EP 147: How Chris Degnan Built Snowflake's Sales Org From Scratch
Chris Degnan is one of the most legendary CROs of this generation. He joined Snowflake as employee #13 and the 1st sales hire. He scaled the sales org from 0 to over $3B in ARR, spanned four CEOs, and retired as CRO after 11 years.
In his first podcast post-retirement, Chris opened his CRO playbook, from early enablement to hiring rigor and fending off threats from competitors. He also reflects on lessons from working with leaders like Frank Slootman, John McMahon, and Sridhar Ramaswamy. If you’re a founder or running sales at a startup, this one is for you.
(00:00) Introduction to Chris's Journey at Snowflake
(01:47) Navigating Leadership Changes
(04:39) The Importance of Sales Methodology and Enablement
(10:22) Near-Death Experiences and Company Resilience
(13:39) Building a Strong Sales Organization
(27:25) Hiring and Scaling the Sales Team
(34:52) Board Dynamics and Mentorship
(44:29) The Influence of John McMahon
(46:22) Leadership Styles and Intuition
(46:56) Launching Snowflake Japan
(49:39) Learning from Leaders
(55:10) The Importance of Competitive Moats
(59:12) Snowflake vs. Databricks
(01:07:45) Public vs. Private Markets
(01:14:03) Sales and Marketing Synergy
(01:26:17) Final Thoughts and Future Plans
Executive Producer: Rashad Assir
Producer: Leah Clapper
Mixing and editing: Justin Hrabovsky
Check out Unsupervised Learning, Redpoint's AI Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUl-s_Vp-Kkk_XVyDylNwLA
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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-logan-bartlett-show/id1606770839
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WqBqDb4br3LlyVrdqOYYb?si=3076e6c1b5c94d63&nd=1
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About the Show
Logan Bartlett is a Software Investor at Redpoint Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based VC with $6B AUM and investments in Snowflake, DraftKings, Twilio, and Netflix. In each episode, Logan goes behind the scenes with world-class entrepreneurs and investors. If you're interested in the real inside baseball of tech, entrepreneurship, and start-up investing, tune in every Friday for new episodes.
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EP 146: Bipul Sinha (CEO, Rubrik) on The New Rules of Silicon Valley
Logan sits down with Bipul Sinha, CEO and co-founder of Rubrik and former VC at Lightspeed and Blumberg Capital. Bipul shares what he learned transitioning from investor to founder, why intuition beats expertise, and how he built Rubrik into a category-defining business by betting on uncool ideas. They talk product-market fit in the AI era, what most VCs get wrong today, and why the enterprise IT market is still just getting started. It’s a conversation packed with hard-earned wisdom and bold takes on building lasting companies.
(00:00) Intro
(01:42) Transitioning from VC to Founder
(02:27) The Genesis of Rubrik
(03:30) Navigating Uncertainty in Business
(06:57) Product Market Fit and Early Success
(08:56) Evolving with the Market
(13:14) AI and Data Security
(18:53) Leadership and Intuition
(28:34) Building a Transparent Culture
(31:52) Handling Tough Questions in Board Meetings
(33:28) Changing Perspectives Over Time
(34:57) Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs
(36:46) The Future of Venture Capital and Startups
(40:38) Balancing Forward and Lateral Motion in Business
(42:35) The Impact of AI on Various Industries
(01:00:28) The Evolution of Work and Technology
(01:02:52) Fostering a Collaborative Company Culture
(01:04:56) Looking Ahead: The Future of Rubrik
Executive Producer: Rashad Assir
Producer: Leah Clapper
Mixing and editing: Justin Hrabovsky
Check out Unsupervised Learning, Redpoint's AI Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUl-s_Vp-Kkk_XVyDylNwLA
🎙 Listen to the show
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-logan-bartlett-show/id1606770839
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WqBqDb4br3LlyVrdqOYYb?si=3076e6c1b5c94d63&nd=1
🎥 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugS0jD5IAdoqzjaNYzns7w?sub_confirmation=1
Follow on Socials
📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theloganbartlettshow
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/loganbartshow
🎬 Clips on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theloganbartlettshow
About the Show
Logan Bartlett is a Software Investor at Redpoint Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based VC with $6B AUM and investments in Snowflake, DraftKings, Twilio, and Netflix. In each episode, Logan goes behind the scenes with world-class entrepreneurs and investors. If you're interested in the real inside baseball of tech, entrepreneurship, and start-up investing, tune in every Friday for new episodes.
