Episode description
In this episode, we are talking to Avi Meir, CEO of TravelPerk. Based in Barcelona, TravelPerk was the fastest growing SaaS start up in Europe in 2019. Then the pandemic hit us globally, and Avi only had a couple of weeks to reassess his company’s situation. Or as Ben Horowitz refers to it, Avi had to transform from a peacetime CEO to a wartime CEO. In this episode, Avi shares his insight into and experiences from the past year, and how he managed to keep his ship afloat and thrive.
Expect to learn:
- How did Avi and TravelPerk adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic?
- What does being a peacetime and wartime CEO entail, and how does Avi think about the distinction?
- What did Avi do to avoid laying off his employees, in a time where it would’ve made sense financially?
- What is Avi’s strategic and managerial mindset in times of crisis?
Peacetime / Wartime CEO article by Ben Horowitz: https://a16z.com/2011/04/14/peacetime-ceowartime-ceo-2/
2:00 Distinction between peacetime / wartime CEO
4:30 Decision making in uncertainty
12:05 Wartime CEO decision making contrasted with decision making in actual war
16:29 Funding in times of a crisis
21:33 How do you save on costs and extend your runway?
24:15 Ensuring morale and staying true to culture in times of crisis
32:06 External and internal communication and jargon in wartime
33:51 Strategic thinking in times of crisis
36:52 What would Avi change about last year if he could?
Have a listen, subscribe, rate, hate – whatever you feel like, mate. New episodes with the most interesting people in the world, every Thursday!
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