Podcasts about operators

In this episode of Marketing Operators, Cody and Connor unpack the real impact of Meta's Andromeda update and what creative diversity actually means today, plus how to optimize for it in an algorithm-driven environment. They break down how short-form, personalized feeds have reshaped the playbook, why we've shifted from the editor era to the creator era, and what now constitutes a better ad in Meta's eyes. They also dig into how to scale truly diverse creative without slowing down, harness organic social as a performance engine, and how the creative strategist role is evolving - expanding beyond editing into creator-first, social-native thinking and faster content systems.Then they're joined by Cathy Sun, VP of Ecommerce at AppLovin, to dive into the launch of AppLovin's self-serve Axon ads platform. Cathy breaks down how rewarded mobile gaming ads work, why long-form clickable inventory is driving incremental performance for e-commerce brands, and the creative tactics that win - from increasing ad volume and variation to leveraging interactive formats and scaling with repeatable creative workflows. She shares real stories of brands rapidly ramping spend and unlocking breakout ROAS on AppLovin, and why this channel has quickly become a powerful performance complement to Meta.If you're evolving your creative for the Andromeda era and looking for scalable performance channels beyond Meta, this episode delivers the frameworks, tactics, and operator-level insights to grow with confidence.Check out Axon by AppLovin: https://axon.ai/inviteonlyUse code: KLOHWKP3YMOperators Masterclass on Channel Growth: https://www.9operators.com/applovinIf you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction00:06:46 - The "Andromeda" Apocalypse00:21:55 - Why We're in the "Creator Era" (Not the "Editor Era")00:37:56 - How to Hire in the Creator Era00:53:37 - Special Guest: What is AppLovin's Axon Platform?01:07:39 - AppLovin Performance & Creative Best PracticesPowered by:Motion.https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trendsPrescient AI.⁠⁠⁠https://www.prescientai.com/operatorsRichpanel.⁠⁠⁠https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescAftersell.https://www.aftersell.com/operatorsHaus.http://Haus.io/operatorsSubscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here:https://9operators.com/

Jon Buscemi joins the podcast to discuss his journey from trend forecasting at DC Shoes to founding his iconic luxury sneaker brand. He shares the inside story of selling his brand to private equity and how their strategy to create an attainable luxury diffusion line was the "kiss of death", violating the rules of luxury pricing. Buscemi argues that fashion's monoculture is dead, replaced by micro-communities, and that social media has killed the discovery aspect of fashion. He details how his new members-only golf brand Redan, is built on scarcity and community, predicting that this "members-only" model is the future trend for fashion.Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction00:03:31 - The $1000 Sneaker00:18:00 - From DC Shoes to Tribal Fashion Trends00:33:17 - Selling to Private Equity00:45:14 - Networking, Signaling, & The "Members-Only" Brand00:59:11 - Can a Monoculture Brand Still Be Built Today?Powered By:Fulfil.io.https://bit.ly/3pAp2vuThe Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficiently Scale 8 and 9-Figure Brands. Northbeam.https://www.northbeam.io/Postscript.https://postscript.io/Richpanel.https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=9O&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescSaras.https://bit.ly/9OP-YtdescSubscribe to The Marketing Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingOperatorsSubscribe to The Finance Operators here:https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

Axel shares five practical leasing strategies that every multifamily operator can implement to reduce vacancy, maximize rent roll, and ultimately increase NOI.These are simple, high-impact tactics that work whether you self-manage, run an in-house property management team, or work with a third-party manager. Axel also breaks down how to use staggered lease terms to avoid bad leasing cycles, how and why to incentivize referrals, how to drive more online reviews, and how to structure concessions for both new leases and renewals in a way that increases retention without damaging your long-term rent roll.Take note of the tips in this episode and apply the ones that fit your multifamily operations.Join us as we dive into:How to use staggered lease terms to avoid costly seasonal vacancyA simple resident referral incentive that increases leasing traffic and retentionThe most effective moments to ask for (and reward) reviewsHow to offer concessions strategically to drive faster lease conversionsHow to boost renewal rates using longer-term renewals paired with one-time creditsAre you looking to invest in real estate, but don't want to deal with the hassle of finding great deals, signing on debt, and managing tenants? Aligned Real Estate Partners provides investment opportunities to passive investors looking for the returns, stability, and tax benefits multifamily real estate offers, but without the work - join our investor club to be notified of future investment opportunities.NH Multifamily Fund III Details:Download The OM For The NH Multifamily Fund IIIAccess The Deal Room For The NH Multifamily Fund IIIConnect with Axel:Follow him on InstagramConnect with him on LinkedinSubscribe to our YouTube channelLearn more about Aligned Real Estate Partners

