In 2020, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian resigned from his own company in protest. After 15 years building Reddit into a social media juggernaut, why leave?The answer is values. Alexis is the kind of entrepreneur and investor who believes that integrity and long term profits go hand in hand. It’s the reason he started his new company 776, allowing him to invest in startups that are trying to make the world a better place. And it’s the reason he resigned from Reddit after George Floyd was killed, requesting the board replace him with a Black director.In this conversation, Alexis shares with me his thoughts on the future of entrepreneurship, the race for AGI, climate change, and the principles that guide the way he leads. It turns out, building a business with values is the best thing for long term greed.This...is A Bit of OptimismFor more on Alexis and his work, check out:<a href="https://sevensevensix.com/">776</a><a href="https://alexisohanian.com/">alexisohanian.com</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;In 2020, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian resigned from his own company in protest. After 15 years building Reddit into a social media juggernaut, why leave?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The answer is values. Alexis is the kind of entrepreneur and investor who believes that integrity and long term profits go hand in hand. It’s the reason he started his new company 776, allowing him to invest in startups that are trying to make the world a better place. And it’s the reason he resigned from Reddit after George Floyd was killed, requesting the board replace him with a Black director.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this conversation, Alexis shares with me his thoughts on the future of entrepreneurship, the race for AGI, climate change, and the principles that guide the way he leads. It turns out, building a business with values is the best thing for long term greed.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This...is A Bit of Optimism&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For more on Alexis and his work, check out:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://sevensevensix.com/"&gt;776&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://alexisohanian.com/"&gt;alexisohanian.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
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Alexis Ohanian: Why I Left Reddit and Why Greed Can Inspire Good

Kenya's Maasai Mara is rugged, beautiful, and tough. Values are everything for the people who live in this rural countryside, On a trip to Kenya, I had the opportunity to visit The Mara.  The intelligence and grit of the young people there blew me away! I met incredibly driven young women determined to uplift their families from poverty. Carol Moraa is giving them that opportunity. She's the founding principal of Kisaruni Girls High School and Provost for Legacy College. I wanted to ask Carol where her kids find the motivation to willingly sign up for 18-hour school days. It turns out when learning is a choice, not an obligation, it's possible to build schools where cultural values and community are at the heart of what people do. This...is A Bit of Optimism.  For more on Carol and her work, check out:<a href="https://www.legacy-college.org/faculty/carol-moraa">Legacy College</a> <a href="https://www.wecharity.org/kisaruni-group-of-schools">Kisaruni Girls High School</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;Kenya's Maasai Mara is rugged, beautiful, and tough. Values are everything for the people who live in this rural countryside, &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On a trip to Kenya, I had the opportunity to visit The Mara.  The intelligence and grit of the young people there blew me away! I met incredibly driven young women determined to uplift their families from poverty. Carol Moraa is giving them that opportunity. She's the founding principal of Kisaruni Girls High School and Provost for Legacy College.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I wanted to ask Carol where her kids find the motivation to willingly sign up for 18-hour school days. It turns out when learning is a choice, not an obligation, it's possible to build schools where cultural values and community are at the heart of what people do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This...is A Bit of Optimism.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For more on Carol and her work, check out:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.legacy-college.org/faculty/carol-moraa"&gt;Legacy College&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.wecharity.org/kisaruni-group-of-schools"&gt;Kisaruni Girls High School&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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What can we learn from a rural school in Kenya? with principal Carol Moraa

