Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Is hard work enough to be successful? Former Inflection CEO and McKinsey alumnus Mike Grossman says it’s not—and neither is talent.
In this episode of _Author Talks,_ Grossman discusses his new book, _ Failure Is An Option: Reflections of a Silicon Valley CEO._ He reflects on the role luck has played in his career, the mistakes he regrets, and the difficult trade-offs CEOs face.
He explains why he came to define success by the quality of the work rather than the outcome, what the job of CEO actually entails, and why the traditional narrative of overcoming adversity on the way to success isn’t how real life works.
Grossman also shares how a chance moment during his McKinsey interview changed the trajectory of his professional and personal life, and how lessons in problem solving from his time at the firm have influenced decades of leadership
*Chapters:*
00:00 – Intro
00:27 – Why success isn’t just about the outcome
01:27 – The “luck” of cursing in a McKinsey interview
02:52 – Why he chose his best friend over funding
04:25 – The CEO mistake that still keeps him up at 2 a.m.
04:57 – What no one tells you about being a CEO
06:16 – How to know when you've crossed an ethical line
08:05 – What leadership taught him about human nature
08:59 – The McKinsey lesson he still uses as a CEO
10:12 – How leaders make decisions during uncertainty
*Comments and opinions expressed by interviewees are their own and do not represent or reflect the opinions, policies, or positions of McKinsey & Company or have its endorsement.*
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Is hard work enough to be successful? Former Inflection CEO and McKinsey alumnus Mike Grossman says it’s not—and neither is talent.
In this episode of _Author Talks,_ Grossman discusses his new book, _ Failure Is An Option: Reflections of a Silicon Valley CEO._ He reflects on the role luck has played in his career, the mistakes he regrets, and the difficult trade-offs CEOs face.
He explains why he came to define success by the quality of the work rather than the outcome, what the job of CEO actually entails, and why the traditional narrative of overcoming adversity on the way to success isn’t how real life works.
Grossman also shares how a chance moment during his McKinsey interview changed the trajectory of his professional and personal life, and how lessons in problem solving from his time at the firm have influenced decades of leadership
*Chapters:*
00:00 – Intro
00:27 – Why success isn’t just about the outcome
01:27 – The “luck” of cursing in a McKinsey interview
02:52 – Why he chose his best friend over funding
04:25 – The CEO mistake that still keeps him up at 2 a.m.
04:57 – What no one tells you about being a CEO
06:16 – How to know when you've crossed an ethical line
08:05 – What leadership taught him about human nature
08:59 – The McKinsey lesson he still uses as a CEO
10:12 – How leaders make decisions during uncertainty
*Comments and opinions expressed by interviewees are their own and do not represent or reflect the opinions, policies, or positions of McKinsey & Company or have its endorsement.*
Subscribe to our channel: mck.co/YouTube
Subscribe to our newsletters: mck.co/Subscribe
*Find us on:*
Facebook: mck.co/Facebook
Twitter: mck.co/Twitter
LinkedIn: mck.co/LinkedIn
Instagram: mck.co/Instagram