In this episode of The Distribution, host Brandon Sedloff sits down with David Robertson, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of FrontRange Capital, to unpack the evolution of strategic capital in real estate. David shares his unexpected journey from a childhood in Burbank's entertainment industry to Harvard Business School and eventually into investment banking and real estate. The conversation explores how his experiences at Aimco shaped his perspective on capital structures, partnerships, and the growing role of GP stakes investing. Together, they discuss how operator needs have evolved, the nuances of co-GP relationships, and why alignment and integrity matter as much as capital itself. They discuss: • The formative experiences that shaped David's career in real estate and finance • How changes in the 1990s REIT legislation fueled the institutionalization of real estate • Lessons learned from building Aimco and the origins of FrontRange Capital • The continuum of operator growth and the evolving role of strategic capital • Misconceptions about GP capital and how co-GP partnerships create accretive value • What investors find compelling about GP stakes and co-GP structures • The importance of personal alignment and partnership dynamics in long-term success • David's outlook on the future of GP investing and operator partnerships Links: FrontRange Capital - https://frontrangecap.com/ David on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-robertson-979b17109/ Brandon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/ Juniper Square - https://www.junipersquare.com/ Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:30) - David's career and background (00:11:42) - Investment banking and real estate (00:21:13) - Founding FrontRange Capital Partners (00:24:28) - Strategic capital for real estate operators (00:26:46) - The evolution of operator needs (00:27:22) - Scaling and liquidity challenges (00:28:52) - Institutionalization and changing needs (00:29:48) - The value of co-GP partnerships (00:31:02) - Advising operators on strategic capital (00:33:37) - Common misconceptions about GP capital (00:39:00) - Investor perspectives on GP capital (00:50:39) - The future of strategic capital (00:55:47) - Conclusion and final thoughts

This week on Marketing Operators, Connor MacDonald kicks things off with a pressing question: “What does a modern CX team and workflow look like today?” From there, we dive into a growing debate across modern commerce - does CX actually drive growth, or is it still just a support functionJoined by Amit RG, co-founder and CEO of our show sponsor Richpanel, the team unpacks how leading brands are getting dramatically leaner with AI, why Tier-1 support is becoming fully automated, and whether CX should really sit under marketing or operations. Amit breaks down Richpanel's inspiration from Uber's self-service model, and what it looks like when support becomes proactive, scalable, and insight-rich instead of reactive and manual.This leads to a breakdown of the revenue-generating CX touchpoints you're not thinking about, sparked by McCoy's prediction that “a year from now we'll all be talking about generating LTV,” not just acquisition. The group digs into ideas like optimizing high-intent tracking pages with tools like Wonderment, founders jumping into ad comments, and turning warranty claims into upsell moments - with real-world examples from Ridge, Jones Road, Equinox, and even Cartier's luxury clienteling approach.The episode wraps with a look at how AI is reshaping DTC ops end-to-end - collapsing workflows, enriching agent decisions, and driving smarter, more efficient growth across the entire customer journey.If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction00:06:21 - What Does a Modern CX Team Look Like?00:19:10 - The CX to Marketing Feedback Loop00:32:07 - Revenue-Generating CX Touchpoints00:45:13 - Is Shade Matching a CX Revenue Driver?00:57:06 - Using Founder Social Comments as a CX TouchpointPowered by:Motion.⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trendsPrescient AI.⁠⁠⁠https://www.prescientai.com/operatorsRichpanel.⁠⁠⁠https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescAftersell.https://www.aftersell.com/operatorsHaus.http://Haus.io/operatorsSubscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here:https://9operators.com/

The hardest company to build is the one you start after you've already succeeded.After scaling Yext into a platform powering millions of businesses, Howard Lerman chose to start over with Roam, the “Office of the Future,” where humans and AI work side by side from anywhere.On Grit, he joins Joubin Mirzadegan to talk about the solitude of leadership and what happens when you stop building for Wall Street.Guest: Howard Lerman, co-founder and former CEO of Yext, and founder and CEO of Roam​Connect with Howard LermanXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.com​Learn more about Kleiner Perkins

