Think Bigger

You also have the support of people like Bill Gates and Carlos Slim. What would you say you have learned from them about transformational leadership?

I gotta say this journey at Khan Academy, once it started to get going, we've been very fortunate to have folks that frankly growing up were my heroes. Some of them came out of the woodwork and support or give advice, or even act as a mentor. And I think the most powerful thing I've learned from almost all of them is, even though the external perception is that these are titans of industry etc. etc. they tend to lead with humility and they tend to not assume that they know everything, but at the same time, they will use their positions to challenge folks to think bigger, to challenge folks to like why aren't you?

You know, and they're some of them that have told me, like hey Sal, it's fine you're reaching X million this month, but look at the world, there's X billion. That's not good enough. And I'm feeling uncomfortable, I'm like a million is pretty good, why should you know, but they're right, and you know but you go home and you realize that yeah, they're right, Like why am I giving up at, not giving up, But why am I not putting pressure on me or the organization to get to billions, even though it sounds a little delusional right now. if you don't think that way it's never going to happen.