Disclosure certainty 5/5 debate potential 1/5

Rascoff: Zillow mandates board materials be sent 48 hours in advance

Spencer Rascoff · a16z Podcast | How to Lead, Not Manage Your Board · Jan 2, 2019 · at 21:24

Spencer Rascoff, CEO of Zillow, shares tactical rules for managing board meetings during an a16z podcast panel.

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“We require decks have to get out or memos or whatever, 48 hours ahead of time. You know, if possible, 72 hours, but 48 is the absolute... Latest.”

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