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Tech executives usually come throughout as distant and a bit out of contact — Dan Clancy, CEO of Twitch, cuts a distinct determine. After I met with him at Amazon Studios in Los Angeles for The CEO Collection, Clancy’s authenticity was evident from the beginning. Wearing an off-the-cuff hat and cozy in his pores and skin, he embodied a management model that felt extra like collaboration than command. Regardless of a résumé that features NASA, Google and YouTube — and a PhD in synthetic intelligence — Clancy does not carry the burden of his credentials. As an alternative, he radiates curiosity, openness and a willingness to query even his personal assumptions.
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We lined every part from Twitch’s enterprise mannequin to the broader affect of social media on society. Whereas Clancy acknowledges the darkish sides of social media platforms, particularly for younger individuals, he was fast to differentiate Twitch from the remaining. “It isn’t nearly curated posts or doom-scrolling,” he defined. “Twitch is about community-centric reside streaming. It is people being current, connecting.” In response to Clancy, about two-thirds of Twitch’s income comes from followers supporting their favourite streamers instantly — a dynamic that he says fosters engagement over algorithmic manipulation.
One of many extra thought-provoking moments got here after we mentioned AI. Clancy has been engaged on synthetic intelligence because the ’90s, lengthy earlier than the present generative increase. However he was fast to dispel the hype: “We have at all times had AI. What’s modified now could be the dimensions and visibility of it.” He emphasised that AI will not substitute streamers however will as an alternative act as a artistic software. Nonetheless, his largest concern is not the know-how — it is the people who management it. “We have to keep targeted on who’s programming the AI and why,” he stated.
Clancy’s method to management is equally grounded. He does not draw back from tough choices, equivalent to current layoffs, however insists on transparency and empathy. “It is laborious,” he admitted, “however typically it’s a must to do what’s proper for the long-term well being of the platform and the streamers.”
When requested about the way forward for social media, Clancy struck a philosophical tone. “We’re all creators,” he stated. “The objective needs to be to make it simpler for extra individuals to specific themselves authentically.” That perception guides Twitch’s evolving mannequin, the place reside interplay, not simply content material, is king. And it is why Clancy nonetheless streams himself: not for PR, however as a result of he genuinely enjoys it.
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As I left the studio, I could not assist however mirror on the dialog. Clancy’s management model — equal elements engineer, thinker and neighborhood member — presents a glimpse into what fashionable tech management can appear like. He isn’t simply working a platform; he is collaborating in it. And in a time when belief in tech management is fragile, it was a enjoyable instance to see, and I loved speaking with him.
Tech executives usually come throughout as distant and a bit out of contact — Dan Clancy, CEO of Twitch, cuts a distinct determine. After I met with him at Amazon Studios in Los Angeles for The CEO Collection, Clancy’s authenticity was evident from the beginning. Wearing an off-the-cuff hat and cozy in his pores and skin, he embodied a management model that felt extra like collaboration than command. Regardless of a résumé that features NASA, Google and YouTube — and a PhD in synthetic intelligence — Clancy does not carry the burden of his credentials. As an alternative, he radiates curiosity, openness and a willingness to query even his personal assumptions.
Associated: The CEO of Thomson Reuters Is Betting Massive on AI-Pushed Innovation. Here is What Each Chief Can Be taught From His Method.
We lined every part from Twitch’s enterprise mannequin to the broader affect of social media on society. Whereas Clancy acknowledges the darkish sides of social media platforms, particularly for younger individuals, he was fast to differentiate Twitch from the remaining. “It isn’t nearly curated posts or doom-scrolling,” he defined. “Twitch is about community-centric reside streaming. It is people being current, connecting.” In response to Clancy, about two-thirds of Twitch’s income comes from followers supporting their favourite streamers instantly — a dynamic that he says fosters engagement over algorithmic manipulation.
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