The High Flyers Podcast with Vidit Agarwal

#67 Blackbird's Niki Scevak: Zero to one, Courageous ambition, Dandelions and Orchids + secrets to be supremely well read


Listen Later

Welcome to episode #67 w Niki Scevak! Here are 5 key takeaways that I think you will learn from this episode today:

  1. How accessing his first internet modem in his childhood changed Niki's world
  2. What is the source of his courage and ambition and seeking it in others
  3. How does Niki structure his week to balance thinking, meeting founders and growing Blackbird?
  4. Applying the Orchids and Dandelions concept to parenting and business
  5. What prevents investors from making the first move?

BONUS: Starting Blackbird Ventures in 2012: out of 500 meetings, 97 people said yes to raise $29M fund

***

TIMESTAMPS

03:05 — Niki quick facts

 

04:30 - High Flyer in Niki’s life

 

06:45 - Niki’s family unit and growing up in Newcastle

 

08:25 - How the internet very early on influenced Niki

 

10:00 - Source of being courageous and highly ambitious

 

12:15 - Learnings about successful characteristics in people

 

14:05 - Living in New York in the early 2000’s

 

18:10 - How leading thinkers like Peter Thiel have shaped Niki’s mindset

 

22:30 - How does Niki structure his week to balance thinking, meeting founders and growing Blackbird?

 

26:00 - Being out of his comfort zone in last 12 months?

 

28:35 - Niki’s insights on his framework to taking a meeting and pitch decks

 

32:40 - A career is not a 10 move chess match

 

34:10 - Applying Orchids and Dandelions concept to parenting and Blackbird

 

38:30 - Managing the dynamics with Blackbird going from the new kid to now one of the big players

 

40:15 - The key mechanisms that scaled Blackbird

 

45:10 - Media first investor landscape in the USA and Australia

 

47:35 - Providing value add as a board member

 

52:15 - What prevents investors from making the first move?

 

56:44 - Starting blackbird in 2012: out of 500 meetings, 97 people said yes to raise $29M fund

 

57:20 - Final sprint

***

Thank you for rating / reviewing this podcast on iTunes and Spotify, as it helps others find us and convince guests to come on the show and grow the show with sponsors and partners. 

Follow us on InstagramLinkedIn or Twitter for more!

This show showcases relatable role models, re-imagining a high flyer to help you achieve your potential and be 1% better everyday!

Contact Vidit at [email protected]

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The High Flyers Podcast with Vidit AgarwalBy Vidit Agarwal


More shows like The High Flyers Podcast with Vidit Agarwal

View all
The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch by Harry Stebbings

The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

519 Listeners

The Mentor with Mark Bouris by Mentored.com.au

The Mentor with Mark Bouris

51 Listeners

Pivot by New York Magazine

Pivot

9,202 Listeners

Politics Now by ABC listen

Politics Now

104 Listeners

Founders by David Senra

Founders

1,906 Listeners

Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy by Colossus | Investing & Business Podcasts

Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy

2,317 Listeners

7am by Solstice Media

7am

143 Listeners

The Imperfects by Hugh van Cuylenburg, Ryan Shelton & Josh van Cuylenburg

The Imperfects

442 Listeners

Grit by Kleiner Perkins

Grit

190 Listeners

Straight Talk with Mark Bouris by Mentored.com.au

Straight Talk with Mark Bouris

150 Listeners

Chanticleer by Australian Financial Review

Chanticleer

18 Listeners

The Fin by Australian Financial Review

The Fin

19 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics: Leading by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics: Leading

988 Listeners

15 Minutes with the Boss by The Australian Financial Review

15 Minutes with the Boss

6 Listeners

BG2Pod with Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley by BG2Pod

BG2Pod with Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley

461 Listeners