Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
For an audio-only podcast, transcripts, and custom Notion x Handshake templates, please visit: https://ntn.so/vr471u
To learn more about how Notion is supporting startups, please visit: https://ntn.so/qy2rh6
Welcome to First Block, a Notion series where founders from the world’s leading companies tell us what it was like to navigate the many firsts of their startup journey—and what they learned from that experience.
In this episode, we spoke with Garrett Lord, co-founder and CEO of Handshake. Handshake is the leading career platform connecting students and young professionals with employers, serving 17 million users and nearly 1 million companies. Garrett shares his journey from growing up in a working-class family in Michigan to building a company that democratizes access to career opportunities. He discusses his days living out of his car, the importance of talent density, and why this is the moment to go all in on your biggest bets.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:48 Founding the Spark
02:43 The Early Grind
06:42 Talent Matters Most
07:37 Scaling Through Leadership
13:17 Inside Handshake AI
18:04 Shaping the Future Workforce
19:38 Advice Block
For an audio-only podcast, transcripts, and custom Notion x Handshake templates, please visit: https://ntn.so/vr471u
To learn more about how Notion is supporting startups, please visit: https://ntn.so/qy2rh6
Welcome to First Block, a Notion series where founders from the world’s leading companies tell us what it was like to navigate the many firsts of their startup journey—and what they learned from that experience.
In this episode, we spoke with Garrett Lord, co-founder and CEO of Handshake. Handshake is the leading career platform connecting students and young professionals with employers, serving 17 million users and nearly 1 million companies. Garrett shares his journey from growing up in a working-class family in Michigan to building a company that democratizes access to career opportunities. He discusses his days living out of his car, the importance of talent density, and why this is the moment to go all in on your biggest bets.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:48 Founding the Spark
02:43 The Early Grind
06:42 Talent Matters Most
07:37 Scaling Through Leadership
13:17 Inside Handshake AI
18:04 Shaping the Future Workforce
19:38 Advice Block
