than You Think
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13:56 - Networking Strategies and Building Connections
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18:46 - Leveraging AI and Technology in Networking
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19:50 - Cold Emails and Standing Out
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23:10 - Lessons from Marc Benioff
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25:40 - Final Reflections and Career Advice
People That Helped Kraig Along The Way:
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06:19 - Norman Gennaro – One of Kraig’s First Bosses, CRO of Miro
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02:14 - Sean Whiteley – 3x Co-Founder with Kraig, How They Got Their Start
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7:06 - Phillip Merrick – It Started With a Cold Email
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13:59 - Alex Bard – Thanksgiving Ritual That Builds Lifelong Relationships
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15:50 - Dan Darcy – Surround Yourself With a Superconnector
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18:46 Rich Campbell – Grab Onto a Technology To Grow Your Career
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23:10 Marc Benioff – Master Networker and Someone Who Truly Cares
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whogotmehere.substack.com
We've all heard it a hundred times: Your network is your net worth. Who Got Me Here features leading executives looking back on the relationships that transformed their careers, unearthing lessons that anyone can use to build more meaningful connections and make the most of them.
This season, we’ve got a lineup of legends and inspiring guests. They include founders, investors, community builders, and CEOs.
By reverse-engineering career paths, we reveal what it really takes to succeed—And the stories of gratitude, risk, and resilience that shape remarkable careers.
Join hosts Jamie Grenney and Annie Riley as they reverse-engineer career paths, revealing what it really takes to succeed—And the stories of gratitude, risk, and resilience that shape remarkable careers. Tune in — and hear stories that move you to create more meaningful relationships
www.whogotmehere.com
https://whogotmehere.substack.com
https://www.youtube.com/@whogotmehere-podcast
https://www.instagram.com/whogotmehere-podcast/
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whogotmehere.substack.com
Mark Anderson is the CEO at Alteryx. In a conversation with Annie, Mark talks about his humble beginnings in retail sales that helped him break into the tech world. He shares stories about working with Jeff Bezos and Amazon in the ‘90s, and how learning from John Chambers at Cisco informs his current leadership style. Prior to his role as CEO at Alteryx, Mark was President of Palo Alto Networks, where he and the team grew the company from pre-IPO in 2012 to become one of the largest security companies in the world.
"I used to think that asking for help was a sign of weakness… And it wasn't until I noticed people that I respected asking for help and getting the sensation of joy when you provide help or guidance to others that I realized it was really a sign of strength, and that freed me up to be greedy when it came to asking for help.” - Mark Anderson
Episode Timestamps:
*(01:46) - Mark’s background and beginning in sales
*(06:59) - Breaking into the world of tech
*(09:31) - Key relationships from building connections
*(12:22) - Working at Cisco at $600 BN valuation
*(19:48) - Working with Jeff Bezos in the ‘90s
*(23:32) - Leveraging relationships to overcome obstacles
*(30:20) - Working at Alteryx
*(35:01) - Final thoughts
Sponsor:
Who Got Me Here is brought to you by Connect The Dots, mapping professional relationships so you can find the strongest connections to the people and companies you want to reach. Visit ctd.ai to learn more.
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Links:
- Connect with Mark Anderson
- Connect with Annie Riley
- Learn more about Connect The Dots
- www.caspianstudios.com
Jeff Epstein is an Operating Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, a global firm with $4 billion under management that invests in early-stage and hyper-growth startups, partnering closely with entrepreneurs to build durable businesses including innovative companies like Pinterest, Twilio, Box, LinkedIn, Shopify, Yelp, and Skype. Formerly, Jeff was the executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Oracle, one of the world’s largest and most profitable technology companies, with a market value of over $200 billion. Prior to joining Oracle, Jeff served as the CFO at several public and private companies, including DoubleClick (acquired by Google), King World Productions (acquired by CBS), and Nielsen’s Media Measurement and Information Group. Jeff co-teaches the Lean Launchpad class at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Engineering and the CFO Leadership class at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He holds an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, where he was an Arjay Miller Scholar, and a BA from Yale College. In this conversation with Annie Riley, Jeff talks about how he was able to make over 10,000 introductions throughout his career, his experience co-teaching the Lean Launchpad at Stanford, and the path he took to become CFO, leaving us with advice for those aspiring to do the same.
