E265: What the Coach to Sequoia, A16Z and Benchmark Learned About Power and People

Why do the most successful investors and founders still miss their best opportunities—and how much of that comes down to poor relationship management? In this episode, I talk with Patrick Ewers, founder of Mindmaven, about why relationships—not intelligence or effort—are the true limiting factor in professional success. Patrick shares lessons from being an early employee at LinkedIn under Reid Hoffman, coaching partners at top firms like Sequoia and Andreessen Horowitz, and building a systemized approach to relationship management that scales. We break down why important things lose to urgent ones, how delegation and leverage unlock effectiveness, and why small, consistent actions compound into billion-dollar outcomes. Highlights: Why relationships are the highest-leverage asset in investing and leadership The “importance vs. urgency” trap that causes missed opportunities How poor follow-up—not bad judgment—creates most investing regrets Practical delegation systems that free up 10–12 hours per week Why dictating follow-ups is more thoughtful than typing them Inbox shadowing and decision triage for leaders How to make people feel valued without fake niceness Why efficiency enables deeper, more authentic relationships The role of thinking time (“white space”) in elite performance Why relationship management is the CEO’s final job Guest Bio: Patrick Ewers is the founder of Mindmaven, an executive coaching firm focused on helping leaders unlock their full potential through relationship management. He was one of the earliest employees at LinkedIn, working closely under Reid Hoffman, and later became one of Silicon Valley’s most sought-after relationship coaches. Over the past 15 years, Patrick has coached hundreds of founders, executives, and investors, including leaders from firms such as Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Benchmark, and First Round Capital, as well as companies like Reddit, Roblox, and Thumbtack. He is the author of Radical Delegation and has been recognized by Forbes as one of Silicon Valley’s top relationship management experts. Our Podcast now receives more than 300,000 downloads a month. Are you interested in sponsoring an episode? Please email David Weisburd at david@weisburdcapital.com . Stay Connected with David Weisburd: X/Twitter: @dweisburd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dweisburd/ Weisburd Capital: https://www.weisburdcapital.com/ Stay Connected with Patrick Ewers: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick/ Questions or topics you want us to discuss on How I Invest? Email us at david@weisburdcapital.com . Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in this episode should be interpreted as an offer to buy or sell any securities or to participate in any investment strategy. All opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Weisburd Capital. Participants may hold positions or have financial interests in the companies, funds, or investments discussed. Any references to specific investments are for illustrative purposes only. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of capital. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Any third-party data or opinions have not been independently verified. Listeners should conduct their own research and consult their own advisors before making any investment decisions. (0:00) Introduction (1:00) Early career and importance of relationships in business (2:40) Challenges and consequences of neglecting relationships (6:50) Best practices for managing and delegating relationships (10:48) Techniques for efficient business communication (18:25) Balancing transactional and thoughtful relationships (24:29) Strategies for effective meetings and scheduling (27:08) Principles and tools for effective delegation (35:59) Psychological aspects and predictability in email management (41:07) Democratizing executive-level efficiency and avoiding micromanagement (44:26) Leveraging recruiting for sustainable advantages (47:32) Role of relationship management in founding a company (49:09) Best practices for unstructured thinking and managing time (54:19) Overcoming work ambiguity and optimizing thinking environments (55:47) How to collaborate with industry experts (57:36) Closing remarks