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A video interview in which Vlad Tenev of Robinhood describes leading through crises, including raising $3 billion in a few hours during the GameStop frenzy and a 90% stock price drop. He argues "it's always wartime" should be a CEO's default mindset, and explains how he keeps speed and urgency at a company of 15,000 people.
We link to the original and never republish it. All credit to Vlad Tenev.
Key takeaways
- Tenev treats "it's always wartime" as the default mindset for a CEO, not an exception reserved for crises.
- He limits planning to days instead of weeks to keep the company moving fast.
- Product events act as forcing functions that keep thousands of employees working with startup urgency.
- Tenev says that if you need something done fast, you should give it to your busiest person.
- He stays connected to customers even while leading 15,000 employees.
Who it's for
Founders and operators at scaling companies who want to stay fast and calm under pressure as the organization grows.
Why it's worth your time
It offers a first-hand look at crisis leadership and keeping startup speed at scale, including how to rebuild trust after public failures and how co-CEOs can work.
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