"The great thing about this whole idea of relationships and introductions is, it's not all or nothing, it's easy to start in a small way. No matter how much experience you have or whatever you're doing when you meet with someone, you say, just ask how can I be helpful? And if they say, 'gee, I would love to meet this person', or 'I'd love to look, do this, or learn about that', think about is there someone you know who would make an introduction, would be helpful, and then double opt-in. So, don't immediately introduce them, just email your friend and say, 'I've met person X, Y, Z, I think they're really interesting, here's why I think you might want to meet them'. Do that five or ten times, and see what happens. And if you end up with 10 no's then, you know, maybe you're not thinking about it right, or maybe you don't have the right relationships. But it wouldn't surprise me if you have five or six 'yeses' and one or two people say, 'wow, thank you so much for making that connection'." - Jeff Epstein
Episode Timestamps:
*(02:42) - Jeff’s expansive network of 10,000+ connections
*(09:03) - Exploring his background in relationship building
*(15:56) - Co-teaching Lean Launchpad at Stanford School of Engineering
*(22:47) - The biggest networking mistakes to avoid
*(27:58) - Jeff’s path to CFO and advice for those aspiring
*(34:40) - Idols throughout his career
*(39:12) - Final thoughts
Sponsor:
Who Got Me Here is brought to you by Connect The Dots, mapping professional relationships so you can find the strongest connections to the people and companies you want to reach. Visit ctd.ai to learn more.
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Links:
- Connect with Jeff Epstein
- Connect with Annie Riley
- Learn more about Connect The Dots
- www.caspianstudios.com
Magdalena Yesil was the first investor and founding board member at Salesforce, a company that now has a $200 billion market cap. She is the Founder of Broadway Angles and serves on the SoFi, Smartsheet, and Zuora board. In a conversation with Annie, Magdalena shares her experience breaking into Silicon Valley, including stories about how Steve Jobs and Marc Benioff shaped her career. She describes how persistence and resilience let you take bold steps forward.
“The piece that a lot of people miss is that if you are going to go get advocates and you are asking them to basically be putting their own necks on the line for you, then you need to think, ‘what will I do for them?’ Life is always a two-way street. ‘If you are advocating for me, how do I return the favor?’” - Magdalena Yesil
Episode Timestamps:
*(01:19) - Magdalena’s career success with networking
*(13:58) - Attending Stanford and breaking into Silicon Valley
*(20:46) - Experience working with Apple’s Steve Jobs
*(26:57) - First investor and founding board member at Salesforce
*(33:29) - Magdalena’s approach to advocates and networking
*(37:48) - How to overcome obstacles and earn acceptance
*(44:58) - Final thoughts
Sponsor:
Who Got Me Here is brought to you by Connect The Dots, mapping professional relationships so you can find the strongest connections to the people and companies you want to reach. Visit ctd.ai to learn more.
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Links:
- Connect with Magdalena Yesil
- Connect with Annie Riley
- Learn more about Connect The Dots
- www.caspianstudios.com
Nick Mehta is the CEO of Gainsight, a company with 12000+ global employees and 20k growing customers. Their mission is to be living proof that you can win in business while being human first. 99% of the reviewers on Glassdoor approve of their CEO. So what’s Nick’s secret to success? In a conversation with Annie, Nick talks about breaking into the customer success industry, standing out through the details, utilizing LinkedIn as a career-building strategy, and his most important advice for what NOT to do when networking.
“Business is fundamentally about human beings first. It's about human beings in your company and human beings with your customer and not losing sight of the human side of it. And that's something we're really passionate about. Our purpose and our mission statement at Gainsight is to be living proof you can win in business while being human first. So that's actually more than just customer success; it's about this new way of thinking about business.” - Nick Mehta
Episode Timestamps:
*(01:42) - How to use LinkedIn as part of a career-building strategy
*(09:51) - Celebrating 10 years of Gainsight and reminiscing back to it’s beginnings
*(13:50) - Why customer success ignites passion inside Nick
*(15:51) - Taking a ‘human-first’ approach in networking and relationship building
*(22:24) - Advice for networking calls. Don’t be transactional!
