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Marc Randolph
Entrepreneur and Advisor
Marc Randolph is a prominent American entrepreneur, known for his significant contributions to the tech industry, particularly as a co-founder of Netflix and Looker.
Background and Career
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Birth and Education: Born on April 29, 1958, Randolph graduated from Hamilton College with a Bachelor of Arts in Geology in 1981.34
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Early Career: He began his career at Borland International in the late 1980s, where he played a pivotal role in direct-to-consumer marketing. His entrepreneurial journey includes founding several companies, including MacWarehouse and MicroWarehouse.34
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Netflix: Randolph co-founded Netflix in 1997 and served as its first CEO until 2003. He was instrumental in shaping the company's early strategies and helped guide it through its initial public offering.23
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Looker: After his tenure at Netflix, he co-founded Looker Data Sciences in 2012, which specialized in data analytics. Looker was acquired by Google in 2019 for $2.6 billion. Randolph served as a board member at Looker following its acquisition.235
Current Roles
Randolph is actively involved in various organizations:
- Board Member: He holds board positions at several companies, including Solo Brands, Cheeze, Inc., and the Truckee Donner Land Trust.12
- Mentorship and Speaking: He is a mentor for early-stage entrepreneurs and frequently speaks on topics related to innovation and entrepreneurship.34
Personal Life
Randolph resides in Santa Cruz, California, with his wife Lorraine Kiernan. He has three children and remains engaged with the local community through various initiatives.34 Additionally, he authored the book That Will Never Work, detailing his experiences with Netflix and insights into entrepreneurship.34
Marc Randolph continues to influence the tech landscape through his advisory roles and commitment to fostering new startups.
Highlights
No matter who you are, I’ve learned that saying “no” is essential for doing good work, maintaining healthy relationships, and taking care of yourself.
Saying “no” can help you avoid spreading yourself too thin.
Saying “no” empowers you to make informed choices that align with your values and goals.
Saying “no” allows you to focus on what truly matters to you, rather than being pulled in multiple directions.
And I promise, it’s possible to say “no” and still succeed in business, and maintain some balance in your life.
Coming up with a list of good ideas is easy.
But if you’re shorthanded — and in a startup, you’re always shorthanded — deciding what not to do is hard.
