All Segments
Marissa Mayer on Life and Leadership Lessons
22 segments available
On making career decisions: Look for the smartest people and do something you feel a little unprepared to do, advised Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer during her View From The Top talk at Stanford GSB on Thursday, January 26, 2017. Read more takeaways from her talk on Twitter: http://stanford.io/2kN5m0h
Segments Timeline
From Premed to Symbolic Systems
Marissa Mayer shares her journey from aspiring pediatric neurosurgeon to majoring in symbolic systems at Stanford. She reflects on her initial ambitions, the influence of a pediatric heart surgeon, and her realization that Stanford offered unique opportunities that aligned with her interests in psychology, linguistics, and computer science. This segment highlights the importance of making career choices that resonate with one's passions and the value of interdisciplinary studies.
"Marissa it's such a pleasure to have you here today thank you for having welcome back to Stanford I'm very excited to be here I'd love to start out with um your time at Stanford here um so you came in..."
The Unique Appeal of Symbolic Systems
Mayer discusses the appeal of the symbolic systems major at Stanford, which combines philosophy, psychology, linguistics, and computer science. She emphasizes how this unique program allowed her to explore cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence, shaping her future career. This segment underscores the significance of pursuing education that fosters curiosity and interdisciplinary learning.
"go on and probably do other degrees and so I started thinking about what I wanted to do and and uh as I was flying back that fall to come back from my sophomore year I was going through the course cat..."
Choosing the Right Career Path
In this segment, Marissa Mayer reflects on her decision-making process when faced with multiple job offers after graduation. She recounts the challenges of choosing between prestigious opportunities, including teaching at Carnegie Mellon and joining a startup. This discussion illustrates the complexities of career choices and the importance of aligning decisions with personal values and aspirations.
"it's true today and it's obviously true here at GSB was just filled with really really interesting students and I learned As Much from the people around me as I did from my professors the people in my..."
Finding Clarity in Career Choices
Mayer shares a pivotal moment when she sought advice from a friend while overwhelmed by job offers. Her friend helped her realize that there were no 'right' or 'wrong' choices, but rather multiple good options to choose from. This segment highlights the importance of perspective in decision-making and the value of commitment to a chosen path, encouraging viewers to embrace the journey of their career decisions.
"uh well so me at the time San Google was just eight people um it was the spring of 1999 it's funny because I actually spent the 9798 school year living in Schwab and I wasn't a business student school..."
Choosing Google: Embracing Risk
In this segment, Mayer reflects on her decision to join Google, highlighting her desire to work with the smartest people and her feeling of being unprepared for the challenge. She discusses the significance of taking risks in her career and how her mentor encouraged her to embrace the entrepreneurial culture of startups. This moment illustrates the value of stepping out of one's comfort zone to pursue opportunities.
"moment from Andre and that because he's like you know look a lot of times smart people when they get really committed to a problem start to analyze it as if there's only one great option and all the o..."
Lessons from Career Decisions
Mayer discusses the key lessons she learned from her career choices, emphasizing the importance of surrounding oneself with intelligent individuals and taking on challenges that feel daunting. She reflects on how these principles guided her in making significant decisions throughout her career, reinforcing the idea that growth often comes from discomfort and the pursuit of excellence.
"do when I thought about how to make the choice those were you know I had all the different things in the Matrix But ultimately I thought about some of the best choices I had made and almost all the be..."
Pride in Mentorship and Impact
Mayer expresses her pride in the Associate Product Manager program she established at Google, which has produced many leaders in the tech industry. She shares her emotional connection to the individuals she mentored and the impact they have had on various companies. This segment highlights the importance of mentorship and the lasting influence of nurturing talent in the tech ecosystem.
"circle because your former Mentor at Google Eric Schmidt teaches a course here at the GSB um and I had the privilege of speaking to him this morning about you and he had to say about the um associate ..."
The Global Impact of Google
Reflecting on her time at Google, Mayer recounts a moment in Switzerland where she saw someone using Google, realizing the global reach and impact of the technology they developed. She discusses the rapid deployment of technology and its ability to change the world, emphasizing the privilege of being part of a transformative company. This segment underscores the significance of innovation and the internet in shaping modern society.
"and play a role role in that I still remember uh I started at Google in June and that December in the startup lifestyle you don't get a lot of time off and I managed that December to to get away and a..."
Preparedness in Leadership Roles
Mayer addresses her feelings of unpreparedness when stepping into leadership roles, particularly at Yahoo. She reflects on her respect for the company and its history, acknowledging the challenges of leading a well-known brand. This segment explores the theme of confidence in leadership and the importance of recognizing one's strengths and weaknesses in high-stakes environments.
"but that feeling that I had that December seeing that that search screen on um that cyber cafe in Switzerland you know you I still have today I still am very proud of the the impact that that Google h..."
The Allure of the Unknown
Marissa Mayer reflects on her transition from a media business to a product-focused company at Yahoo. She discusses her initial feelings of unpreparedness for the role and shares her long-standing respect for Yahoo, tracing her early experiences with the company back to its origins. Mayer emphasizes the importance of passion and kindness in the workplace, noting how the culture at Yahoo influenced her decision to join.
