Perplexity’s CEO says Elon Musk can be a source of inspiration, despite being ‘a controversial guy now’
You may feel a bit conflicted admitting that Elon Musk is a source of inspiration. After all, the world’s richest man has spent the last few years at the centre of controversy—whether it’s his views on productivity, conspiracy theories, or his latest involvement in the government.
Perplexity's CEO Aravind Srinivas recently shared the mantra that helped him build the OpenAI rival, but because it was inspired by Musk, he prefaced his admiration for the world’s richest man with the following caveat:
“I know he's a controversial guy now, but I think there is something very respect-worthy about what he said years ago.”
And it got me thinking: It’s time we admit that leadership lessons can come from even the most complicated figures—and that it’s okay to keep the message, even if you outgrow the messenger.
With that in mind, Srinivas’ career inspiration from Musk was this: When an interviewer asked the SpaceX founder, why he didn’t give up when his rockets kept blowing up, he responded: “I don't give up. I would have to be dead or incapacitated.”
“And I think there's something very powerful that all entrepreneurs should learn, which is it's only over when you think it's over," Srinivas says.
“Until then, you can always find a way. No matter how hard it feels in that moment, it’s only really over when you give up.”
Despite daily headwinds as the underdog in a field dominated by Google, Meta, and OpenAI, Perplexity quietly defied the odds, reaching a $9 billion valuation just two years after launch.
Sometimes, like Musk said, it’s not about being first, it’s about not giving up.
Have a career tip or a leadership dilemma to share? Email: orianna.royle@fortune.com
Leadership tip of the week 💡
Actually, being a Jack of all trades may not be better than being a master of one. Workera’s founder and CEO, Kian Katanforoosh told Fortune: “Long-term thinking, where you go all-in on one area and let it compound, is what worked best for me. That’s how you get to the top 1%, or even the top 0.01%, if you truly excel.” He would know. At just 31-year-old he’s running a $55.5 million software company.
Leadership Next
What do mortgage lending and pro basketball have in common? For Mat Ishbia, everything. In this episode of #LeadershipNext, cohosts Diane Brady and Kristin Stoller sit down with the CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage—and owner of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury—to explore how Ishbia channels his experience as a Michigan State basketball player into building winning teams in boardrooms and arenas alike. Ishbia shares how he balances being a hands-on CEO, sports team owner, and father of three, while staying laser-focused on culture, execution, and doing things “the right way.” He opens up about leading UWM to become the country’s largest mortgage lender, revolutionizing fan experiences in Phoenix, and why he believes money follows people—not the other way around.
Founder & CEO | AI-Powered Publishing & Faith-Tech Visionary | Creator of Church Doors™, IAMU™, The Black Equation™ | Building the Next NVIDIA-Level Ecosystem for Legacy & Wealth
2mo💡“It’s only over when you think it’s over” — powerful words from Aravind Srinivas that resonate deeply. As someone actively building disruptive, future-forward brands from the ground up, I know firsthand the weight and thrill of carving a path through uncharted territory. The sleepless nights, bold bets, and relentless belief — it’s all part of the DNA. I may not be on the Fortune cover yet… but I’m definitely made of the same material. #LearningToLead #AIInnovation #BrandBuilder #Entrepreneurship #DareToDisrupt #FutureOfBusiness #DaniaScott #BlackEquation #ResilienceInBusiness
A professional lecturer with excellent communication skills and the ability to curate and disseminate information in engaging and relenant ways.
2moThanks for sharing
OK Boštjan Dolinšek
Bachelor's degree at James Lorenzo Walker College
3moWE MUST LOVE AND HONOUR EACH OTHER, BECAUSE THROUGH THIS WE RECEIVE THE PEACE AND BLESSING OF GOD. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT GOD DOES. GOD HAS NOT KEPT ANYBODY TO BE AT THE HEAD OF ANYTHING, BECAUSE HE HIMSELF IS THE CREATOR OF EVERYTHING. HIS WORDS ARE PIECES OF ADVISE AND THOSE WHO FAIL TO ABIDE HAVE THEMSELVES TO BLAME. (BY LEADER AND TEACHER OLUMBA OLUMBA OBU)
Writer/ Poet ( self employed)
3mo** If we define "inspiration" as any individual who seeks wealth by any legal means through ideology, negative networking, or blind democracy. While supporting the social dynamic power, it is not" the main part of their goal. We might classify Musk and the billionaire class as artificial greedy individuals with a negative manual freezing of wealth? *** The dynamic social power of all classes is the true inspiration and measurement of democratic principles, especially the middle class. The greedy principles of the global top elites of billionaires and trillionaires are a fake dynamic measurement of true dynamic social power inspiration!! 🖤 🤑 ✍