9 Top Videos of 2019

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Watch “Life After Coal,” a look at how Stanford GSB alumni and leaders from a West Virginia town are working together to create new opportunities. | Beth Rimbey

Sitting on a plane or waiting in a long retail line? Pass the time with Stanford GSB’s top videos of the year. Our editor’s choice roundup is a mix of interviews with top tech executives, important learnings from faculty research, and features on alumni doing impactful work out in the world.

1. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft

Satya Nadella discusses his journey at Microsoft, his vision for a future where we use AI to improve society, and the paramount importance of empathy in doing innovative work. He encourages listeners to not “wait for your next job to do your best work,” but rather to give it your all in the role you find yourself in.

2. Why Great Businesses Fail

Professor Charles A. O’Reilly III explains how companies can be adaptable and succeed in the face of industry disruption. It involves creating a structured process for developing new ideas for new businesses and then providing those ideas with the resources they need to scale. This is where executives often stumble.

3. Networking Minds for Open Innovation

If you’re looking to unlock new solutions or ideas, start by collaborating with people who think differently than you. Today, the internet has made this easier than ever before. Stanford GSB lecturer Amy Wilkinson talks about the potential of flash teams and gamification in solving the world’s biggest problems.

4. Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO, Uber

Dara Khosrowshahi came to the U.S. from Iran when he was 9 years old. After a business career that has included jobs at Allen & Co., USA Networks, and Expedia, he’s now the CEO of Uber, working to revolutionize transportation on a global scale. Khosrowshahi talks about mentorship, the importance of negotiation before stepping into a new role, and the challenges of crafting a diverse and inclusive company culture.

5. Startup Success Secrets

Research shows that 9 out of 10 startups will fail. Why? It all comes down to people. Interpersonal conflicts and undefined company culture can lead to downfall. But research shows being intentional about who you bring onto your team is one of the first steps toward success.

6. Ruth Porat, CFO, Alphabet and Google

“Education is your passport for life,” Ruth Porat recalls her father telling her. She took it to heart. Porat earned three degrees, then joined Morgan Stanley, advised the U.S. Treasury Department, and later landed the CFO job at Google and Alphabet. In this video, she talks about taking the wrong job, understanding her clients’ hierarchy of objectives, and why she walked out with her team during a Google protest.

7. Life After Coal: How Stanford GSB Alumni Are Helping an Appalachian Town

Meet Jenna Nicholas, CEO of Impact Experience. She and her team are working with the community leaders of a small mining town in West Virginia to find new opportunities for the locals.

8. What Tech Leaders Really Want

Silicon Valley is shifting traditional liberal politics. Tech elites, say two Stanford GSB professors, are liberal in every way but one: regulation. In this video, they discuss how this powerful industry could fundamentally change the Democratic Party.

9. Bridgewater Investments’ Ray Dalio: Invest in Idea Meritocracy

Dubbed the “Steve Jobs of investing,” Ray Dalio founded the most successful hedge fund in history. Part of his success? Hiring people who would disagree with him.