Matt Mullenweg is co-founder of the open-source publishing platform WordPress, which now powers over 40% of all sites on the web. He is the founder and CEO of Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Tumblr, WPVIP, Day One, Texts, and Pocket Casts. Additionally, Matt runs Audrey Capital, an investment and research company. He has been recognized for his leadership by Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek, Inc. Magazine, TechCrunch, Fortune, Fast Company, Wired, University Philosophical Society, and Vanity Fair.

Matt is originally from Houston, Texas, where he attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and studied jazz saxophone. In his spare time, Matt is an avid photographer. He currently splits his time between Houston and San Francisco.

This week, Barrett and Matt dive into a range of topics, from the importance of making informed decisions as a leader to the impact of sabbaticals on personal well-being. Matt shares insights on hiring philosophy, the future of web development, and the significance of human-centered design. He also discusses vulnerability in leadership, his evolving perspectives on technology, including artificial intelligence and decentralized computing, and his commitment to open-source values.

In this episode:

• 00:00 - Intro


• 02:24 - Matt’s trip to Antarctica and the importance of unplugging


• 07:51 - Matt’s “ABCs”


• 10:33 - Transitioning from a scarcity to an abundance mindset


• 14:08 - How being a musician has shaped Matt’s view of the world 


• 18:48 - The value of music as a metaphor for collaboration and synchronization in creative endeavors


• 26:45 - Why Matt is described as a “learn-it-all”


• 28:19 - AI and technological evolution


• 35:07 - Making smart bets on new technologies


• 40:00 - Why competition is good for you


• 45:37 - Pace layering and how to optimize for the right things


• 53:03 - What Matt learned from taking a three-month sabbatical


• 01:07:11 - Matt’s mission to democratize publishing, commerce, and messaging


• 01:13:37 - Why security is critical in the age of social media


• 01:16:19 - The Automattic Creed


• 01:22:57 - Finding new ideas and testing vs implementation


• 01:26:37 - Four qualities Matt looks for when hiring


• 01:32:15 - Matt's unbearably beautiful future

Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.