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EP 145: Rick Smith (CEO, Axon): The Wild Ride From Near-Bankruptcy to $50B+
Rick Smith (CEO, Axon) joined Logan to share the 30-year journey of building a nearly $50B public company behind the TASER, police body cameras, and now AI-powered tools like Draft One. He talks about taking Axon public in the early 2000s, navigating intense public scrutiny, and evolving from a controversial hardware startup into a software and AI pioneer. Rick also reflects on leadership lessons, regulatory battles, and his long-term mission to make the bullet obsolete. It’s a candid and compelling conversation with one of the most unconventional founders in tech.
(00:00) Intro
(01:31) Axon: Reducing Violence Through Technology
(02:12) The Evolution of Axon: From Taser to Body Cameras
(04:56) Challenges and Triumphs: Going Public and Beyond
(07:17) The Impact of Ferguson and the Rise of Body Cameras
(11:16) Navigating Cultural and Business Shifts
(17:04) The Role of AI and Future Innovations
(25:26) The Taser: Technology and Purpose
(34:17) Making the Bullet Obsolete: Future of Law Enforcement
(37:10) Consumer Market Evolution
(37:59) Proving Taser's Viability
(40:17) Targeting Gun Owners
(41:45) Taser-Related Deaths and Media Perception
(48:07) Employee Taser Experience
(50:59) Impact of Body Cameras
(52:43) AI Innovations in Law Enforcement
(56:15) Challenges in Product Development
(01:04:27) Regulatory Hurdles
(01:11:31) Leadership and Company Culture
(01:14:58) Future Vision for Axon
Executive Producer: Rashad Assir
Producer: Leah Clapper
Mixing and editing: Justin Hrabovsky
Check out Unsupervised Learning, Redpoint's AI Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUl-s_Vp-Kkk_XVyDylNwLA
🎙 Listen to the show
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-logan-bartlett-show/id1606770839
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WqBqDb4br3LlyVrdqOYYb?si=3076e6c1b5c94d63&nd=1
🎥 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugS0jD5IAdoqzjaNYzns7w?sub_confirmation=1
Follow on Socials
📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theloganbartlettshow
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/loganbartshow
🎬 Clips on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theloganbartlettshow
About the Show
Logan Bartlett is a Software Investor at Redpoint Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based VC with $6B AUM and investments in Snowflake, DraftKings, Twilio, and Netflix. In each episode, Logan goes behind the scenes with world-class entrepreneurs and investors. If you're interested in the real inside baseball of tech, entrepreneurship, and start-up investing, tune in every Friday for new episodes.
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EP 144: Jeffrey Katzenberg & Sujay Jaswa (WndrCo) on What Startup Founders Can Steal From Hollywood
Logan sits down with Jeffrey Katzenberg, Hollywood legend and co-founder of DreamWorks, and Sujay Jaswa, former CFO of Dropbox - together, the duo behind WndrCo. They talk about building enduring companies, bridging tech and media, and what makes a great CEO partnership. The conversation also touches on storytelling as a business superpower and lessons from scaling at different stages. Whether you're a founder or a media nerd, there’s something here for you.