“Availability is resilience. If you can't see it, you can't secure it.” — Roland Dobbins, Principal Engineer, NETSCOUT ASERT Team In this Technology Reseller News podcast, Doug Green, Publisher of TR Publications, speaks with Roland Dobbins, Principal Engineer on NETSCOUT's ASERT (Arbor Security Engineering & Response Team), about the growing risk of outbound DDoS attacks—and why service providers and enterprises must defend against threats moving in every direction. NETSCOUT, a global leader in network visibility and DDoS defense, has been monitoring an alarming surge in outbound and cross-network (east-west) attack traffic driven by new “Turbo Mirai” botnets, particularly the Aisuru variant. These attacks can exceed 20 terabits per second and 6 gigapackets per second, overwhelming even the largest operators. Dobbins explains that while most organizations focus on protecting against incoming DDoS traffic, outbound attack streams can be just as damaging, clogging peering links and taking down critical infrastructure. “We're seeing broadband networks unintentionally launching massive attacks, sometimes over a terabit per second, because of compromised IoT and connected devices,” Dobbins said. “It's not just about defending the target — it's about protecting your own network from being part of the problem.” NETSCOUT's ASERT team, which observes 40,000–50,000 DDoS attacks daily across 60% of the world's IPv4 space, provides continuous research and live mitigation guidance to customers worldwide. Dobbins emphasized that effective DDoS defense requires edge-to-edge visibility, sub-second detection, and suppression of both inbound and outbound traffic. “You can't secure what you can't see,” he added. “Operators need full visibility across their networks, with active mitigation built into daily operations.” Learn more about NETSCOUT's global threat research and DDoS defense solutions at netscout.com. Software Mind Telco Days 2025: On-demand online conference Engaging Customers, Harnessing Data

Send us a textSpecial guest host Kim DeCarolis joins Carl for a lively dive into the week's biggest restaurant and tech stories for the last episode in Season 2.They start with American Express's growing influence in restaurant loyalty and ask whether Amex has become the new partner of choice. Then they turn to Chipotle, where CEO Scott Boatwright is refocusing the brand around digital order accuracy — a move that says a lot about how consumer expectations have shifted.Next up: Yelp's new AI Receptionist  - will it actually help operators, or just add more noise to the AI conversation? And in one of the week's biggest business moves, Wonder's acquisition of Spyce from Sweetgreen sparks a discussion on focus, automation, and where robotics fits into the future kitchen.Finally, Carl and Kim unpack the Uber + Toast partnership, a big move that could reshape the first-party and third-party delivery landscape.As always, The Digital Restaurant looks at how these headlines reveal where restaurant technology and the broader off-premise experience are headed next.01:30  – Q1: Is Amex becoming the restaurant partner of choice?05:00 – Q2: Chipotle turns its focus to order accuracy10:45  – Q3: Yelp Receptionist – Hype or Help for Operators?14:50  – Q4: Wonder buys Spyce from Sweetgreen – smart sale or bold gamble?19:40  – Q5: Uber + Toast partnership – what it means for delivery's futureSupport the show

This series, Business in Better Shape, was born from new research by Tech on Toast and Square, The Long-Term Case for Smarter Tech Investment.We spoke to more than 150 hospitality leaders across the UK, uncovering an industry stuck between ambition and hesitation. Most hospitality teams buy tech only when something's on fire - Square's research shows just 6% plan purchases, while 94% react. That insight inspired this series, real conversations with operators who are finding ways to move forward, to simplify, to modernise without losing what makes hospitality human.Download the research here;https://www.techontoast.community/researchIn our third epsisode Jonny Bramwell, Regional Ops at Rosa's Thai shares the operator's view from the floor, pick tools that give time back, fit the brand, and lift service - not add noise.Episode HighlightsBrand-first fit: tech must support the Rosa's experience (fast, fresh, friendly) without forcing guests down paths they don't want.FSR: in full-service, tech should facilitate the theatre and human touch, not replace it.Test & learn (hard): run real trial sites, stress-test with frontline teams, and involve the partner directly in fixes.Time back for teams: main buying lens - does it reduce workload, protect work-life balance, and free GMs to plan (not just cover shifts)?Operator dashboard: mornings start with covers, like-for-like, delivery, and guest sentiment to decide where to lean in.Adoption signals: happier teams, lower turnover, stronger reviews, rising spend/head = tech is actually used and valued.Buying criteria: brand fit, guest experience, time back, scalable rollout (roadmaps alone are not enough).Work with reality: mistakes happen - what matters is a partner who stays to tweak and land it properly.Message to vendors: do the homework, tailor the pitch, and focus on the two outcomes that matter: enhance guest experience + coach/develop teams.This series is powered by Square - helping hospitality operators put their business in better shape through connected commerce, payments, and restaurant technology.https://squareup.com/gb/en

