scripod.com
#149 Co-CEO Workday, Carl Eschenbach: A Life of Significance

Overview

Shownote

Highlights

Transcript

Chapters

Pins

#149 Co-CEO Workday, Carl Eschenbach: A Life of Significance

Grit

2023/07/31
Grit

Grit

2023/07/31
OverviewShownoteHighlightsTranscriptChaptersPins

Shownote

Guest: Carl Eschenbach, co-CEO of Workday When Carl Eschenbach decided to leave VMWare after more than 14 years as COO, no one believed it: Not chairman Joe Tucci, not CEO Pat Gelsinger, and maybe not Carl himself. But he needed a more predictable work-li...

Highlights

Carl Eschenbach, co-CEO of Workday, shares his remarkable journey from a 14-year tenure at VMware to a partner at Sequoia Capital, and finally back to an operating role. In this episode, he discusses his early morning workouts, staying grounded with a Flowbee haircut, and the personal tragedy that reshaped his priorities. He also reflects on his time in venture capital, the decision to join Workday, and his philosophy on leadership and grit.
02:42
Helping entrepreneurs build enduring businesses is my enduring passion.
03:18
I work out early to keep family time and start with energy.
10:56
Stay grounded and remember your roots.
14:24
His father's seasonal business instilled a strong work ethic.
19:05
Always move forward, never look back.
19:57
I'm proud of my journey from a two-year tech certificate.
27:23
He left Inktomi due to the toll of commuting.
28:09
I was persuaded by the disruptive technology and the opportunity.
31:51
We proved value through proof of concepts and ROI.
38:57
Admitting what you don't know is a key leadership trait.
43:24
Leading finance and earnings calls requires preparation and leveraging others.
46:04
I found fulfillment in supporting first-time CEOs.
51:08
Life is temporary, but family is eternal.
52:07
Success is about significance, not just achievement.
58:50
Prioritizing family shaped my career decisions.
1:03:44
Venture capital is stimulating yet humbling.
1:06:00
Workday's scale is impressive, with 18,000 employees and over $6 billion in revenue.
1:07:15
Focus on must-have products, not nice-to-haves.
1:12:27
The co-CEO model works when skills are complementary.
1:15:56
I wanted to give back and serve others.
1:18:03
Inspirational leadership pulls people in, not pushes them.

Chapters

Working on Sand Hill Road
00:00
Carl’s workout routine
03:15
Staying humble and grounded
08:04
Carl’s family and dinner table conversation
11:41
Drive and ambition
16:08
College vs. trade school
19:53
3Com, Inktomi, and EMC
24:33
Deciding to join VMware
28:02
Virtualizing the data center
31:48
The pressure of an incredible ride
35:54
The infamous CFO story
40:14
Eyeing the CEO job
46:00
Carl’s one “big regret”
47:40
Refocusing after a tragedy
52:05
A left turn into venture
55:37
The “itch” to go back to operating
1:00:17
Joining the Workday board
1:04:37
Building an enduring business
1:07:15
“End[ing] my career in an operating role”
1:09:09
Transitioning out of venture
1:15:56
Who Workday is hiring and what “grit” means to Carl
1:18:01

Transcript

Carl Eschenbach: There's nothing more dangerous than yesterday's success. And I focus on the windshield. I don't look in the rearview mirror. There's a reason that windshield's bigger than the rearview mirror. Because that's the opportunity in front. And I...