"Company did you feel prepared for that role no and I think that's probably one of the things that attracted me uh attracted me to it um but I think the other you know the other element of it is well I..."
Transforming Yahoo: The Mobile Shift
Mayer discusses the challenges she faced as CEO of Yahoo, particularly the need to pivot the company from a media-centric model to a product-driven one. She highlights the decline in revenue and the urgency to innovate, focusing on mobile as a key area for growth. Mayer outlines her strategy of acquisitions to bring in talent and technology, aiming to revitalize Yahoo's offerings in the mobile space.
"role that has played in the industry I think a lot about the products and the services and things we all create um as art because they really are and uh a couple of years ago I met a friend in the cit..."
Strategic Acquisitions for Growth
In this segment, Mayer elaborates on her approach to acquisitions at Yahoo, categorizing them into small, medium, and large. She explains how these acquisitions were essential for injecting new talent and technology into the company, which was crucial for developing mobile products. Mayer shares specific examples of acquisitions that served as foundational blocks for Yahoo's growth in the mobile sector.
"Edge of mobile well I'm proud of of the different things that that we did and I think that you know there's a lot of different elements uh to what has unfolded at Yahoo over the past few years but you..."
Navigating Public Scrutiny
Mayer addresses the challenges of leading Yahoo under intense public scrutiny, particularly regarding privacy and security issues. She shares her strategy for coping with criticism, emphasizing the importance of not letting external opinions influence her decision-making. Mayer discusses how she relies on her team and personal relationships to gauge the impact of public sentiment without being overwhelmed by it.
"strategy looks like it worked but at the time like you know there was a lot of debate should we do HTML 5 or should we do mobile apps does Blackberry matter versus IOS and Android and we made you know..."
The Impact of Criticism
In this concluding segment, Mayer reflects on the emotional toll of public criticism and the importance of maintaining perspective. She shares insights on how to handle negative feedback, drawing from her experiences as a leader. Mayer emphasizes the value of constructive criticism from trusted sources over public commentary, highlighting the need for resilience in leadership.
"that to heart um a couple things I just I don't read it and that might sound that might sound tonedeff um but uh I feel like if you read it it changes who you are and how you think about things if som..."
Balancing Motherhood and Leadership
In this segment, Mayer recounts her experience returning to work shortly after the birth of her children. She explains her decision-making process regarding maternity leave and how she managed to balance her responsibilities as a CEO with her role as a mother, including bringing her son to the office.
"isn't we have a motto here at the GSB it's somewhat tongue and Chic that feedback is a gift and all feedback is well I think the you know on the flip side one of my favorite colleagues at at Google is..."
Revising Family Leave Policies
Mayer discusses the changes she implemented in Yahoo's family leave policies, advocating for parental leave from the child's perspective. She emphasizes the importance of time spent with children and outlines the new policies that provide substantial leave for new parents.
"at the same time I also said to myself okay I've got to come up with a way to you know make sure that I can also be the best mother that I can be right and so what we basically came up with is you kno..."
The Work-from-Home Debate
Mayer addresses the misconceptions surrounding her stance on remote work at Yahoo. She clarifies that while she supports work-from-home arrangements, the company's unique situation required a temporary shift to in-office work to revitalize the company culture and energy.
"weeks so basically four months um uh of time off but you know that was something that was overall important to me because you know that time whether you're you know in my case I was spending in the of..."
Motherhood and Perspective
In this segment, Mayer shares her personal journey into motherhood, expressing her initial uncertainty but ultimately finding it to be an enriching experience. She discusses how parenting provides a new perspective and the importance of raising children to be creative and productive individuals.
"thousands of Articles uh that were written right um we were talking behind stage about uh about your husband who is a a venture capitalist in the area um you're from Wisconsin um in thinking about rai..."
Raising Children in Silicon Valley
Mayer reflects on the unique opportunities and challenges of raising children in Silicon Valley. She emphasizes the importance of exposing her kids to diverse experiences while ensuring they understand that the world is broader than their immediate environment.
"just gives you so much perspective uh and you just realize that you know some of the biggest impacts you can have in the world as you know raising those kids to be you know you know like productive cr..."
The Importance of Travel and Self-Esteem
Mayer discusses the significance of travel in her children's upbringing, stressing the need for them to understand different lifestyles and cultures. She shares insights from a Stanford professor on fostering self-esteem in children amidst the high-achieving environment of Silicon Valley.
"them to so much and so helping them get exposed to that but also having them realize that you know that the whole world isn't like that and you having them you know my husband's from Denver I'm from W..."
Protecting Family Privacy
Mayer talks about the challenges of raising children in the public eye, emphasizing her commitment to protecting their privacy. She reflects on how her role in the spotlight differs from her children's experiences and the importance of maintaining their normalcy.
"silicon Valley's context in the world and you know how lots of different people live and work is really important but she also said the other thing is she's like you know a lot of people worry about a..."
Looking Ahead After Verizon Acquisition
As the Verizon acquisition approaches, Mayer shares her excitement for future opportunities, whether at Yahoo or elsewhere. She reflects on the privilege of working at a company that changes the world and expresses her desire to continue making a positive impact.
"you feel that's possible even within the context of them being in the spotlight yeah I mean I think that you know my view is I'm I'm in the spotlight because of my role they aren't right and you know ..."