Arvind Jain, who co-founded both Rubrik and Glean, had a moment of self-doubt when he started working at Google. Having relocated from a rural town in India, he was suddenly among the elite, including PhDs from prestigious institutions like MIT and Stanford. To navigate this new environment, Jain focused on learning from his peers.
One of those peers was Sundar Pichai, a new product manager at the time. Jain recounted, "We spent a significant period together at Google; I knew Pichai from his early days as an individual contributor." Reflecting on his experiences at Google, Jain noted, “We were surrounded by exceptionally talented individuals from the finest schools, some excelled, while others didn’t. I often felt fortunate to be among such a remarkable group, which fueled my desire to understand the formula for success.”
Pichai certainly exemplified success, becoming CEO of Google in August 2015, barely a decade after his entry into the company. Jain observed key characteristics in Pichai: intense dedication, hard work, and an ability to envision grand ideas with confidence. “You must think big and even a bit absurdly,” Jain articulated.
Jain's pivotal realization occurred as he witnessed Pichai advocate for Google Chrome—an initiative that many considered ill-fated. At the time, the web browser market was dominated by Microsoft, and Netscape had already seen its downfall. Even Jain doubted the viability of Chrome, acknowledging, “I thought it was a poor idea. I wasn't thinking expansively enough.”
Moreover, Microsoft’s then-CEO, Steve Ballmer, had ridiculed Chrome as merely a “rounding error.” Despite this skepticism, Chrome ultimately became the most widely used browser globally by 2012, eclipsing Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and solidifying Pichai’s stature within Google, paving the way for his leadership role.
From this experience, Jain gleaned an essential lesson: “You have to commit to pursuing ideas that may seem foolish or unrealistic. That’s where the true magic occurs.” This approach encapsulates the notion that radical thinking is just as critical as diligent effort—an attribute shared by Google’s founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, alongside Pichai. Jain noted, “They never let conventional thinking limit their potential.”
After departing Google, Jain capitalized on these lessons to achieve remarkable success. He co-founded Rubrik, a cloud data management firm that went public in 2024, boasting a valuation of about $5.6 billion, and later launched Glean, an AI platform designed to streamline information access for employees. Glean has surged in value, currently standing at $7.2 billion.
Even now, Jain continues to learn from those in his field, particularly his younger Gen Z employees. “In fact, I find I discover the most from the youngest generation,” he remarked. “They offer fresh perspectives that I haven’t encountered.”