Peace is a process, not an outcome. It's a process that must begin with understanding the other side.Few people on this planet have as much experience making peace as William Ury. William spent decades as a peace negotiator, resolving the world's most intractable conflicts — from avoiding nuclear catastrophe in the Cold War to mediating ethnic tensions and civil wars. Considered one of the world's pre-eminent negotiation experts, he's written several books on the subject, including the best-selling Getting To Yes. His latest book is titled Possible. I sat down with William to discuss the possibility of peace in an increasingly conflicted world. He shares some great stories with me from his career and what he's learned about the right way to influence others. This...is A Bit of Optimism.For more on William and his work, check out:his books, <a href="https://www.williamury.com/possible/">Possible: How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict </a>and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Yes-Negotiating-Agreement-Without/dp/0143118757">Getting To Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In</a><a href="https://www.williamury.com/">williamury.com</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;Peace is a process, not an outcome. It's a process that must begin with understanding the other side.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Few people on this planet have as much experience making peace as William Ury. William spent decades as a peace negotiator, resolving the world's most intractable conflicts — from avoiding nuclear catastrophe in the Cold War to mediating ethnic tensions and civil wars. Considered one of the world's pre-eminent negotiation experts, he's written several books on the subject, including the best-selling &lt;i&gt;Getting To Yes&lt;/i&gt;. His latest book is titled &lt;i&gt;Possible&lt;/i&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I sat down with William to discuss the possibility of peace in an increasingly conflicted world. He shares some great stories with me from his career and what he's learned about the right way to influence others.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This...is A Bit of Optimism.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For more on William and his work, check out:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;his books, &lt;a href="https://www.williamury.com/possible/"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Possible: How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;and &lt;a href="https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Yes-Negotiating-Agreement-Without/dp/0143118757"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Getting To Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.williamury.com/"&gt;williamury.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
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Peace is a process. Not an outcome. 

Peace Is A Process with negotiation expert William Ury

Astonishment. A feeling of amazement so powerful you have to stop in wonder. As President and CEO of the Chicago Bears, Kevin Warren's job is to astonish people with sports moments they'll never forget. A veteran executive of professional football, he's also served as COO of the Minnesota Vikings and Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference. For Kevin, helping others experience the magic of the Bears starts with finding his own astonishment. He shares with me why ambitious high-performers need to slow down and appreciate the little things if they want to become better leaders and happier human beings.This...is A Bit of Optimism.For more on Kevin and his work, check out:<a href="https://www.chicagobears.com/team/front-office/kevin-warren">Kevin's Chicago Bears bio</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;Astonishment. A feeling of amazement so powerful you have to stop in wonder. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As President and CEO of the Chicago Bears, Kevin Warren's job is to astonish people with sports moments they'll never forget. A veteran executive of professional football, he's also served as COO of the Minnesota Vikings and Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For Kevin, helping others experience the magic of the Bears starts with finding his own astonishment. He shares with me why ambitious high-performers need to slow down and appreciate the little things if they want to become better leaders and happier human beings.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This...is A Bit of Optimism.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For more on Kevin and his work, check out:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.chicagobears.com/team/front-office/kevin-warren"&gt;Kevin's Chicago Bears bio&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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Creating Astonishment with Chicago Bears CEO Kevin Warren

Leadership is deeply personal. As people change, the way they lead has to change, too.Few leaders have navigated as much change as Joe Biden. He was elected to the Senate at 29 and will end his time as President at 82. The number of things he has witnessed and been a part of over the course of  his career is remarkable. His journey has been shaped by unlikely friendships and profound personal loss.I had the honor to sit down with President Biden at the White House to reflect on how his experiences have influenced his approach to both life and leadership.I chose to stay clear of politics and instead focused on the lessons that are applicable to all Americans…and indeed all people.  I hope you find it insightful and inspiring.This...is A Bit of Optimism.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Leadership is deeply personal. As people change, the way they lead has to change, too.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Few leaders have navigated as much change as Joe Biden. He was elected to the Senate at 29 and will end his time as President at 82. The number of things he has witnessed and been a part of over the course of  his career is remarkable. His journey has been shaped by unlikely friendships and profound personal loss.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I had the honor to sit down with President Biden at the White House to reflect on how his experiences have influenced his approach to both life and leadership.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I chose to stay clear of politics and instead focused on the lessons that are applicable to all Americans…and indeed all people.  I hope you find it insightful and inspiring.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This...is A Bit of Optimism.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Leadership is deeply personal. As people change, the way they lead has to change, too. Few leaders have navigated as much change as Joe Biden. He was elected to the Senate at 29 and will end his time as President at 82. The number of things he has witnessed and been a part of over the course of  his career is remarkable. His journey has been shaped by unlikely friendships and profound personal loss.

A Lifetime of Leadership with President Joe Biden

The future is always bright…if you know where to look. Join me each week for A Bit of Optimism! I talk to inspiring people who teach me more about life, leadership and general interesting things.

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