Ben Kanner, co-founder and COO of 3V Infrastructure, a capital provider that collaborates with apartment operators to own and operate Level 2 EV chargers, discusses the amenity in terms of establishing a competitive advantage over rival properties. (11/2025)

Ben Kanner, co-founder and COO of 3V Infrastructure, a capital provider that collaborates with apartment operators to own and operate Level 2 EV chargers, discusses the amenity in terms of establishing a competitive advantage over rival properties. (11/2025)

Ben Kanner, co-founder and COO of 3V Infrastructure, a capital provider that collaborates with apartment operators to own and operate Level 2 EV chargers, discusses the amenity in terms of establishing a competitive advantage over rival properties. (11/2025)

Text us a pool question!

In September of 2021 a suspect involved in a carjacking and attempted homicide led police in a vehicle pursuit that ended in a car crash in Farmington Utah.  The suspect fled on foot across Interstate 15 into a residential neighborhood prompting patrol officers to establish a perimeter and begin a search with a K9 unit.  During the search a single gunshot was heard,  South Davis Metropolitan SWAT and North Davis Metropolitan SWAT were both activated to conduct a house -to-house search. Operators discovered a bullet hole in a residence window, and shortly after, a male exited nearby home in a vehicle. He was stopped and informed operators that his family was being held hostage and that the suspect had sent him to check for police. As operators moved toward the residence, a juvenile female escaped through a window. Debriefing the father and daughter, it became clear that three more hostages remained inside the home with an armed suspect. Negotiated side and a handgun was recovered next to his body. My guest today is Lieutenant Andrew Smith. Andrew began his law enforcement career with the Utah Highway Patrol in 2008. In 2011, he left the highway and began working for the West Bountiful Police Department. He joined the South Davis Metropolitan SWAT team in 2012 and eventually moved to the Bountiful City Police Department in 2013, where he worked his way through various assignments and promoted to the rank of lieutenant and team commander of the South Davis Metropolitan SWAT team. Anders held numerous leadership positions in the department, including FTO, lead scout, entry team member, and assistant team leader, and is currently the South Davis Metropolitan SWAT team commander. He's been honored with numerous unit citations as a member of the police department and SWAT team, including his involvement in two hostage rescue operations and two Bountiful City Police Department chief stars, one of which was for his response to an active shooter at a local junior high.Contact Info:Lt Andrew Smith – asmith@bountiful.govBooksLegacy by James Kerr – ISBN-13 - 978-1472103536 

In this insightful episode, explore why everyone is becoming an AI operator and why mastering prompt engineering is the key differentiator in the modern workforce. Learn how to effectively communicate with AI to get the results you want—a skill that takes just 10 minutes of proper setup versus 50 minutes of back-and-forth fixes. The conversation also delves into global marketing challenges across different cultures and geographical regions, examining real examples from Sweden to the UK to show how cultural nuances still matter despite the supposed cultural flattening from media. A major part of this discussion focuses on demystifying "revolutionary" technology buzzwords. Discover how cloud computing, APIs, and AI integration aren't actually new—they're just rebranded existing concepts with fancy names. From AWS RDS being just hosted MySQL to MCP being REST API calls, learn to see through the marketing terminology and recognize the simplicity beneath. The episode concludes with thought-provoking discussions about AI's potential for real-world task automation, existential risks, and why treating AI like a good team member with proper context and instructions leads to superior results. Perfect for: Content creators, social media managers, and anyone looking to understand modern technology without the jargon. Try Vista Social for FREE today Book a Demo Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Youtube