*(26:11) - How Nick broke into the customer success industry
*(30:15) - Anecdotes of pivotal relationships that lead to Nick’s success
*(37:41) - Looking back on his career and learning from mistakes
Sponsor:
Who Got Me Here is brought to you by Connect The Dots, mapping professional relationships so you can find the strongest connections to the people and companies you want to reach. Visit ctd.ai to learn more.
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Links:
- Connect with Nick Mehta
- Learn more about Gainsight
- Connect with Annie Riley
- Learn more about Connect The Dots
- www.caspianstudios.com
We wanted to do a special episode of Who Got Me Here focused on job searches. We hope this episode can become a resource for anyone who is currently on a job hunt. At this moment, it feels like you’re hearing about layoffs all the time. People are reaching out, saying, “what should I do?” As many people are embarking on job hunts right now, we wanted to be responsive to that. We are a podcast all about connections, career building, and relationships. Annie and Jamie Grenney (CMO and Head of Product at CTD) talk about techniques from our show to get to the next step in your career. Hear advice for getting tactical with job searches, acing the interview process, and refreshing relationships by reconnecting the dots.
“Don't think about the job search as a one-time campaign. This is really about developing your career. So success in a job hunt and success in your career is about the number of good relationships that you can foster. These are the people that are going to be your advocates and sources of your next career opportunity. Reid Hoffman said this, “if you're looking for an opportunity, you're really looking for a person.” So you want to think about developing good relationships throughout your career and keeping track of those people. The second thing is really about the number of quality touches. It's about how many people you reach out to, how many conversations you're able to set up, and quality means that you're taking the time to craft good asks of different people. And then, finally, acing the interview. You want to make sure that, if it's a company that you love, you are the best candidate and you're going to land that job.” - Jamie Grenney
Episode Timestamps:
*(02:11) - Introducing Jamie Grenney, CMO and Head of Product at Connect The Dots
*(02:47) - A story about Annie Riley, Host of Who Got Me Here
*(05:12) - Advice for first steps and getting tactical with job searching
*(14:54) - Building relationships and making good asks
*(19:02) - Relationship refreshes as a means of reconnecting the dots
*(27:56) - Keeping conversations going by following up on initial connections
*(31:02) - A multi-time CMO’s advice for acing the interview process
*(37:48) - How to decide which company to accept an offer from
*(40:14) - Final piece of advice - don’t think about the job hunt as a one-time campaign; think about relationship building as the key to career success
Sponsor:
Who Got Me Here is brought to you by Connect The Dots, mapping professional relationships so you can find the strongest connections to the people and companies you want to reach. Visit ctd.ai to learn more.
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Links:
- Connect with Jamie Grenney
- Connect with Annie Riley
- Learn more about Connect The Dots
- www.caspianstudios.com
April Underwood is the former Chief Product Officer at Slack. She was early at Twitter and made great friends at Google. As she describes in the podcast, the collection of people from companies A, B, and C is the foundation of one's network. April picked companies where she loved the product and knew these were people (Stewart Butterfield, Dick Costolo) she'd love building with. At this point in her career, April is an early-stage investor, co-founder of #ANGLES, and serves on the boards of Zillow and Eventbrite. In a fun conversation with Annie, hear April’s recommendations on building relationships, making good asks, and connecting friends.
