is a co-founder and general partner of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). Often referred to as the “CEO Whisperer,” he is widely recognized for his blunt, operator-first approach to leadership and company building.
Professional Background
- The Operator: Before venture capital, Horowitz was the co-founder and CEO of Opsware (formerly Loudcloud), which he navigated through the dot-com crash before selling to Hewlett-Packard for $1.6 billion in 2007.
- The Author: He is the New York Times bestselling author of The Hard Thing About Hard Things, a “no-nonsense” guide to surviving startup crises, and What You Do Is Who You Are, which explores corporate culture.
- The Investor: Through a16z, he has backed era-defining companies including Facebook, Airbnb, Lyft, and Slack.
Identity & Interests
- Hip-Hop & Culture: A well-known aficionado of hip-hop, Horowitz often uses rap lyrics to illustrate business lessons. He and his wife, Felicia, founded the Paid In Full Foundation, which provides financial support and recognition to hip-hop pioneers.
- Education: He holds a BA in Computer Science from Columbia University and an MS in Computer Science from UCLA.
- Philosophy: His leadership style prioritizes “wartime” grit, radical honesty, and the belief that a CEO’s most important contribution is telling people what they don’t want to hear.