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Name: John Yost.
Title: Founder and CEO.
Company: Black Rocket the San Francisco-based advertising company with $100 million in annual billings. Clients include Yahoo!, Conde Nast MTV and FusionOne.
Education: Bachelor of arts degree in ECONOMICS from the University of California, Berkeley; M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Residence: Piedmont
Business philosophy
Essential business philosophy: Work hard, and surround yourself with people who are smarter than you. I think maybe a lot of people are intimidated by employees who are smarter than themselves, and they hire down, but my philosophy has always been to do the opposite. That way, they push you and everyone else in the organization.
Best way to keep competitive edge: Read. Read everything.
Guiding principle: Tell the truth.
Yardstick of success: Low employee turnover and growth from existing clients. If you are doing a good job with your employees, and they are able to find enjoyment and an opportunity to grow, that is better for everyone involved in the company.
Goal yet to be achieved: The expansion of the agency in order...