Early Life
Scott Farquhar was born in December 1979 in Parramatta, Sydney, Australia. He attended Castle Hill Primary School and James Ruse Agricultural High School. Farquhar developed an early interest in computers and technology, which would later shape his career. He graduated from the University of New South Wales with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BIT).
Rise to Success
In 2002, Farquhar co-founded Atlassian with Mike Cannon-Brookes after meeting at the University of New South Wales. They started the company with credit cards, financing the startup with a $10,000 credit card debt. Atlassian's first major product was Jira, an issue- and project-tracking software. The company grew to over 260,000 customers globally. Atlassian went public in 2015.
Key Business Strategies
Atlassian's success can be attributed to its innovative business model and strong company culture. Farquhar and his co-founder focused on creating products that solved problems and served customers effectively. Atlassian also has a policy that encourages employees to "bring their whole selves to work".
Philanthropy
Farquhar is committed to philanthropic initiatives. He co-founded Pledge 1%, a movement that encourages companies to donate 1% of equity, profit, product, and employee time to charity. He also runs the Skip Foundation with his wife Kim Jackson, which funds initiatives in climate change, health, and equal opportunity.
