Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 6 days ago
The hardest company to build is the one you start after you’ve already succeeded.
After scaling Yext into a platform powering millions of businesses, Howard Lerman chose to start over with Roam, the “Office of the Future,” where humans and AI work side by side from anywhere.
On Grit, he joins Joubin Mirzadegan to talk about the solitude of leadership and what happens when you stop building for Wall Street.
Guest: Howard Lerman, co-founder and former CEO of Yext, and founder and CEO of Roam
Connect with Howard Lerman
X: https://x.com/howard
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/howardlerman
Connect with Joubin
X: https://x.com/Joubinmir
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joubin-mirzadegan-66186854
Email: grit@kleinerperkins.com
Learn more about Kleiner Perkins: kleinerperkins.com
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:54 Angela Duckworth
00:03:02 Howard's Daily Routine
00:15:06 Founder Culture
00:24:53 Background and Early Influences
00:32:54 Building Yext
00:42:59 Parenting and Education
00:56:25 Roam
01:18:07 Grit
The hardest company to build is the one you start after you’ve already succeeded.
After scaling Yext into a platform powering millions of businesses, Howard Lerman chose to start over with Roam, the “Office of the Future,” where humans and AI work side by side from anywhere.
On Grit, he joins Joubin Mirzadegan to talk about the solitude of leadership and what happens when you stop building for Wall Street.
Guest: Howard Lerman, co-founder and former CEO of Yext, and founder and CEO of Roam
Connect with Howard Lerman
X: https://x.com/howard
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/howardlerman
Connect with Joubin
X: https://x.com/Joubinmir
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joubin-mirzadegan-66186854
Email: grit@kleinerperkins.com
Learn more about Kleiner Perkins: kleinerperkins.com
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:54 Angela Duckworth
00:03:02 Howard's Daily Routine
00:15:06 Founder Culture
00:24:53 Background and Early Influences
00:32:54 Building Yext
00:42:59 Parenting and Education
00:56:25 Roam
01:18:07 Grit
