Harley Finkelstein

They have the most amount of attention on them. And so our feeling as being the guardians and the support system for these millions of businesses and stores is that we need to make sure they show up in the best way possible. And so it's their Super Bowl, but we're there making sure that they have all the stability they need, whether it's a company like Supreme who does these massive flash sales.

They have the most amount of attention on them. And so our feeling as being the guardians and the support system for these millions of businesses and stores is that we need to make sure they show up in the best way possible. And so it's their Super Bowl, but we're there making sure that they have all the stability they need, whether it's a company like Supreme who does these massive flash sales.

Every Thursday they have a flash sale. it's always the largest flash sale that they've ever had. So the amount of throughput, the amount of infrastructure that's required is an engineering marvel. And we have to make sure that they can do anything they want without ever slowing down. And whether it's Taylor Swift who sells on Shopify,

Every Thursday they have a flash sale. it's always the largest flash sale that they've ever had. So the amount of throughput, the amount of infrastructure that's required is an engineering marvel. And we have to make sure that they can do anything they want without ever slowing down. And whether it's Taylor Swift who sells on Shopify,

Or it's Kith who's launching a new collaboration with Giorgio Armani. These are iconic retail brands and they rely on us. And so it's their time to shine, but it's our time to show up behind the scenes and make sure they're everything they need. And in 2023, from Black Friday to Cyber Monday, we saw about $9.3 billion with a B sold on Shopify this year. Hopefully it will be even larger than that.

Or it's Kith who's launching a new collaboration with Giorgio Armani. These are iconic retail brands and they rely on us. And so it's their time to shine, but it's our time to show up behind the scenes and make sure they're everything they need. And in 2023, from Black Friday to Cyber Monday, we saw about $9.3 billion with a B sold on Shopify this year. Hopefully it will be even larger than that.

But it's... If you love entrepreneurship the way we do, the way I do, I think you do too, Alana. This is where the spotlight of the world is on entrepreneurs. And we as consumers, we support them. We vote with our wallets to buy from small businesses, from local businesses, from brands. Every time we buy something from a brand, whatever the brand might be, including a big brand like Apple.

But it's... If you love entrepreneurship the way we do, the way I do, I think you do too, Alana. This is where the spotlight of the world is on entrepreneurs. And we as consumers, we support them. We vote with our wallets to buy from small businesses, from local businesses, from brands. Every time we buy something from a brand, whatever the brand might be, including a big brand like Apple.

We are voting with our wallets for more Apple to exist in the world. Every time we buy something from a small business, it's a local seltzer company, Bitco from Montreal. Every time we buy soda water from Bitco, I'm voting with my wallet to say, I like what your product is. I like drinking it. It's delicious, you know, delicious water. But I want to see more companies like this exist in the world.

We are voting with our wallets for more Apple to exist in the world. Every time we buy something from a small business, it's a local seltzer company, Bitco from Montreal. Every time we buy soda water from Bitco, I'm voting with my wallet to say, I like what your product is. I like drinking it. It's delicious, you know, delicious water. But I want to see more companies like this exist in the world.

In commercial retail, it's not just transactional. There is deeper meaning in it. And that's what I think BFCM, those four days, epitomize.

In commercial retail, it's not just transactional. There is deeper meaning in it. And that's what I think BFCM, those four days, epitomize.

I mean, I mentioned mentorship a little bit. Mentorship is very important to me. I sort of built myself a bit of a personal board of directors. And it's not permanent. Every couple of years, I swap one out for another one, someone who I feel like is not necessarily, maybe I've learned everything I can from that person, or maybe that person has taken a different track.

I mean, I mentioned mentorship a little bit. Mentorship is very important to me. I sort of built myself a bit of a personal board of directors. And it's not permanent. Every couple of years, I swap one out for another one, someone who I feel like is not necessarily, maybe I've learned everything I can from that person, or maybe that person has taken a different track.

But I have this sort of personal board of directors in my life. And as I grow and as I need new things, you know, I'm a new dad now. So I didn't really have anyone in my life who I thought was a really great father. And so I've added more people to the board of directors now, my own board of directors, who are great fathers because I want to learn from them. So that's sort of one thing, I think.

But I have this sort of personal board of directors in my life. And as I grow and as I need new things, you know, I'm a new dad now. So I didn't really have anyone in my life who I thought was a really great father. And so I've added more people to the board of directors now, my own board of directors, who are great fathers because I want to learn from them. So that's sort of one thing, I think.

I want it to be very well-rounded. At some point, someone must have told me, if you're going to be a leader of a company like Shopify, you have to be very well-rounded. I'm not well-rounded. I don't really want to be well-rounded. I want to be really spiky.

I want it to be very well-rounded. At some point, someone must have told me, if you're going to be a leader of a company like Shopify, you have to be very well-rounded. I'm not well-rounded. I don't really want to be well-rounded. I want to be really spiky.

I want to be really spiky and really sharp on the thing that I care most about, storytelling, being Shopify's president, telling our narrative to the world, to investors, to the public, to the media, to merchants, to partners, to everybody. And I want to be self-aware enough to know all the other stuff that I'm not good at and then invite people in to help me with the things that I'm not good at.

I want to be really spiky and really sharp on the thing that I care most about, storytelling, being Shopify's president, telling our narrative to the world, to investors, to the public, to the media, to merchants, to partners, to everybody. And I want to be self-aware enough to know all the other stuff that I'm not good at and then invite people in to help me with the things that I'm not good at.