Get to know Jad Esber, Shelf CEO

To the rest of the world, Jad Esber is the CEO and co-founder of Koodos Labs (creators of our Magna Carta, Shelf) and affiliate at the Berkman Klein Centre for Internet & Society at Harvard University. But here at ShelfMag, Jad is the compassionate, empathetic, inspiring captain at the helm of the Shelf ship. On this first Tuesday of the new year, we’re lucky enough to not only learn more about some of the media that’s shaped him into our favorite Sugar Jaddy/CEO, but also unpack some of the the science behind our favorite app, Shelf. Follow along for the full interview!

SHELFMAG: What album do you think your friends associate with you?

@jad: No idea. But right now I’m pretty obsessed with Vertigo by Griff & Born in the Wild by Tems.

SHELFMAG: Your casket is being lowered into the ground, what song is playing?

@jad: Don’t Forget to Breathe by Stormzy & Yebba? Is that weird lol?

SHELFMAG: What have you read that’s changed your life? and why?

@jad: The Hoffman Process — it’s more than just a book. It taught me a bunch about how to deal with my negative patterns and how to get better at disassociating from my need for external validation. Also a lil nerdy but a paper called the Experimental Study of Inequality and Unpredictability in an Artificial Cultural Market by Matthew Salganik, Duncan Watts & Peter Dodds — in short, it talks about how the success of “cultural” products (like music) often depends more on their social context & perception than their inherent quality.

SHELFMAG: What song would you consider a red flag if you saw it on someone else’s shelf?

@jad: Ummm if they have ASMR on repeat? Or intense screamo. I reallize those are two extremes, but having either on repeat would be a red flag imo. Although if their top genre was screamo ASMR I’d be intrigued…

SHELFMAG: How does shelf intersect with data rights & privacy?

@jad: By using Shelf, you’re actually storing all your data in a personal data store. A personal data store is kind of like a “USB in the clouds” that stores all of your stuff. Like a USB, you have the control to unplug it, or plug it in anywhere else — essentially you have the agency to do whatever you want with your data, not Shelf or any other app. By using Shelf, it’ll start to become apparent over time that you’ve gained a passport to a more agentic internet i.e. a world where apps and services come to you and your data—not the other way around. You can read more on shelf.im/data-rights

SHELFMAG: How has shelf impacted your relationship to the media you consume?

@jad: It’s kept me accountable for consuming “better” content, inspired me to explore new things, and encouraged me to read more! I’ve also learned so much about the people in my life — it’s sparked meaningful conversations, deepened friendships, and led to lots of new discoveries.

SHELFMAG: The item on your Shelf most likely to remain there forever?

@jad: I’m all about getting into new things, so my Shelf is likely to change quite a bit and reflect where I’m at in life right now.

 Curious about what Jad is into right now? Get updates on shelf.im/Jad