Garrett Lord

Guest: Garrett Lord - Co-founder and CEO of Handshake. Garrett has built Handshake into a leading platform connecting college students with job opportunities, used by every Fortune 500 company and over 1,500 colleges. Key Takeaways: Expert Network Advantage: Handshake leverages its vast network of 18 million professionals, including 500,000 PhDs, to provide high-quality, expert-driven data for AI model training, eliminating customer acquisition costs. Shift from Generalists to Experts: The demand for AI model training has evolved from generalists to experts, as models now require specialized knowledge to improve further. Rapid Business Growth: Handshake's new data labeling business reached $50 million ARR in four months and is on track to surpass $100 million within the first year, highlighting the explosive demand for expert-driven data. Separate Business Unit Strategy: To successfully incubate this new business, Handshake created a separate team with distinct roles and a startup-like culture, focusing on rapid execution and maintaining high data quality. AI's Impact on Employment: Garrett believes AI will enhance productivity and create new job opportunities, particularly for AI-native young professionals who can leverage these tools effectively. Topics Covered: AI model training, expert networks, business growth strategies, data labeling, AI's impact on employment, startup culture within established companies.