“Networking and mentorship oftentimes sounds like something that you can just go do. I think that you have to, in my experience, foster those relationships. You network and you cultivate mentors through both on the job experiences, but also like real personal connection. Those are where I think people can really show up for one another because they know, they know you and you know them.” - April Underwood
Episode Timestamps:
*(03:50) - How April’s begnings as an intern at Deloitte Consulting as an intern lead to connections
*(05:31) - Why it’s important to foster work relationships outside of the workplace
*(07:52) - How April cultivated a relationship with Dick Costolo, former CEO of Twitter
*(09:29) - How April made smart choices throughout her career by joining, Google, Twitter, Slack
*(12:33) - Let your gut be your guide
*(14:57) - Choose the path where you feel at ease and feel like your best self
*(17:11) - How April created a relationship with Katie Jacobs Stanton
*(23:39) - Why relationships don't get built in a single meeting, but in multiple interactions
*(29:27) - The importance of #ANGELS
Sponsor:
Who Got Me Here is brought to you by Connect The Dots, mapping professional relationships so you can find the strongest connections to the people and companies you want to reach. Visit ctd.ai to learn more.
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Links:
- Connect with April Underwood
- Learn more about #ANGELS
- Connect with Annie Riley
- Learn more about Connect The Dots
- www.caspianstudios.com
Pejman is the co-founder and managing director of Pear VC, one of the most successful investment firms in Silicon Valley. Over the past two decades, he has been a seed investor in some of the most iconic tech companies including Doordash, Dropbox, Applovin, Gusto, and many more. An Iranian immigrant, Pejman took an unconventional career path, building up his network while working as a rug salesman in Palo Alto. Hear him share incredible stories—like the time he brought the entire partnership of Sequoia Capital into his rug gallery—and timeless lessons about the value of carefully building a network over time and the power of leaning in to what makes you unique.
“For me, I realized there is an opportunity. I think I was very lucky. I saw people around me and I wasn't really afraid. I wasn't afraid to jump into a community that I was not part of, ask a lot of questions, and I used my differences as my power.” - Pejman Nozad
Episode Timestamps:
*(02:10) - Pejman's beginnings from Iran to Palo Alto
*(04:32) - How working at a Rug Gallery gave Pejman access to tech and venture capita entrepreneurs
*(06:22) - Have a genuine interest in getting to know people
*(07:23) - Using you differences as a power
*(10:21) - Cultivating a relationship Lou Montulli founding member of Netscape, from customer to friend
*(12:30) - How a relationship with Doug Leone changed the trajectory of Pejman's career
*(14:07) - Getting Sequoia Capital to invest in Dropbox early on, with a ROI around $2 billion
*(17:38) - How Pear VC is partnering with founders to turn great ideas into category-defining companies.
*(29:27) - Understanding the market and product when investing
Sponsor:
Who Got Me Here is brought to you by Connect The Dots, mapping professional relationships so you can find the strongest connections to the people and companies you want to reach. Visit ctd.ai to learn more.
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Links:
- Connect with Pejman Nozad
- Learn more about Pear VC
- Connect with Annie Riley
- Learn more about Connect The Dots
- www.caspianstudios.com
Bob Metcalfe, the godfather of ethernet and namesake of Metcalfe’s Law, knows a bit about networking. His perspective on how connected nodes come together to form a whole greater than the sum of its parts is well-earned after a 50+ year career stretching back to the salad days of Xerox PARC. Hear Bob offer timeless advice on building relationships, making connections, and the value of helping others succeed.
“I was late to this, but you got to learn how to sell. In the course of learning how to sell you have to learn how to communicate, and the way you communicate is to listen. Listening is the secret to communication, which is the secret to selling.”- Bob Metcalfe
Episode Timestamps:
*(02:13) - Bob’s accidental visit to David Rockefeller’s office, and discovering the Rolodex
*(05:18) - Bob’s connection to his most famous mentor Steve Jobs
*(06:49) - Turing a no in to a long term relationship with Steve Jobs
*(08:34) - The importance of providing value to people
*(09:20) - Listening is the secret to communication
*(11:23) - The secret of happiness is enthusiasm
*(13:02) - Bob’s time mentoring as a professor of innovation at the University of Texas
*16:27) - How Bob’s conference Agenda helpled him secure relationships with Bill Gates and others in the personal computing industry
*(20:53) - Sincerity is a key ingredient to success
As Global Head of Recruiting at Notion, Kate has an interesting vantage point on tech career journeys. But her own path is a powerful example of how growth is a jungle gym, not a ladder. Kate launched her career with a cold email to Marc Benioff (at a point when Salesforce had 4,000 employees!) and spent years in sales roles at Salesforce, Dropbox, and Notion, where she rose to become Head of SMB revenue before making a leap into people and recruiting. Kate’s story is full of simple but powerful points on the value of relationships across careers—and she offers priceless advice on how to ask strangers for help.
