Ivan Zhao

On building for humans

“Instead of only focusing on ‘build’ and ‘something’, I wish more builders would also think about ‘people’. Human nature is the invariable anchoring all businesses, and it hasn’t changed since we left the plains of Africa.” (from Twitter/X)

On sugarcoating broccoli

“We realized, in order to be a big software tool, we have to start from a product that is already ubiquitous, that people recognize, and hide the tool-making, hide the programming ability, like how you sugarcoat broccoli. Nobody wakes up wanting to make software. Well, very few people.” (from Sequoia Capital)

On removing boundaries in skillsets and roles

"I think it's key to remove the boundaries around skill sets, roles, and team structures. We're talking about the trade-offs in design—user experience, solving user problems, and technical considerations. These often map to specific roles like engineers, designers, and PMs. The friction comes when you try to communicate your thinking across those boundaries, whether through writing or talking. It’s much easier when you have multiple skill sets in your head; you can make those trade-offs quickly and creatively, connecting dots that others might miss. In a way, we’re trying to design our company similarly—designers who can code, engineers who can think about the product. It helps break down boundaries, move faster, and create new solutions.” (from Notion)