Cash is king, period. In this episode, the operators get real about why cash flow matters more than your P&L, EBITDA, or vanity revenue numbers. They share their worst "cash crunch" war stories, like pushing payroll or having to choose between buying inventory and paying taxes. To prove a hard lesson: even profitable businesses go bankrupt all the time. You'll learn the backward-sounding truth of e-commerce: rapid growth bleeds cash, while slowing down can actually fill your bank account. They get into the weeds on risky trend-based inventory, and how to get your suppliers to finance your growth by trading margin for better terms. They also cover the real cost of equity (why you should probably just take the money) and why you need a serious finance team and audits long before you ever think about selling.Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction00:03:07 - Worst Cash Crunch Moments00:18:26 - How Growth & Inventory Type Affect Cash Flow00:34:50 - Tactical Ways to Protect Cash00:46:26 - The Truth About Equity Financing01:03:27 - Partnership, Paranoia, and Playing the Leverage GamePowered By:Fulfil.io.https://bit.ly/3pAp2vuThe Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficiently Scale 8 and 9-Figure Brands. Northbeam.https://www.northbeam.io/Richpanel.https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=9O&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescSaras.https://bit.ly/9OP-YtdescRivo.https://www.rivo.io/operatorsSubscribe to The Marketing Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingOperatorsSubscribe to The Finance Operators here:https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here:https://9operators.com/

Join an active community of RE investors here: https://linktr.ee/gabepetersenCRACKING THE CODE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVESTING

Want Matt's favorite AI tools + playbook? Get it here: https://clickhubspot.com/vgb Episode 83: Are Adobe's new AI tools the future of creative work, or could generative models spell the end for legacy platforms like Photoshop? Matt Wolfe (https://x.com/mreflow) is joined by Matthew Berman (https://x.com/MatthewBerman), creator of Forward Future and a leading voice covering the front lines of artificial intelligence, from major tech events like Dreamforce to hands-on interviews with the innovators shaping tomorrow. In this episode, Matt and Matthew break down the biggest headlines from the week in AI: Adobe's conversational assistant and existential business challenges, Nvidia's mind-bending new investments and political maneuvering, OpenAI's bold timeline to build a self-improving AI researcher, and the viral Neo Humanoid robot—are we ready to trust a home robot with our privacy? Packed with fresh takes, inside scoops, and speculative predictions, this fast-moving conversation is your front row seat to the unfolding era of AI and robotics. Check out The Next Wave YouTube Channel if you want to see Matt and Nathan on screen: https://lnk.to/thenextwavepd — Show Notes: (00:00) AI Insights and Future Predictions (03:41) Photoshop Adds AI Chat Assistant (08:08) Adobe, AI, and Creative Future (10:26) Adobe's AI Future Concerns (15:53) Nvidia GTC Highlights (17:23) Nvidia's Investment Cycle Explained (20:23) AI Investment: Over-Investing Now (26:06) Automated AI Researcher Timeline (29:00) AGI vs Self-Improving AI (30:47) AGI Verification Panel Announced (36:04) First US Humanoid Robot Launch (39:18) Robot Tasks: Autonomy vs. Operators (41:50) Affordable Car with Practical Benefits (44:07) Future Live Streams Enthusiasm — Mentions: Matthew Berman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewberman Forward Future: https://www.forwardfuture.ai/ TechCrunch Disrupt: https://techcrunch.com/events/tc-disrupt-2025/ Nano Banana: https://nanobanana.ai/ Nvidia GTC: https://www.nvidia.com/gtc/ Neo Humanoid Robot: https://www.1x.tech/order Get the guide to build your own Custom GPT: https://clickhubspot.com/tnw — Check Out Matt's Stuff: • Future Tools - https://futuretools.beehiiv.com/ • Blog - https://www.mattwolfe.com/ • YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@mreflow — Check Out Nathan's Stuff: Newsletter: https://news.lore.com/ Blog - https://lore.com/ The Next Wave is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by Hubspot Media // Production by Darren Clarke // Editing by Ezra Bakker Trupiano

