Chips Are Down: Apple Bets on Its Own Engineering, IBM Goes Long Hybrid Cloud, Plus Skydio and Pegasystems Founders + More
The world of business and tech is moving into something a little more like normal, to the extent there can be a normal in a pandemic. Leaders with big ideas continue to place big bets, so the theme of the week is Chips Are Down. (Plus it's a convenient pun on some PC-related news.) Let's go:
A High-Stakes Chip Challenge: On the Other Hand
Did Apple just upend the PC market and challenge Intel with the M1 chip? I argued both sides in the latest installment of On the Other Hand, on CNBC's Squawk Box:
Doubling Down on Hybrid Cloud: IBM CEO Arvind Krishna
As part of CNBC's Evolve Summit this week, I talked to IBM CEO Arvind Krishna about how he's working to shift IBM's culture in the hybrid and multi-cloud era. It's not just about directly competing with giants, it's about enabling customers:
No Bluff: Adam Bry, Skydio Co-founder and CEO on Pitching and Recruiting
The first high-stakes pitches an entrepreneur makes are to early hires. Adam Bry is co-founder and CEO of Skydio, an enterprise drone company. In a recent Fortt Knox conversation he told me the key is communicating his passion for the mission, not saying what he thinks others want to hear:
Business is Chess, not Checkers: Pegasystems CEO Alan Trefler, Pegasystems Founder & CEO
To make better decisions, improve your process. Alan Trefler founded enterprise software pioneer Pegasystems 35 years ago; it's now a public company worth $9.6 billion, making him a billionaire many times over. He's also a chess grandmaster. In a Fortt Knox conversation this week, he told me how the two connect:
Ante Up: Canva Co-founder and CEO Melanie Perkins on Getting Started and Getting Help
It's great to start small. Canva CEO Melanie Perkins's first venture was selling handmade scarves in her native Perth. She didn't make much money, but she picked up skills. Now she's the co-founder and CEO of a startup valued at $6 billion.
I'm keeping busy with Fortt Knox. Coming Monday, 11/16 at 3 p.m. ET: Darius Adamczyk, Honeywell CEO.
Then on Wednesday, 11/18, join me at 4 p.m. ET for a 1:1 with ThoughtSpot Founder and Chairman Ajeet Singh.
On Thursday, 11/19 I'll be joining youngStartup Ventures and interviewing tech legend Bob Metcalfe at a virtual summit.
Finally on Friday, 11/20 at 3 p.m. ET, I'll interview Tom Siebel, C3.ai co-founder and CEO.