David Risher: On Romantic vs. Functional Decision Making, and the Unexpected Influence of Leading with Purpose (#35)

David Risher is the CEO and co-founder of Worldreader. His early appetite for reading, coupled with his technology background, encouraged him to launch an organization that now reaches more than 13 million readers across 46 countries with content in 52 languages. Worldreader helps children everywhere access the books they need to improve their lives and live their potential. 

Before Worldreader, David left his executive post at Microsoft to join Jeff Bezos in building Amazon’s first billion in revenue as Senior Vice President of Retail. When he left after just five years, Bezos wrote a personal tribute thanking David for his leadership and hid it on Amazon’s home page with a secret link.

In our conversation, we talk about how romantic and functional mindsets play into decision making and career choices, what happens when we see the potential in people by default, and the one critical life skill that travel affords us, and much more.