Godard Abel, serial entrepreneur and G2 co-founder, shares the journey of disrupting enterprise software discovery by building a peer-powered marketplace. He discusses the challenges of scaling two-sided platforms, why authentic customer reviews matter more than analyst reports, and how AI is transforming both software buying and reviews themselves. Abel also opens up about leadership vulnerability, avoiding burnout through conscious self-care, and the importance of giving back. A candid look at building trust, resilience, and innovation in SaaS.
About the Guest
Godard Abel
CEO of G2
A 6x SaaS entrepreneur, Godard Abel is CEO of G2, the world's largest and most trusted software marketplace, which he co-founded in 2012. He is also Executive Chairman of ThreeKit, a leading 3D visualization technology company, and Logik.io, a next-generation configuration technology. Previously, Godard served as CEO of SteelBrick, which was acquired by Salesforce in 2016. He subsequently served as SVP/GM of the SteelBrick business unit until May 2017, when he left to refocus on entrepreneurial adventures. Before that, Godard co-founded BigMachines, where he served as CEO and built it into a leading SaaS provider that was acquired by Oracle in 2013. He also served as a GM at Niku prior to its IPO in 2000 (and subsequent acquisition by CA). Before entering the technology industry, Godard consulted for McKinsey & Company and advised leading manufacturers in the U.S. and Germany on strategy development and business process improvement. Godard was a Finalist for EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019, named to the Tech 50 list by Crain’s Business Chicago in September 2014, and to the Chicago Entrepreneur Hall of Fame in 2011. He earned an MBA from Stanford University and both a B.S. and M.S. in engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a member of the 2016 Class of Henry Crown Fellows and the Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute.