Gabe Newell: Reflections of a Video Game Maker

The LBJ School

Why leaders watch it

Valve's founder describes a flat, self-directed company and how it hires, pays and manages creative people.

Gabe Newell, founder of Valve, gives a talk at the LBJ School on productivity, economics, political institutions and the future of corporations. He discusses Valve's hiring and pay, its flat structure and an open-office anecdote.

Takeaways

• Flat structure shifts power to employees
• Hire for unusual talent and pay by value
• Firing is also part of hiring

Topics: Culture & values, Org design & scaling, Hiring & talent

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