This week, we're taking an even deeper dive into all things BFCM. How the team is approaching forecasting, pacing, and spend strategy heading into the most important stretch of Q4. We break down how each of us is projecting November and December revenue this year, how new product launches and category expansion factor into those forecasts, and what data we're using to stay accurate in real time.Connor M walks us through his Holiday Sale Revenue pacing sheet, showing exactly how he tracks daily revenue and ad spend targets, while the group compares different approaches to pacing across brands and channels.We also dig into how we're scaling YouTube, Meta, and CTV spend, what the latest incrementality tests are showing, and how to use ROAS lift to decide when to push hardest.Finally, we wrap up with a look at holiday shipping cutoffs, with how distribution and messaging strategies shift in December, the “Q5” opportunity that follows, and how to make the most of those final weeks of the year when every day still counts.Holiday Sale Revenue Pacing Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13W_a721DjhlgtLqUj7iC7w32NtitbnNnA9kYifws1NQ/edit?gid=973800920#gid=973800920If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction00:09:04 - Black Friday Prep & Timelines00:20:17 - How to Re-Forecast Q4 Revenue00:35:41 - BFCM Pacing Sheet Walkthrough00:50:57 - Visualizing Pacing Data & The 12% Stat01:02:40 - Holiday Shipping Cutoff StrategiesPowered by:Motion.⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trendsPrescient AI.⁠⁠⁠https://www.prescientai.com/operatorsRichpanel.⁠⁠⁠https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescAftersell.https://www.aftersell.com/operatorsRivo.https://www.rivo.io/operatorsSubscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here:https://9operators.com/

Editor's Note: Download the audio version below and click here to subscribe to our newsletter.This week, Vince Ning, co-founder and CEO of Nabis (think can-Nabis), joins the Cannabis Equipment News podcast to discuss the regulations that could fix the cannabis supply chain, his thoughts on interstate commerce, how he secured Y Combinator backing, the state of the legal and illicit markets in California and how he is improving commerce for operators by building a cannabis wholesaling platform with the largest portfolio of cannabis brands in the world.Nabis has a significant presence in California (30% of market), Nevada (50%) and New York (15%) and does more than $1 billion in wholesale transactions (about 5% of the U.S. market) each year, according to Ning. We also discuss the threatened excise tax in California and Michigan's 24% wholesale tax set to begin January 1, 2026.

The hardest part of transformation is knowing what to let go of.Dan O'Connell, now leading Front as CEO and formerly on the board at Dialpad, joins Joubin Mirzadegan to explore the delicate balance between legacy and innovation as he leads a decade old company through the AI revolution.He also reflects on why courage and control can coexist in leadership, and what it means to “make decisions that give you energy.”Guest: Dan O'Connell, CEO of Front​Connect with Dan O'ConnellXLinkedIn​Connect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.com​Learn more about Kleiner Perkins

DeFi Dave, Head of Growth at Cap Money, joins us to talk about how Cap found product-market fit for restaking. Dave breaks down Cap's three-sided marketplace connecting stablecoin users, market makers (operators), and risk takers. Operators access undercollateralized loans backed by restaked ETH/BTC, paying 8-11% to beat their strategies. If they fail, risk takers eat the loss—users stay protected. We also dive into lore building, why most restaking hype was overblown, and how Cap brings Wall Street on-chain. Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com Notes: - Cap has $15-20M currently lent to operators - Operators pay 2-4% premium fees to risk takers - Total borrowing costs range from 8-11% hurdle rate - Risk takers earn 6-7% all-in real yield - Uses EigenLayer and Symbiotic for restaking layer Timestamps: 00:00 Start 01:12 Who is DeFi Dave? 02:19 What is Cap? 07:31 Restaking & yield 09:22 Yield range 11:48 Institutional flows 12:50 Cap vs Wildcat 14:07 Legal recourse? 15:42 Staked CUSD vs CUSD 16:25 Current operator marketcap 17:08 Loan terms 19:42 CUSD vs Others 21:48 Ready for institutional capital? 23:59 Other staking use cases? 27:26 Stablecoin regulation 30:23 Collateralization 32:09 Lore building 35:38 The power of belief 41:29 What does Dave do all day? 43:56 Competitive advantage 47:57 What are Caps? 49:08 Gwarts opinion on Cap The Gwart Show is sponsored by Ellipsis Labs. Backed by Paradigm, Electric Capital and Haun Ventures. The founders, Eugene and Jerry, have experienced Citadel Jane Street in the Solana Core team since launching their order book DEX, Phoenix. They've done over $80 billion in trading volume by making onchain order books competitive with centralized exchanges. Ellipsis is hiring for New York-based engineers. Work with a small focus team who are results driven, collaborative, and use a modern stack. If you're an engineer who wants to work on infrastructure that's already proven itself in the market, go to ellipsislabs.xyz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DEAR PAO: Sanitation compliance for food service operators | Nov. 3, 2025Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net Follow us: Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital Check out our Podcasts: Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcherTune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein#TheManilaTimes#KeepUpWithTheTimes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brought to you by Applovin. Get access to the Operators channel expansion playbook, online masterclass, and up to $5k in ad credits.https://9ops.co/channelsJoin hosts Matt Bertulli and Jason Panzer to experience the journey of Yariv Citron, Co-Founder & CMO of MAËLYS. After leaving law school, Yariv faced the crushing decision to shut down his first business. Yet, he emerged resilient, venturing into the fiercely competitive beauty industry with a bold vision to “break the feed” and redefine body care.Born from a hero product, the Booty Lift and Firm Mask, Yariv and his co-founders took a daring leap, securing personal loans to fund their dream and launch MAËLYS with a mega-influencer campaign centered on Khloe Kardashian. This bold move not only expanded their audience but also solidified MAËLYS as a brand that challenges norms and empowers women with innovative, clinically proven solutions.Today, the company is on track to achieve $150-200 million in annual revenue while maintaining profitability. Discover how personal setbacks became the foundation for extraordinary success, and learn the tactics behind MAËLYS' rapid growth. This episode is essential listening for anyone looking to understand the grit, innovation, and determination required to build a disruptive brand.