I think people often are afraid to reach out to someone up, down, whichever direction they are near you. But at the core, most people I run into, want to help other people or they want to lend a helping hand. Anyone who’s asked me anything on LinkedIn, even if I don't even know them, I'm like sure, why not? Let me help you in some way. I find that's not unique to me asking a favor from someone or reaching out to someone, and not being afraid of what the answer is, and the response. Don't overthink it, just ask someone for help.” - Kate Taylor
Episode Timestamps:
*(02:10) - How a cold email to Marc Benioff launched Kate’s carrer
*(05:57) - How Kate moved from Salesforce to Dropbox
*(07:42) - Why Kate gravitated towards Armando Mann’s leadership style at Dropbox
*(11:16) - The importance of having a job that shares your core values
*(15:08) - The benefits of building genuine connections and personal relationships
*(16:35) - Why you shouldn’t be afraid to reach out to people or to ask for help
*(19:55) - Being authentic with your ask
*(22:08) - How a personal connection with Kate’s intern came full circle to a job at Notion
*(29:15) - People love to be remembered
Sponsor:
Who Got Me Here is brought to you by Connect The Dots, mapping professional relationships so you can find the strongest connections to the people and companies you want to reach. Visit ctd.ai to learn more.
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Links:
- Connect with Kate Taylor
- Connect with Annie Riley
- Learn more about Connect The Dots
- www.caspianstudios.com
Veere has been recognized numerous times as one of the top interior designers in the world by leading magazines and tastemakers. At the helm of his eponymous firm, Veere has designed interiors across the globe and seen his own homes featured in World of Interiors and Architectural Digest and Vouge, among others. Veere built his career slowly but organically, combining a relentless drive to follow his passions with a strong work ethic and commitment to service. In our conversation, Veere offers timeless and universal insights into how apprenticeship, professionalism, and dedication to craft can weave into a powerful fabric of relationships capable of elevating anyone to the top of their profession.
“I think what lets you down is a preconceived idea of how you have to be, to be that very thing you would like to be, that's punishment. But being a free spirit but never losing sight of the essence of where you want to be or the world you inhabit, that is what you must never leave.” - Veere Grenney
Episode Timestamps:
*(02:25) - Why your work should be about service
*(06:51) - Being a free spirit and never losing sight of where you want to be
*(10:02) - Why travel was important for Veere’s personal and professional career
*(15:18) - Planting yourself in an environment that enriches you
*(19:40) - Why the person itself is more important than the qualification
*(21:10) - The importance of an apprenticeship, growing, developing and mastering
*(28:48) - The benefits of having someone who's pragmatic around you
*(31:02) - Being brave and taking the risk
*(38:31) - There is no timeline for success
Sponsor:
Who Got Me Here is brought to you by Connect The Dots, mapping professional relationships so you can find the strongest connections to the people and companies you want to reach. Visit ctd.ai to learn more.
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Links
- Learn more about Veere Grenney Associates
- Connect with Annie Riley
- Learn more about Connect The Dots
- www.caspianstudios.com
Michael Jaconi is the CEO of Button, with a long career including executive roles at Rakuten and a stint as a presidential campaign aide to John McCain. Authentic, meaningful relationships have been a throughline across his expansive career—and he offers a load of helpful tips on how to build them. Check out this episode for nuggets including the best jobs to get out of college, the three strongest paths to connecting with a VC, and how to avoid a major networking mistake the first time you meet someone.
