Protect the User (Then Build) | Pinterest CEO Bill Ready

From a small-town auto repair shop in Kentucky to Silicon Valley and the Pinterest CEO role, Bill Ready reflects on the early lessons that shaped his leadership—and the controversial decision to make the platform private for users under 16. Widely criticised at the time, the move helped redefine Pinterest as a safer space for Gen Z and proved that accountability and long‑term thinking can also be good business. 0.00 Bill Ready's Journey: Small-Town Roots to Tech Leadership 7:37 The Leap to College: Mentors and Early Entrepreneurial Lessons 13:12 Embracing Vulnerability: Building Strong Teams and Personal Balance 23:04 Why Making Pinterest Safer Was Bill Ready's Best Decision 33:15 Bill Ready's Vision: Shaping AI and a Positive Digital Future #CNBC #CNBCPodcast #ExecutiveDecisions ----- Subscribe: @cnbci CNBC International Live: @cnbcinternationalive LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/cnbc-international/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cnbci Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cnbcinternational Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnbcinternational/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@cnbcinternational X: https://twitter.com/CNBCi Telegram: https://t.me/cnbci WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/CNBCiWhatsApp