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Tony Fadell on Leaving Silicon Valley to Help Build a Healthier Society, Online and Off

Time Sensitive

2019/12/18
Time Sensitive

Time Sensitive

2019/12/18
Tony Fadell, the mind behind the iPod and a key figure in the iPhone's creation, shares his journey of constant reinvention, from his early days in Silicon Valley to a transformative year in Bali. He discusses the lessons learned from failures and successes, the leadership of Steve Jobs, and his current mission to guide deep tech startups. Fadell also offers a critical look at the tech industry's hubris and the importance of stepping away to gain perspective.
Fadell begins by recounting his family's move to Bali, inspired by the Green School, and contrasts the island's communal, non-commercial lifestyle with the constant advertising of Western cities. He reflects on how his childhood moves taught him the universality of human nature, a lesson that helped him navigate diverse work cultures. From General Magic's ambitious failure, he learned the critical importance of timing and shipping products. His unexpected role as a division head at Philips and a ski trip call from Apple led to the creation of the iPod. Fadell describes Steve Jobs' opinion-driven leadership as both transformative and a source of valuable lessons. After leaving Apple, a world tour with his family gave him the perspective to found Nest, though he eventually left after Google's acquisition due to organizational issues. He now advises startups through Future Shape, sharing hard-won wisdom. Fadell criticizes Silicon Valley's unchecked hubris and advocates for platforms built on clear ethical principles, citing Jobs' decision to exclude porn from iTunes as an example.
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Inventor of the iPod and co-inventor of the iPhone
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Human nature is universal.
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Timing is everything in technology.
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Jobs' strong will and opinion-based leadership were effective in driving the iPod project forward.
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Steve Jobs was supportive of him having children.
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Silicon Valley's unchecked hubris has negatively impacted society