"I think that a lot of times people just let life go by with their usage of time, and the most finite thing we've got is time. So how you can spend it and who you value is really important." -Michael Jaconi
Episode Timestamps:
*(01:37) - Sharing your passions and vulnerability
*(04:11) - How Micheal’s fishing passion lead Don Garber to join the board of the Billion Oyster Project
*(06:16) - Securing a connection with Mickey (Hiroshi Mikitani), Founder & CEO of Rakuten
*(11:03) - Why grit is paramount, and the best transferable skill
*(16:20) - How Mark Lore provided a valuable introduction for Michael
*(18:18) - Why working for presidential campaign or startup gives you opportunity to ascend ranks
*(26:25) - Finding a more intimate way of staying connected
*(35:41) - Why its important to listen, be curious, and understand the passions of people
Sponsor:
Who Got Me Here is brought to you by Connect The Dots, mapping professional relationships so you can find the strongest connections to the people and companies you want to reach. Visit ctd.ai to learn more.
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Links
- Connect with Michael on LinkedIn
- Connect with Annie Riley
- Learn more about Button
- Learn more about Connect The Dots
- www.caspianstudios.com
Molly Graham is a technology executive, advisor, and board member whose resume includes helping both Google and Facebook navigate periods of intense scaling, serving as COO of Lambda School, leading operations at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and more. Molly credits relationships for opening doors and catapulting her career forward. Her story is packed with lessons on the outsized power of being a friend, how curiosity can forge meaningful relationships quickly, and how to build and make use of a personal council of advisors.
“You just never know who someone is, who they're gonna become, how they can be useful to your life and how you can be useful to theirs. My version of networking is figure out who someone is, whether you connect with them and then figure out ways to help them. And there will be a moment when they can help you.” - Molly Graham
Episode Timestamps:
*(02:30) - Molly’s early experiences of building relationships at Facebook
*(04:55) - How Steven Sinofsky set up a meaningful relationship for Molly
*(06:36) - Reasons why life is a barter economy
*(08:20) - Good networking is about good listening
*(11:46) - The importance of being useful: Molly’s time with Quip & the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
*(15:58) - The opportunity of taking risks
*(21:37) - Having a council to help with significant decisions
Sponsor:
Who Got Me Here is brought to you by Connect The Dots, mapping professional relationships so you can find the strongest connections to the people and companies you want to reach. Visit ctd.ai to learn more.
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Links
- Connect with Molly on LinkedIn
- Connect with Annie Riley
- https://mollyg.substack.com/.
- Learn more about Connect The Dots
- www.caspianstudios.com
As a 2x CEO with a $640 million exit and early investments in unicorns AppLovin and Chime on his resume, relationships have been essential to Tod’s success. But for him, “networking” isn’t the right word to describe his strategy. It’s all about genuine, meaningful connections, built by bringing people together around shared interests and passions. Our conversation with Tod was packed with insights about the value of being a host, why curation is a relationship-building superpower, and the importance of reminding people you’re still alive.
"I think the single most important thing is authenticity. Relationship building is the absolute core of human nature, and the absolute worst thing I think you can do to bring to that experience is something that is incongruent with who you are." - Tod Sacerdoti
Episode Timestamps:
*(01:20) - Why networking is super- important kryptonite
*(02:30) - How Steve Abbot change the trajectory of Tod’s career
*(06:21) - The power of ambition, persistence, and tenacity
*(10:37) - The role of relationships in Tod’s investing career
*(17:18) - Finding the superpower in organizing events
*(26:31) - The fundamental mistake of being too transactional
*(37:52) - Why authenticity and relationship building are most important
Sponsor:
Who Got Me Here is brought to you by Connect The Dots, mapping professional relationships so you can find the strongest connections to the people and companies you want to reach. Visit ctd.ai to learn more.
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Links
- Connect with Tod on LinkedIn
- Connect with Annie Riley
- Learn more about Pipedream
- Learn more about Connect The Dots
- www.caspianstudios.com
This is Who Got Me Here: Reverse-engineering the most powerful professional networks in Silicon valley and beyond. Hosted by Annie Riley. Learn how to build your network with Connect The Dots at ctd.ai