Insights from Nikhil Kamath's Podcast with YouTube CEO Neal Mohan
A Revealing Conversation on YouTube's Success
In a recent episode of the podcast 'People by WTF,' Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, engaged in an insightful discussion with Neal Mohan, the CEO of YouTube. During their conversation, Mohan shared intriguing anecdotes from his past that highlight his significant contributions to YouTube's success, shedding light on how much Google values his input.
Google's Offer in 2011
Mohan disclosed that back in 2011, Twitter, now known as X, was on the lookout for a seasoned leader to head its product division. The platform aimed to appoint him as Chief Product Officer, a proposition he took seriously. However, Google intervened with a staggering offer of $100 million (approximately ₹830 crores) to persuade him to stay, presenting this as restricted stock units.
In 2007, Google acquired DoubleClick for $3.1 billion, which marked Mohan's entry into the company. He not only bolstered Google's advertising business but also played a crucial role in YouTube's growth. Following the acquisition, he ascended to a top position within Google's ad business.
Education and Career Path
Neal Mohan completed his electrical engineering degree at Stanford University. After graduating, he began his career at Andersen Consulting before joining a small startup called NetGravity. Following its acquisition by DoubleClick, he became Vice President of Business Operations. When Google acquired DoubleClick, Mohan transitioned directly to Google.