Those who are successful are rewarded. Sometimes with promotions, pay bumps, or even the ability to manage a team (whether that was in your own plans or not). So you’ve become an accidental manager. And now it’s time to level up. But how do you do that?
A lot of times in a fast-growing tech company (and beyond), this happens without a lot of support, training, or (we hate to say it) intention. Enter Akshay Kothari, Co-Founder of Notion and former VP of Product at LinkedIn. He calls himself an accidental manager, and vulnerably shares what he got wrong (and right) throughout his career when it came to managing a team.
Jump into the conversation:
(05:00) Growth hides management shortcomings
(13:05) Learning good management at Linkedin
(14:00) How Linkedin's CEO led with values
(24:16) Operationalizing Notion's values
(26:47) Evolving your management style
(32:29) Hiring the right people and getting out of the way
(36:44) Hiring is a fun way to learn a function
(40:19) Being the type the leader your company needs at different times
So join us as Akshay shares his insights from his experiences at LinkedIn and his current role at Notion—from decision-making frameworks, clean escalation, the importance of company values, hiring for relevant experience, and the challenges of managing in a rapidly growing company.
Follow Akshay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akothari/
Connect with Joei: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeichan/
Subscribe to GBBB’s Substack: https://joeichan.substack.com/
Produced by Share Your Genius https://www.shareyourgenius.com/
Artistic direction by Alexandre Lenoble https://www.alexandrelenoble.com/