Stan is joined by Dave Ferguson, Co-Founder and President of Nuro. In this episode, Dave discusses his transition from Waymo to Nuro, the pivotal shifts in their business model, and how they've managed to secure a monumental partnership with Uber and Lucid to create robo-taxis. Dave also opens up about the challenges faced during Nuro's evolution, from team restructuring to investor negotiations, and offers a glimpse into the future of autonomous vehicles. Don't miss this episode filled with valuable lessons on leadership, technology, and the path to a safer, autonomous future.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview

01:26 Dave Ferguson's Background and Early Career

03:24 Founding Nuro and Co-Founder Dynamics

05:45 The Role of Coaching in Leadership

07:06 Nuro's Initial Vision and Market Challenges

09:30 The Strategic Pivot and Its Implications

15:47 Navigating Partnerships and Investor Relations

18:34 Post-Pivot Challenges and Negotiations

24:40 Employee Motivation and Overcoming Friction

25:07 Honesty and Vulnerability in Leadership

26:18 Handling Employee Turnover

28:06 Introduction to Nuro's New Business Model

30:51 Partnerships with Uber and Lucid

34:39 The Importance of Trust in Negotiations

41:57 Future of Autonomous Vehicles

47:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.

Join Stan as he dives deep into the remarkable entrepreneurial journey of Sami Inkinen in this episode of All Things Negotiation. A two-time successful entrepreneur, Inkinen co-founded Trulia, an online real estate marketplace, and Virta Health, a revolutionary company aimed at reversing type 2 diabetes. Throughout the conversation, Inkinen shares insights on grit, risk-taking, and authenticity in the business world. Discover the highs and lows of startup life, the importance of burn-the-lifeboats mentality, and invaluable lessons on negotiation and long-term relationships from a leader whose ventures are valued at multiple billions of dollars. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a business veteran, Inkinen's stories of overcoming obstacles, staying focused, and balancing personal life are bound to inspire and inform.

00:00 The Harsh Reality of Entrepreneurship

00:25 Introducing Sami Inkinen: A Rare Breed of Entrepreneur

01:08 Sami's Early Life and Entrepreneurial Journey

02:07 Grit and Achievements: From Triathlons to Rowing Across the Pacific

04:17 The Birth and Growth of Trulia

09:38 Overcoming Challenges at Trulia

12:34 Transition to Virta Health: A New Mission

15:09 Virta Health's Approach to Reversing Type 2 Diabetes

19:34 Challenges in the Healthcare Industry

24:00 The Power of Probabilistic Results

24:43 Taking Risks and Innovating in Healthcare

27:13 Burning the Lifeboats: A Philosophy for Entrepreneurs

35:44 Balancing Multiple Identities

38:52 The Importance of Authenticity and Vulnerability

44:11 Advice for Young Founders on Negotiation

Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.

In this episode, Stan interviews Dr. Toyin Ajayi, a physician, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Cityblock Health. They discuss the challenges of healthcare delivery for underserved populations, building trust, value-based care, entrepreneurship, and lessons in negotiation and persuasion.

00:00 - Introduction: The Art of Selling as a CEO

00:18 - Meet Dr. Toyin Ajayi & Cityblock Health

00:37 - Toyin’s Journey: Gaps in Medicaid Healthcare

01:48 - The Revolving Door of Healthcare

03:13 - Redesigning Care for Real Impact

04:33 - Problems Cityblock Health Solves

06:30 - Burnout & Moral Injury in Healthcare

08:09 - Aligning Incentives: Patients, Providers, Payers

09:02 - How Cityblock’s Model Works

10:00 - Negotiating with Insurers & Enterprise Sales

13:09 - Value-Based Arrangements & Preventative Care

15:40 - Misaligned Incentives in Healthcare

18:46 - The Role of Regulators & CMS

20:05 - Administrative Complexity in US Healthcare

22:05 - Building Trust with Patients

24:05 - Anecdotes: Earning Patient Trust

27:00 - For-Profit with a Mission: Aligning Investors & Impact

29:45 - Current Events: Medicaid Policy & Technology

32:00 - Advice for Entrepreneurs: Negotiation & Listening