What Reddit Co-Founder Alexis Ohanian Learned From Working at Pizza Hut
The part-time job laid the foundation for how he runs Reddit today.
By Nina Zipkin •
To all the young aspiring entrepreneurs out there, don't discount the long-term value of that part-time gig.
In an interview at the Entrepreneur360™ conference in New York this fall, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian recalled how instructive his job at a local Pizza Hut was in terms of building his confidence and showing him how to interact with people.
Related: Reddit's Alexis Ohanian on Starting Up, Dorking Out and Cat Theories (VIDEO)
He held down the job throughout high school, working as a dishwasher, cook and waiter. The experience taught him the importance of taking responsibility not just for your own mistakes, but for the mistakes of your team members. "When you are the point person, excuses don't really matter," he said.
"One of the cooks could have screwed up the pizza, but as far as that customer is concerned, it is your responsibility, it's your fault. It may not be your fault, but it is your fault…It taught me a lot about customer service that I still use to this day."
To hear more from Ohanian on his early job history, check out the video above.
Related: The Valuable Lessons These CEOs Learned About Leadership
