Leaders Share Credit Silently

Shaan Puri shares his observations about Emmett Shear's (Twitch CEO) approach to credit attribution, particularly regarding the founding story of Twitch. Despite common misconceptions about Justin Kan being the founder of Twitch, Emmett never attempted to correct the record, showing remarkable humility and leadership.

Key Points:

• The Twitch Origin Story:

  • Justin TV team split into two groups - Social Cam (Justin Kan) and Twitch (Emmett)
  • Twitch started as 2% of Justin TV's content
  • Social Cam had quick success but failed ($60M exit)
  • Twitch grew slowly but steadily into a multi-billion dollar company

• Credit Attribution:

  • Justin Kan often referenced as Twitch founder/co-founder
  • Reality: Justin wasn't actively involved in Twitch's development
  • Emmett never attempted to correct this misconception
  • "A lesser man aka me would have been trying to set the record straight"

• Leadership Philosophy:

  • Prioritizes truth over ego
  • Maintains strong personal relationships over public recognition
  • Shows remarkable restraint in not correcting public narrative
  • Values long-term relationships over short-term credit

• Personal Observation:

  • "I give a lot of props to that because a lesser man would have been trying to set the record straight"
  • Demonstrates how true leaders handle success - with humility and grace
  • Shows importance of maintaining friendships over public recognition