Alex is Head of Ecosystem at Ark Labs. We discuss their new bitcoin payments protocol: Arkade. It can be used in combination with the lightning network to make self custody bitcoin usage more powerful and more accessible. This rip was in person, in Lugano. We are both here for the PlanB Forum.Alex B on Nostr: https://primal.net/alexbAlex B on X: https://x.com/bergealex4Ark Labs: https://arklabs.xyz/PlanB Forum: https://planb.lugano.ch/planb-forum/EPISODE: 182BLOCK: 920390PRICE: 915 sats per dollar(00:00:35) Arkade Activation Day in Lugano(00:03:11) What is Ark? Positioning vs. Lightning and L2s(00:04:32) Ark fundamentals: batching, VTXOs, and two-of-two with an operator(00:08:38) Double-spend risks and the operator trust model(00:10:24) Settling vs. zero conf: anchoring batches onchain(00:16:04) Beyond cheap payments: programmable offchain Bitcoin(00:18:12) Ark Lightning swaps and unilateral exits(00:21:01) Unilateral exit costs, trees of transactions, and anchoring cadence(00:26:17) Wallet UX: automating settlement and exposure management(00:27:22) Ark vs. Spark: security model and settlement feedback to L1(00:34:39) Onchain demand: Lightning realities, Spark cadence, Ark batches(00:36:59) Ark is tech, Arkade is implementation(00:37:45) Batch frequency and scaling: hundreds per batch, Taproot efficiency(00:38:41) Covenants soft fork would cut interactivity overhead(00:42:01) Users, servers, and always on clients: who runs what?(00:45:02) DeFi on Arkade: loans, new opcodes, and secondary markets(00:47:00) Credit, derivatives, and Bitcoinization(00:55:06) Company model: Ark Labs, open source Arkade, and revenue(01:01:02) Flagship apps strategy: neo-bank, swaps, prediction markets(01:07:05) Try it today: arkade.money PWA and roadmap to native apps(01:12:05) Operators landscape: competition, network effects, resilience(01:15:27) Closing thoughts: adapt, focus, and take the white pillmore info on the show: https://citadeldispatch.comlearn more about me: https://odell.xyz

In the UK oil and gas sector, the record on major accidents looks encouraging. Serious incidents are very rare, and the industry appears to be operating safely. Beneath the surface, the data tell a different story. One-third of safety inspections fall below the legal standard, and more than half of process-safety professionals are expected to retire within the next decade. At the same time, ageing assets, shrinking budgets, and weaker regulatory oversight are straining existing  safety systems. Operators must sustain high safety performance when experience is walking out the door, equipment is ageing, and new technologies are flooding the scene faster than they can be tested.  In this episode I speak with David Jamieson of Salus Technical, on making process safety straightforward. We explore why process safety remains an invisible threat, how AI can capture the wisdom of the best engineers, and what it takes to keep legacy assets safe as they wind down.

