Roelof Botha’s life has been defined by a willingness to embrace uncertainty and pursue possibility. Growing up in South Africa during its historic transition from Apartheid, he learned early the value of stepping outside his comfort zone — choosing, for example, to attend an English-language university despite his Afrikaans background. “What can I do that opens up possibilities?” became a guiding question.
That mindset shaped his career path. Trained as an actuary, Roelof found himself drawn instead to the challenges of consulting, joining McKinsey in Johannesburg. A colleague and GSB alumnus encouraged him to consider business school, and he soon made another leap — this time across continents — to Stanford.
At the GSB, opportunity again opened new doors. As a student, Roelof joined PayPal in its early years, quickly rising to CFO and leading its 2002 IPO and acquisition by eBay by the time he was 28. Not long after, he joined Sequoia Capital, where his work with companies like YouTube and Instagram has helped shape the technology landscape. As he reflects, “The thing that sets us apart in the industry is our ethos of stewardship. This translates into a culture that demands continuous growth and achievement.”
Equally important to Roelof is giving back. Together with his wife, Huifen Chan, MBA ’00, he has supported multiple Stanford initiatives, including the Botha Chan Innovation Program at the GSB, which provides students the chance to test and refine entrepreneurial ideas over the summer. By helping the next generation of founders take early risks, the program mirrors his own belief that the startup world offers “multiple rolls of the dice.”
Today, as chair of the GSB Dean’s Advisory Council and a member of the Stanford University Board of Trustees, Roelof continues to pair leadership with stewardship. His journey reminds us that possibility is unlocked not by certainty, but by the courage to take risks and the commitment to help others do the same.
