Divot

The journey from startup to global brand is never easy, but it’s the moments of crisis that define true leaders. In this episode, Jeremy Andrus, CEO of Traeger Grills and former CEO of Skullcandy, shares how he transformed two consumer brands into icons. From taking Skullcandy public to reinventing Traeger into the world’s number one wood-pellet grill company, Jeremy reveals the resilience and gri...

The world is changing fast — and there’s no going back. In this episode, legendary Silicon Valley investor Navin Chaddha (Managing Partner at Mayfield) lays out a powerful prediction: “Every business will become an AI business — no exceptions.” We dive into what that really means for founders, industries, and the future of work. Navin introduces the concept of “ vibe coding ”, where 8 billion peop...

How do you build an AI company trusted by the world's top enterprises, while surviving political oppression, hacking a country's internet, and rewriting the future of work? In this episode, Waseem Alshikh, co-founder and CTO of Writer, shares his extraordinary story. At 17, he launched his first startup in Syria — only to be imprisoned when the government tried to steal it for one dollar. In retal...

How do you choose the right quest — the kind of mission that truly matters, and can survive in today’s world of regulation, politics, and entrenched incumbents? In this episode, Founders Fund General Partner and Anduril co-founder Trae Stephens shares his philosophy of “Good Quests” — and what entrepreneurs must get right when tackling hard, meaningful problems. We dive deep into how AI will trans...

In this inspiring conversation, we explore how AI will transform the future of business and work, and what it means for us as humans. You’ll hear why AI will soon perform 80% of human jobs, why full AI-first tools will surpass today’s co-pilots, and why most of AI’s impact will happen outside of tech. But this is also a powerful life masterclass. From building billion-dollar startups to raising a...

In this episode, Kobie Fuller invites us into his home gym — and into the mindset that’s driven him through elite athletics, startup investing, fatherhood, and personal growth. From sprint workouts to 24-hour fasts, Kobie shares how he uses physical discipline to sharpen mental clarity and lead with purpose. He breaks down two core ideas that changed his life: “It takes what it takes” and neutral...

Most people fail at leadership because they complicate what should be simple. Greg Osborn’s approach is different. After leading in Vietnam, raising a family with old-school work ethic, and building businesses in Silicon Valley as the tech boom took off, he learned that success comes from two things: giving people the right training and keeping them motivated. In this conversation, Greg breaks dow...

America used to lead the world in innovation. Now, it's falling behind — and no one in power wants to face the truth. In Part 2 of this eye-opening conversation, we dive into how the U.S. lost its edge in science, technology, and defense. From bloated bureaucracies to outdated mindsets, the systems that once fueled American greatness are now holding it back. You'll hear war stories from th...

Most founders follow advice that sets them up to fail. In this episode of Divot , we sit down with one of the most influential minds in startup history — Steve Blank . Before reshaping modern entrepreneurship, Steve co-founded E.piphany , a CRM company that went public in 1999 and soared to an $8 billion valuation. After multiple startups and hard-won lessons, he created the startup playbook that...

Liz Wiseman is one of the world’s leading voices on leadership and talent development. A Wall Street Journal best-selling author of Multipliers and Impact Players, Liz’s work has helped shape leaders at Apple, Google, Meta, and beyond. In this episode, she shares how growing up in Silicon Valley, facing early life challenges, and leading major teams taught her the power of multiplying — not dimini...

His family lost their home, memories, and peace — in minutes. What came next would define his legacy. Rich Raddon, co-founder and co-CEO of ZEFR, opens up about losing everything in a wildfire — and what it taught him about rebuilding, resilience, and leading with heart. From sleeping in his office to supporting a 200-person team while navigating grief, Rich shares how tragedy transformed his lead...

What does it take to create $100B+ in value while staying grounded, humble, and deeply human? In this episode of Divot, Derek sits down with one of Silicon Valley’s most respected VCs — a former founder turned long-term investor who’s helped build companies like Lyft, HashiCorp, and Poshmark , with more than 45 IPOs and acquisitions and over 40,000 jobs created across his portfolio. As Managing Pa...

What if the biggest problem in the NBA today was also the key to unlocking its future? In this episode, we sit down with Kirk Goldsberry — bestselling author of SprawlBall and Hoop Atlas, current University professor, former NBA strategist and ESPN analyst — to talk about how spatial analytics , Steph Curry , and the three-point revolution changed the game forever. And why it might be time to chan...

How do you go from sneakers to $4B in sales, revolutionize collectibles, and invent a new market for toys? In this episode, Josh Luber, co-founder of StockX and the creator of Ghosts, breaks down his game-changing journey in the hype economy. From building StockX — the $4B sneaker resale platform — to launching Ghosts, his innovative collectible toy brand, Josh reveals his secrets to turning scarc...

How does a creative entrepreneur go from selling beanies to becoming the "Branding Whisperer" behind some of the most culturally iconic brands of our time? Shaun Neff is the legendary brand builder and founder of Neff Headwear, and the force behind Moon, Pattern, Base, and Sun Bum. He’s partnered with stars like Kendall Jenner, Millie Bobby Brown, and Snoop Dogg — and he's also co-owner of the X G...

How does someone go from washing cars and selling rugs to investing in billion-dollar startups like Dropbox and DoorDash? Pejman Nozad arrived in America with $700, no English, and zero connections, but today, he’s one of the most influential investors in Silicon Valley. In this episode, Pejman shares his extraordinary journey from immigrant to Forbes’ #1 seed investor, revealing the networking se...

Justin Kan built Twitch, sold it for nearly $1 billion, and still felt unfulfilled. In this episode, he shares the truth about money, success, and happiness—and how to break free from the endless chase for more. Who is Justin Kan? Justin Kan is a tech entrepreneur, investor, and former Y Combinator partner, best known as the co-founder of Twitch, which Amazon acquired for $970 million in 2014. Bef...

Doug Leone believes that the toughest challenges create the strongest people . From immigrating to the U.S. at age 11 and struggling through his teenage years to becoming the global leader of Sequoia Capital , Doug’s journey is filled with hard-earned lessons on resilience, success, and leadership . Who is Doug Leone? Doug Leone is a billionaire venture capitalist and former Global Managing Partne...