Ben Silbermann

Ben Silbermann is an American Internet entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder of Pinterest, a virtual pinboard that enables users to organize images, recipes, and other items. Pinterest facilitates the creation and management of theme-based image collections such as events, interests, hobbies, and more, allowing users to browse other pinboards for inspiration, 're-pin' images to their own collections, and 'like' photos. Besides its utility functions, Pinterest now stands as one of the top social networking sites, directly competing with major platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

On June 28, 2022, it was announced that Silbermann would step down as Chief Executive Officer to assume the role of Executive Chairman. Bill Ready took over as Chief Executive Officer and joined the Board of Directors. Before launching Pinterest in March 2010, Silbermann pursued a career at Google within the online advertising group. Yet, his tenure was brief, as he left to explore personal projects, leading him to design iPhone apps with college friend Paul Sciarra. Despite their initial app, Tote, not achieving significant success, they collaborated with Evan Sharp to develop what would eventually become Pinterest. Silbermann's inspiration for Pinterest stemmed from his childhood hobby of collecting, which he wanted to translate into a digital format. He has always believed that "Collecting tells a lot about who you are" and saw a gap in the online market for sharing that aspect of personal identity.

Silbermann, who graduated from Yale in 2003 with a degree in Political Science, initially dreamt of becoming a doctor but later shifted his focus to entrepreneurship, moving to Silicon Valley to realize this vision. His journey and the creation of Pinterest have been encapsulated in a keynote address titled "Development from Determination," where he highlights the significance of perseverance and a strong work ethic in overcoming challenges. His narrative stands as a testament to the power of determination in the entrepreneurial landscape.