Masters of Scale cover art
Podcast · 366 episodes

Masters of Scale

by WaitWhat · English

On Masters of Scale, iconic business leaders share lessons and strategies that have helped them grow the world's most fascinating companies. Founders, CEOs, and dynamic innovators join candid conversations about their triumphs and challenges with a set of luminary hosts, including founding host Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock partner). From navigating early prototypes to expanding brands globally, Masters of Scale provides priceless insights to help anyone grow their dream enterprise.

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Halloween meets GLP-1s: Hershey’s candy Super Bowl, with CEO Kirk TannerHershey CEO Kirk Tanner discusses how the company prepares for Halloween (the “candy Super Bowl”), manages cocoa-driven price inflation, uses AI and retail data to drive sales, and responds to…29 Sep 2026 · 27 min · 10 chapters
Rapid Response: Stop creating businesses. Buy one instead, with Codie SanchezCody Sanchez argues that in today’s tight job market and high valuations, people should take control of their financial future by owning something—ideally a small business.26 Sep 2026 · 33 min · 13 chapters
How to build a billion-dollar sports team from scratch, with Golden State Valkyries’ Jess SmithBuilding the Golden State Valkyries from scratch into a billion-dollar-caliber WNBA franchise, and why women’s sports growth is now driven by investment, people, and media.24 Sep 2026 · 37 min · 15 chapters
Rebranding in a war zone, with Prosper Global (formerly Mercy Corps)CEO Jada McKenna discusses Prosper Global’s rebrand from Mercy Corps, arguing aid must go beyond “survival” to prevention, preparedness, and community prosperity.22 Sep 2026 · 27 min · 11 chapters
Let’s Kill Sh*t: Axios CEO on simplifying your work-life in the AI eraAxios CEO Jim VandeHei discusses simplifying work-life in the AI era, using his “Confront, Delete, Amplify” framework to reduce cognitive fatigue and decision overload.15 Sep 2026 · 33 min · 15 chapters
Rapid Response: On's 16-year overnight success: Zendaya, Federer, and outrunning competitionOn’s “16-year overnight success” and how it became a premium athletic brand by betting on innovation, sports’ shift into mainstream culture, celebrity partnerships, retail expansion, and…12 Sep 2026 · 27 min · 14 chapters
From high school dropout to CEO, with Autodesk’s Andrew AnagnostAndrew Anagnost, CEO of Autodesk, reflects on his path from high school dropout to Stanford/PhD and CEO, then explains how he led Autodesk through major shifts: subscription, back-office scaling,…10 Sep 2026 · 31 min · 19 chapters
NFL Kickoff: the science gets more damning, but the money keeps growingNFL business and audience growth for the 2026–2027 season, alongside rising concerns about player safety.8 Sep 2026 · 25 min · 13 chapters
Angela Duckworth on why grit isn’t enoughAngela Duckworth argues that “grit” (effort) isn’t enough by itself; people also need to master “the outside game” by choosing and shaping situations.3 Sep 2026 · 35 min · 18 chapters
When AI agents do your shopping, everything changes, with Shopify’s Jess HertzHow Shopify is responding to agentic AI in e-commerce and broader uncertainty (U.S.-Canada tariffs), including internal operating changes, tools, and merchant impacts.1 Sep 2026 · 30 min · 12 chapters
Pioneers of AI: Designing AI for people and the planet, with Aza RaskinAza Raskin argues AI design must center human well-being and the planet, because incentives drive “unconsidered consequences” (not just unintended ones).29 Aug 2026 · 45 min · 21 chapters
Chicago Fed President on inflation, recession, and Trump’s attacksAustin Goolsbee (Chicago Fed) explains why inflation risks remain despite a strong job market, how trade/tariffs and Middle East oil shocks could “unanchor” inflation expectations, what Jackson Hole…27 Aug 2026 · 36 min · 14 chapters
Ford's Jim Farley on beating China, and the storm nobody sees comingFord CEO Jim Farley discusses how the Middle East conflict (Strait of Hormuz, high gas prices, logistics disruptions) and China’s auto scale/subsidies are reshaping the global auto industry, and what…25 Aug 2026 · 28 min · 11 chapters
How Barnes & Noble made a comeback, with CEO James DauntJames Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble, explains how he turned around Waterstones and applied the same culture-and-curation playbook to Barnes & Noble, while resisting centralized control and data-driven…20 Aug 2026 · 33 min · 18 chapters
What the jobs report isn't telling you about AI & the workforce, with Upwork’s Hayden BrownHow the U.S. labor market is shifting under AI beyond what the monthly jobs report shows; the rise of fractional/freelance work; and Upwork’s approach to AI agents, model partnerships, and leadership…18 Aug 2026 · 30 min · 12 chapters
Pioneers of AI: Why AI conversations are always one-sidedAI “conversations” are often one-sided because AI can imitate dialogue, but lacks reciprocal emotional feedback, vulnerability, and nonverbal cues; humans must learn the right communication “rules”…15 Aug 2026 · 39 min · 19 chapters
Know which rules to break, with MTV co-founder Tom FrestonTom Freston (MTV co-founder) discusses rule-breaking vs recklessness, building challenger brands, maintaining culture while scaling, and why Viacom struggled to adapt to digital/social media; he also…13 Aug 2026 · 32 min · 17 chapters
Rapid Recap: Google’s exodus, Spider-Man’s odyssey, Taco “Hell”, and moreA rapid-fire roundup of business and culture stories, centered on “uncertainty as the new normal,” especially in geopolitics and AI; plus quick takes on entertainment, sports governance, prediction…11 Aug 2026 · 30 min · 13 chapters
Always be the challenger, with Savannah Bananas founder Jesse ColeJesse Cole explains how to “always be the challenger” by building a fan-first, experiment-driven sports entertainment business, using rapid iteration, social sharing, and constant show innovation…6 Aug 2026 · 29 min · 16 chapters
The new rules of brand building, with Wieden+Kennedy CEOHow to build brands amid volatility—why brand is a CEO responsibility, why “attention” isn’t enough, how to stay intentional across every customer touchpoint, and how to use AI and always-on…4 Aug 2026 · 30 min · 10 chapters
How to beef up your business, with ButcherBox CEO Mike SalgueroMike Salguero (ButcherBox CEO) explains how to scale a consumer business by using constraints, building culture with “grit + experience,” validating demand via Kickstarter, and acquiring customers…30 Jul 2026 · 36 min · 15 chapters
Serena Williams on winning in businessSerena Williams discusses how to win as an entrepreneur and investor: building systems, investing philosophy, backing underrepresented founders without “philanthropy,” choosing brand partnerships,…28 Jul 2026 · 26 min · 12 chapters
Possible: Satya Nadella on making human and token capital compoundSatya Nadella (Microsoft CEO) discusses how AI will reshape “the future of work” and enterprise strategy, focusing on “human and token capital” compounding, building controlled “hill-climbing…25 Jul 2026 · 1 h · 22 chapters
Author Jim Collins on unlocking your potentialJim Collins discusses his book What to Make of a Life, arguing that extraordinary careers come from “encodings” (durable inner capacities) plus “in-frame” conditions: being encoded for, flipping the…23 Jul 2026 · 32 min · 14 chapters