Inspired with Alexa von Tobel
00:39:07 · Alexa von Tobel, Penny Pritzker
[00:39:07] S0: Yep. [00:39:08] S1: In other words, if you can protect your skies, and then you can do all the things that we think about that are commerce, whether it's digital or it's analog, if you will. So figuring out how to deal with air defense was a big thing that I worked on. And you see now the problem that they're having because they're running out of air defense and we don't have... The world doesn't really have extra air defense right now, I don't think. And so that's a real problem. But what I saw up close and personal was the ingenuity of the Ukrainian people down, not just their leadership, down to the average person, whether it was creating the drone industry that they created. I went to a number of drone factories in places where you were not allowed to tell anybody where you were, where they were producing the drones that are allowing them to have the success that they've had in the war. To the amputees creating prosthetics because you now have a huge need because of the bombing for many more prosthetics than one would need in let's call it a normal population and a normal existence. And so the advances that they're making because of the commitment of their people and frankly, the great education system and their ingenuity is really remarkable. And frankly, there's a lot for us to learn from them.
00:40:52 · Alexa von Tobel, Alexa von Tobel
[00:40:52] S0: A few years ago, I remember in a very short window of time, it was roughly ninety ish days. And I, as your business partner and co founder, having a moment where I was like, wow. Penny has been in some of the most interesting conversations happening on this planet. You're on the board of Microsoft when all of the dynamics around OpenAI were happening, where there was that... I believe it was a weekend where it was like a Sam in the seat. Is he not in the seat? What happens? Fast forward a short period of time when Harvard had to decide to stand up to the US government. And as an alum, I remember having a moment thinking, wow, that probably felt like a big, hard, hairy decision. And I remember you telling me actually the values there were so clear. And then at the same time, you were using your free time to try to help rebuild the Ukraine. And I just remember being like, oh my god, how is like three totally different dynamics and then still answering all my little phone calls for building businesses and doing all the things that we do here. [00:42:01] S2: You have been in some [00:42:02] S0: of the most complicated rooms solving some of the most complicated problems. And I know we could talk just on this topic for a day and still not answer it, but can you just give us a sense of what you've learned? Like, you had to step back and think about in your career, you've even in more rooms that people can't be in and seen crazier hard choices and decisions.
00:42:02 · Alexa von Tobel, Penny Pritzker, Alexa von Tobel
[00:42:02] S0: of the most complicated rooms solving some of the most complicated problems. And I know we could talk just on this topic for a day and still not answer it, but can you just give us a sense of what you've learned? Like, you had to step back and think about in your career, you've even in more rooms that people can't be in and seen crazier hard choices and decisions. [00:42:25] S1: I think one of the most important things to do when you face a hard decision is to step back and ask yourself, what are your values? What are the most important things you believe in? And how, as you face whatever the challenges you're trying to address, am I being true to my values? [00:42:50] S2: Yeah.
00:42:50 · Alexa von Tobel, Penny Pritzker, Alexa von Tobel
[00:42:50] S2: Yeah. [00:42:51] S1: And when you use that as a framework, when you have a framework of this is this is my mission and here are my values, In a funny way, hard decisions are pretty easy. It's living with the fear of the consequence of making that hard decision that is often the hardest part. And I learned a lot from my friend Ken Chenault and Ted Wells, both of whom were on the Harvard Corporation at the time. Ken talked a lot about the framework, and Ted talked about fear. And I think in facing hard decisions, it's almost liberating to acknowledge your framework and confront the fear. And the other thing I would say that I've learned that's absolutely essential in good times and in bad is you're not alone. Life is a team sport. You and I have built something very special here. We're doing it together. I've had the privilege of working on all different kinds of teams as have you. You know, when you go into tough situations with people that you trust and respect, that makes it easier too, even if the outcomes are really lousy. So... And you can't always guarantee you're gonna get a good outcome. And hopefully, in your decision making, no one gets hurt. But, you know, for... In government, you're making really tough decisions. But I think having a framework, being really clear about your values, knowing who you can trust to talk about it, and frankly, being honest about fear. [00:44:44] S0: I always say you're a pretty good phone call to have when things are really, really hard. [00:44:48] S1: Well, the feeling is mutual.
00:44:48 · Penny Pritzker, Alexa von Tobel
[00:44:48] S1: Well, the feeling is mutual. [00:44:52] S0: But man, I feel like you really did teach me, which is if you align on your values and align on what you believe in before you have to make the hard decision, the hard decision actually isn't that hard. It's just powering through what comes on the other side. [00:45:06] S1: And then that's the power through, and I would say that's one of your superpowers is to power through. [00:45:11] S0: We're pretty good at powering through. [00:45:12] S1: Yeah. It's... What do they say in in special forces? You know, when the going gets tough, just keep going. [00:45:21] S0: Yeah. Just keep going. We're pretty good at keeping going, Penny. I wanna transition a little bit to Inspired. You have given me a compliment about the organization that we've now put together seven years ago where you said that you really love our culture, and our culture is really different. Can you just say a little bit more about what you mean about that? The culture you and I are building here.
00:45:21 · Alexa von Tobel, Penny Pritzker
[00:45:21] S0: Yeah. Just keep going. We're pretty good at keeping going, Penny. I wanna transition a little bit to Inspired. You have given me a compliment about the organization that we've now put together seven years ago where you said that you really love our culture, and our culture is really different. Can you just say a little bit more about what you mean about that? The culture you and I are building here. [00:45:46] S1: A culture of hustle. I mean, we'll outwork, we'll out muscle, we'll... You know, we're gonna do our homework, we're gonna work harder and be more responsive than basically anybody. And fundamentally, I think my mother used to say, I'll take an overachiever any day of the week. I think that hustle is a essential part of success. I think the second is is is the values we talked about. We deeply, deeply, deeply care about our founders and their vision. And we promise them if we go into business with them, we are going to be there through thick and thin to help them [00:46:25] S0: build Amen. [00:46:26] S1: Yeah. A business. We talked about business building earlier. I mean, we take pride and enjoy, and we find it fun to build businesses. Other people find other things fun, but that's what turns us on. So there's just a... There's a number of things that are fundamental to who we are that I believe will allow us to make better decisions and also... And to do right. We take our fiduciary duty very seriously. [00:46:59] S0: Really.