Early Life
Scott Farquhar was born in December 1979 in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. He attended James Ruse Agricultural High School and later the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BIT). From a young age, Farquhar showed a strong interest in technology, which later influenced his career path.
Rise to Success
Farquhar's entrepreneurial journey began in 2002 when he co-founded Atlassian with Mike Cannon-Brookes. The company started with a $10,000 credit card debt and grew into a global software giant. Atlassian's initial product, Jira, a project and issue-tracking tool, quickly gained popularity. In 2015, Atlassian went public on the NASDAQ, and the IPO made Farquhar and Cannon-Brookes Australia's first tech startup billionaires.
Key Business Strategies
Atlassian's success is attributed to several key strategies. The company focused on building quality products and a customer-centric approach. Atlassian also adopted a unique business model by prioritizing product excellence over traditional sales and marketing. This model helped the company achieve high retention rates and significant revenue growth. Farquhar's leadership emphasizes product innovation, cultural authenticity, and social responsibility, which have been critical to Atlassian's success.
Philanthropy
Farquhar is actively involved in philanthropic endeavors. He co-founded Pledge 1%, a movement encouraging companies to donate 1% of equity, profit, product, and employee time to charity. Additionally, Farquhar and his wife, Kim Jackson, run the Skip Foundation, which supports initiatives in areas like climate change, health, and equal opportunity.