Will Falcon — Making Lightning the Apple of ML

Leadership Lessons

Will Falcon shares how his Navy SEAL training has shaped his leadership style at Lightning AI. He emphasizes the importance of leading from the front, a lesson he learned early on when he was put in charge of a 300-person class at just 20 years old 1. This experience taught him accountability and the necessity of being the best in his field to inspire his team.

If I'm going through that door, I'm going first.

--- Will Falcon

Transitioning to the civilian world, Will found the decision-making process in tech to be more collaborative than the military's dictatorial style. He advises veterans to consider finance as a stepping stone to tech, as it offers a blend of structure and creativity 2.

   

Managing Teams

Managing a tech company, according to Will, is akin to conducting research, where hypotheses are tested and iterated upon. He stresses the importance of teamwork, noting that significant achievements require collaboration rather than solo efforts 3. Will believes that creativity and diverse backgrounds are crucial in hiring, as they bring unique perspectives to problem-solving.

You have to build a company through people, and that's really hard to do.

--- Will Falcon

He highlights the need for a mix of skills, from machine learning expertise to operational and engineering knowledge, to adapt to the evolving landscape of AI 4.