Lessons from Bill Campbell, Silicon Valley’s Secret Executive Coach

In this episode of Ventured, KPCB partner Randy Komisar talks to his longtime friend and colleague Bill Campbell about coaching tech CEOs in Silicon Valley. Having been a mentor to Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Eric Schmidt and Larry Page, Campbell draws on decades of experience and openly shares his (usually behind closed doors) coaching methodology with Komisar. Campbell describes his personal journey from football coach to tech executive to coach to CEOs. In hearing the details of his coaching sessions, it’s clear that he pushes executives to find answers by asking the right questions. But ultimately, the decision is made by the mentee. The coach should only be a guide.