'You have to...' - Google chief Sundar Pichai’s secret to success revealed

In a candid conversation with Fortune, Arvind Jain, co-founder of both Rubrik and Glean, reflected on his journey from a small town in India to the heights of Silicon Valley. When he first joined Google, he felt out of place among a group of exceptionally talented individuals from prestigious universities. However, he quickly learned valuable lessons by observing Sundar Pichai, one of the company’s standout leaders. Jain noted that while hard work is essential, it is not the only ingredient for success. He emphasized the importance of confidence, big-picture thinking, and the relentless pursuit of goals. These insights shaped his entrepreneurial endeavors with Rubrik and Glean. Having spent considerable time with Pichai during their tenure at Google, Jain shared that the tech giant was filled with brilliant minds, yet not all achieved greatness. He admitted to initially feeling lucky to be part of such an elite group and sought to understand the attributes that led to success. Observing Pichai, Jain recognized a pattern: the combination of intensity, diligence, and audacious thinking. A pivotal moment came when Jain witnessed Pichai’s return to lead the Google Chrome project, which many insiders deemed a risky venture. At a time when the browser market seemed dominated by Microsoft, and competitors like Netscape had already faltered, Jain was skeptical. Reflecting on this experience, he remarked, ‘That’s when magic happens,’ highlighting the necessity of thinking differently and embracing ideas that might seem far-fetched. This mindset, he noted, was also shared by Google’s co-founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who operated without constraints on what was possible. After leaving Google, Jain successfully co-founded Rubrik, which was valued at approximately $5.6 billion upon its public listing in 2024, and later established Glean, an AI startup now worth $7.2 billion. He continues to draw inspiration from his younger colleagues, acknowledging that their fresh perspectives contribute significantly to his ongoing learning journey.