How do you decide what to build when every day brings a hundred new possibilities? And how do you keep your focus without losing the spark of creativity?

In this episode of North Star Leaders, Lindsay talks with Andrew Grauer, CEO of Learneo, the company behind well-known brands like Course Hero, CliffNotes, and QuillBot. Andrew opens up about what it’s like to lead through rapid change, why empathy has always been at the core of his approach, and how he balances the thrill of innovation with the discipline of prioritization. They also explore the personal side of leadership - what keeps Andrew energized and how he avoids burnout after nearly two decades of building companies.

You’ll hear them discuss:

Why watching an idea go from conversation to prototype to production in record time keeps him energized as an entrepreneur

How empathy for students and professionals reveals the real problems worth solving, rather than chasing surface-level fixes

The way QuillBot is evolving from a writing tool into a broader platform for generative AI and multimodal communication

The simple decision-making framework Andrew uses to weigh priorities, risks, and opportunities when setting a roadmap

How he thinks about the tension between going deeper into one capability versus expanding wide into new product areas

The personal routines and mindset shifts that help him stay healthy, present with his family, and resilient as a leader

Resources:

Andrew Grauer on Learneo | Quillbot | LinkedIn

Lindsay Pedersen - Contact me to tell me who you'd like to hear as a guest! | Connect with me on LinkedIn