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How to become a unicorn: The Sendbird story of reaching $1B

Blog john kim ceo sendbird
May 16, 2022 • 2 min read
Mark argyle
Mark Argyle
Ebook Engage Mobile content offer background
New survey
How consumers prefer to communicate with businesses
Ebook Engage Mobile content offer background
New survey
How consumers prefer to communicate with businesses

Sendbird CEO John Kim recently sat down with Traction and Boast.ai to discuss the philosophies and approaches that helped Sendbird maintain momentum while navigating extreme uncertainty, and shared some tips to help you do the same.

In the video, John discusses the early days of Sendbird when the team was full of B2C experts creating a social network for moms. He talks about how, when, and why the company pivoted to building a chat API – and went on to being valued at $1B! John also provides leadership insights about core values, culture, setting expectations, and hiring the right talent.

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Virgin Mobile UAE improved their CSAT with Sendbird Desk.

Listen in as John discusses in depth the four specific techniques he uses to maintain success, as well as provides concrete examples and tips for applying them to your business:

  1. Complexity science principles of convergence and divergence
    Learn about complexity science and how to use it as a framework to make decisions, such as knowing how and when to pivot.
  2. Navigating abstraction layers
    Understand strategies that help you go from a small team to a rapid-growth company that relies on several layers of management. Get concrete tips on how to build and maintain a positive culture despite the unavoidable layers of communication dilution, and learn why you need both drivers and passengers on your team.
  3. The human capital framework
    Gain insights about the three pillars of human capital: intellectual capital, social capital, and emotional capital. John discusses all three and explains why social and emotional capital are the most important to building success as an individual or as a business.
  4. Building emotional capital and cognitive empathy
    Understand why empathy is critical to leadership and consider the benefits of focusing on cognitive empathy alongside emotional empathy to achieve more sustainable results. Learn some brain hacks to start building empathy in yourself and your team.

Watch the full interview below, or listen in on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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