Ben Chestnut is co-founder and CEO of Mailchimp, a 16-year-old Atlanta-based company that makes marketing software for small businesses. Even if you’re not one of the 12 million customers currently using Mailchimp’s marketing services, you at least must have received one or 2 email newsletters from a company being served by Mailchimp.
Along with Dan Kurzius, Mr. Chestnut started Mailchimp in 2000 originally as a web design company after both were laid off from their previous corporate web design jobs. Using their severance checks to kickstart, the 2 men (who fully own and control the company) have managed to grow their business slowly, quietly and organically without VC funding and the usual fanfare, hype and buzz of today’s tech startups. They’re not even based in Silicon Valley! They achieved business success the good old-fashioned way!
In 2015, Mailchimp recorded $280 million in revenue and is on track to top $400 million in 2016. The company now employs about 550 people, and by next year it will be close to 700.
Here are some powerful personal and business lessons, gems for startups that Chestnut shared in an NYT article and interview.
His heritage and how this background has been the greatest influence on his life
The powerful skill he developed as a child
The kind of employees he likes to work with
How he recruits new talent
His most important question for job applicants and new recruits
On managing teams and leadership in business
Why they haven’t yet allowed outside investors to own Mailchimp
Advice to graduates and job seekers.
His most important life advice
The ultimate goal. Why he is in business
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Photos: Forbes, Glassdoor, Mailchimp, Twitter