In Conversation with Governor Gavin Newsom

Earlier this year, I sat down with Governor Gavin Newsom at the Upfront Summit for a conversation that felt overdue and honestly, necessary.

California has always carried a mythology: this is where bold ideas are born and the future gets built. But lately, especially in Los Angeles, that story has started to wobble. As a founder, operator, and investor rooted here, I’ve felt the shift firsthand. The optimism that once fueled this ecosystem has gotten heavier. The trust between builders, investors, and leadership feels strained.

I opened by saying what most people in the room were already thinking:

It’s been a brutal year. People are rethinking where they live, what they build, and who they trust to lead. California is in a moment of deep reflection — a kind of collective audit — and ignoring that would be a mistake.

Governor Newsom and I went straight into it:

• What’s behind the growing disillusionment with California?

• Why are founders and investors pulling back?

• And what will it take to rebuild trust between government and the business community?

We talked about regulation, innovation, data strategy, political identity, and what it means to actually lead in a state that’s both a laboratory and a mirror for the rest of the country.

I’m bullish on Gavin. He’s not perfect — no leader is — but he’s doing the work. He’s expanding, experimenting, and showing up with curiosity. He’s trying to meet Americans where they actually are, not just where it’s politically convenient. That matters.