(00:00) Intro
(04:26) The Genesis of the Partnership
(13:06) Building and Investing in Companies
(20:27) The Team and Their Roles
(26:52) Decision-Making Process
(33:25) Balancing Dreams and Skepticism
(35:06) The Dynamics of Partnerships
(37:25) Transitioning to Tech
(38:45) Cultural Differences in Industries
(41:26) The Value of Failure and Success
(44:37) Excitement in Emerging Technologies
(48:23) The Venture Capital Game
(56:42) The Dropbox Talent Network
(01:01:20) AI's Impact on Media and Creativity
(01:06:18) Transitioning to CG Animation at DreamWorks
(01:08:39) Embracing Change in the Intelligence Revolution
(01:11:52) The Role of AI in Enhancing Productivity
(01:14:11) Building a Consumer Cybersecurity Business
(01:23:49) The Mission to Protect Children Online
(01:35:17) Reflections on Partnership and Innovation
Executive Producer: Rashad Assir
Producer: Leah Clapper
Mixing and editing: Justin Hrabovsky
Check out Unsupervised Learning, Redpoint's AI Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUl-s_Vp-Kkk_XVyDylNwLA
🎙 Listen to the show
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-logan-bartlett-show/id1606770839
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WqBqDb4br3LlyVrdqOYYb?si=3076e6c1b5c94d63&nd=1
🎥 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugS0jD5IAdoqzjaNYzns7w?sub_confirmation=1
Follow on Socials
📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theloganbartlettshow
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/loganbartshow
🎬 Clips on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theloganbartlettshow
About the Show
Logan Bartlett is a Software Investor at Redpoint Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based VC with $6B AUM and investments in Snowflake, DraftKings, Twilio, and Netflix. In each episode, Logan goes behind the scenes with world-class entrepreneurs and investors. If you're interested in the real inside baseball of tech, entrepreneurship, and start-up investing, tune in every Friday for new episodes.
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1:50:37
EP 143: Debunking Healthcare's Biggest Myths with Zach Weinberg and Derek Thompson
In this episode, Logan is joined by Zach Weinberg (Co-Founder/CEO @ Curie.Bio) and Derek Thompson (writer at The Atlantic) for a candid discussion on the state of U.S. healthcare and scientific progress. They unpack what went right, and wrong, with COVID vaccine policy, the public backlash against mRNA technology, and the ripple effects on trust in science.
The conversation also dives into the real reasons behind NIH budget cuts, the economics of drug discovery, and the business incentives in medical R&D. It’s a sharp, thought-provoking look at the intersection of policy, innovation, and public perception.
(00:00) Introduction to Drug Pricing in the US
(00:23) Broad Healthcare Topics and Open-Ended Discussion
(02:37) COVID-19 Vaccines: Successes and Public Perception
(06:21) The Evolution of COVID-19 and Vaccine Efficacy
(07:59) Public Policy and Vaccine Mandates
(13:10) Impact of School Closures and Public Sentiment
(19:23) NIH Funding and the Importance of Basic Research
(25:04) Challenges in Science Funding and Public Perception
(35:19) Government vs. Private Investment in Science
(36:40) Operation Warp Speed: A Case Study
(39:07) Antibiotic Resistance Crisis
(43:22) The Drug Pricing Debate
(44:05) Challenges in Drug Discovery
(54:06) Regulatory Hurdles in Medical R&D
(58:06) The Future of Drug Development
(01:04:19) Concluding Thoughts
Executive Producer: Rashad Assir
Producer: Leah Clapper
Mixing and editing: Justin Hrabovsky
Check out Unsupervised Learning, Redpoint's AI Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUl-s_Vp-Kkk_XVyDylNwLA
🎙 Listen to the show
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-logan-bartlett-show/id1606770839
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WqBqDb4br3LlyVrdqOYYb?si=3076e6c1b5c94d63&nd=1
🎥 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugS0jD5IAdoqzjaNYzns7w?sub_confirmation=1
Follow on Socials
📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theloganbartlettshow
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/loganbartshow
🎬 Clips on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theloganbartlettshow
About the Show
Logan Bartlett is a Software Investor at Redpoint Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based VC with $6B AUM and investments in Snowflake, DraftKings, Twilio, and Netflix. In each episode, Logan goes behind the scenes with world-class entrepreneurs and investors. If you're interested in the real inside baseball of tech, entrepreneurship, and start-up investing, tune in every Friday for new episodes.
Startups grow faster and avoid costly mistakes when they learn from those who came before them. In each episode, we sit down with the people behind today’s most important startups and extract the tactics, lessons, and frameworks they’ve learned the hard way. Conversations span hiring to GTM, product, growth, fundraising and everything in between - collectively forming the ultimate playbook to make you a better CEO, investor or board member.
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