# The Multi-Million Dollar Failure That Started a Billion-Dollar Company | Anthony Woods, Co-Founder of Grafana Labs

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/lead-the-team-top-2-of-podcasts-1064768/the-multi-million-dollar-failure-that-started-a-billion-dollar-company-anthony-woods-co-founder-of-grafana-labs
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/lead-the-team-top-2-of-podcasts-1064768/the-multi-million-dollar-failure-that-started-a-billion-dollar-company-anthony-woods-co-founder-of-grafana-labs.md
Podcast: [Lead the Team (Top 2% of Podcasts)](https://stenobird.com/podcast/lead-the-team-top-2-of-podcasts-1064768)
Published: 2026-08-23T17:00:00+00:00
Episode link: http://www.benfanning.com/theceosessions/anthony-woods
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/0960fc37-9649-4e68-8146-8948f85f4f75.mp3
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Duration seconds: 2536

## Resource

What do you do when you inherit a problem everyone else has given up on? Before helping build Grafana Labs into one of the world's leading infrastructure software companies, Anthony Woods inherited enterprise software that had already cost millions of dollars—and concluded it was never going to work. Instead of accepting it, he spent one weekend building a better solution. That single decision became the turning point that ultimately led him to co-found Grafana Labs , now a company valued in the billions. In this episode of Lead the Team , Anthony shares the leadership lessons behind innovation, confidence, and building organizations where great people do their best work. You'll learn: Why your biggest career opportunity may be hiding inside your biggest problem. How one manager's belief can change someone's entire career. Why the best leaders create environments where people are encouraged to experiment and fail. How Grafana built a thriving remote-first culture across the globe. Why solving problems—not titles—is the fastest path to leadership. Whether you're leading a team, building a business, or looking for the confidence to take your next bold step, Anthony's story is a reminder that extraordinary careers often begin with one decision to solve a problem no one else will. ----- Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben Fanning Speaking and Training inquires Subscribe to my Youtube channel LinkedIn Instagram Twitter

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