1. “Connecting Network and Domains”
A Leadership Biography of Ron Conway
Total Leadership – Spring 2012
Matthew Barbas

2. Meet Ron Conway
• Early Years
• Born in San Francisco Area in 1951
• Attended community college and graduated from San Jose State University
• Early Career
• Began career in technologies sales
• Joined Altos Computer Systems as VP of Sales, participated in IPO, later became CEO
until company acquired
• Becoming an Angel Investor
• Founded SV Angel to invest in early-stage tech start-ups
• Has invested in several prominent firms, including Google, Paypal, and Twitter
• Community Ventures
• Founded partnership between SFC government and tech companies
• Active supporter of several philanthropies
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3. Integrating Domains
Professional and Home/Family
All three of Ron’s children work in the technology community, including at a:
•Partner Venture Capital firm
•Portfolio Company
•Ron’s Investment Firm
Professional and Local Government (Community)
• Ron leveraged his network, including business relationships and celebrity investors to support the
election of San Francisco’s recently elected mayor
• Ron has recently founded an initiative to partner local government with technology start-ups, benefiting
the community, and creating a better environment for his investments
Personal, Professional and Philanthropic (Community)
• Ron has been an active supporter of many of his own personal philanthropies, including the Ronald
McDonald House at Stanford
• Ron has also supported other philanthropies, including being on the board of PeaPod Academy
Foundation, an organization founded by the Black Eyed Peas, who are investors in Ron’s fund
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4. Leadership Lessons from Ron Conway
What Ron Does Takeaway
• Ron leverages relationships to find new • Many problems can be solved and goals
Leveraging investors and investments, as well as to achieved by leveraging stakeholders
Your Network evaluate new businesses within your network
• Start-ups like Ron as an investor • Having a reputation for a useful network
Connecting because he openly shares his rolodex to can help you expand the network further
Your Network make introductions to help the business
grow
• In nearly every initiative that Ron • Seeking “wins” across multiple domains
Integrating undertakes, there are goals and elements can help you maximize your personal
Domains from multiple domains vision
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