capital · May 22, 2026
Notion CEO Ivan Zhao Discusses Jazz Mode Operating Model in Brian Halligan Podcast
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Ivan Zhao, CEO of Notion, appeared on Brian Halligan's Long Strange Trip podcast released May 21, 2026. Zhao described shifting from founder mode to Jazz Mode for AI-era operations, emphasizing structured freedom, barbell engineering teams pairing seniors with juniors, and dissolving the traditional CMO organization. Notion employs about 60 ex-founders and prioritizes hiring for taste and agency over baseline capability. The company has rebuilt itself multiple times, with GPT-4 described as a refounding shock. Zhao advocated meritocratic compensation and acqui-hiring early-stage founders.
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