In this episode, the Operators dive deep into omnichannel strategy, starting with the lingering debate: should your brand be on Amazon? The hosts break down the pros of incrementality and meeting customers where they are. Versus the cons of price wars, channel conflict, and the platform's brand-unfriendly nature.The discussion then shifts to the high-stakes game of wholesale, weighing the relative safety of the "Big Three" (Costco, Target, Walmart) against the serious financial risks of smaller retailers going bankrupt.Finally, the squad debates the ultimate omnichannel play: opening your own physical stores. They explore the potential for unique customer experiences and domestic supply chain advantages versus the immense complexity, high costs, and low success rate for digitally-native brands.Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction00:16:55 - "Is it Good For My Brand?" Amazon Debate00:33:30 - The Risks of Wholesale00:43:45 - Is Being in Big Stores Worth It?00:56:51 - The Case for Owned RetailPowered By:Fulfil.io.https://bit.ly/3pAp2vuThe Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficiently Scale 8 and 9-Figure Brands. Northbeam.https://www.northbeam.io/Postscript.https://postscript.io/Richpanel.https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=9O&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescSaras.https://bit.ly/9OP-YtdescSubscribe to The Marketing Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingOperatorsSubscribe to The Finance Operators here:https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here:https://9operators.com/

On this Foresight Radio recording of Tech Tuesday, host Steve Moran sits down with Jake Rothstein, founder of Papa and now Upside (formerly UpsideHom), to rethink what "aging in place" really means. Starting from his grandparents' journey, Jake shares how Upside became a "housing easy button" for health plans — matching vulnerable members to safe, affordable apartments and support without laying a single brick. We cover the 5 D's trigger events, why case managers are pivotal, how flex funds unlock moves (deposits, movers, utilities, furniture), and why housing stability delivers a clear ROI for insurers. Jake also gets candid about early failures (hello, Golden Girls co-living) and tells a powerful success story about Joanna, who went from an unsafe unit to long-term stability. If you're a senior living operator, hear how Upside can fill your buildings by transitioning the right residents from SNFs and the community. Plus: Steve teases a big announcement coming later this week… Top Takeaways Aging-in-the-right-place > aging-in-place: Most older adults want to stay home—until a trigger (the 5 D's: Death, Disaster, Divorce, Disability, and Downsizing) makes it unsafe or unsustainable. Housing as healthcare: Upside partners with Medicare Advantage/Medicaid plans; stable housing cuts risk and cost, creating measurable insurer ROI. The "easy button" for case managers: Health plans refer members with housing instability; Upside rapidly matches them via a national network (multifamily, single-family, rooms, Section 8). Resources many seniors miss: Upside helps unlock SNAP, benefits, and plan flex funds (deposits, movers, utilities, furniture) to make moves possible. What didn't work (and why): Early "Golden Girls" co-living in single-family homes didn't scale—apartment partnerships and tech to track real-time inventory did. Operators benefit: Upside transitions qualified members from SNFs to IL/AL/MC, helping communities increase occupancy—including private-pay options from unlocked assets. Advocacy + access wins: Beyond units, families need navigation; the right advocate turns a confusing system into sustainable stability.

When Kirstin Reeder's first-ever bookkeeping client turned out to be a tour operator, she didn't expect it to change the course of her business. But that relationship revealed how often tour operators are misunderstood by traditional accountants. Today, Kirstin and her teammate Amber Call run Purple Sapphire Business Solutions, a firm focused entirely on the unique financial needs of the tour and activity industry.This episode is packed with real-world guidance on how to set up your books, track profitability, avoid fraud, and prepare for seasonality. Whether you are just getting started or running a multi-day operation, Kirstin and Amber share the habits and systems that help operators build financially healthy businesses and reduce stress at tax time.And if you're attending TourWeek 2025, you can come meet Kirstin in person!Download their free expense audit calculator

This week, we're getting into all things BFCM. What we're doing right now to prep for the most important time of year for DTC marketers and what brands need to be thinking about that most people don't. We dig into pacing, impulse-buyer windows and how to avoid misspending on the day, plus how we're approaching budget planning, Meta performance, and the lessons we've learned from our own campaigns over the years.We also get into what we'd do if we had a new product or brand idea and how we'd validate it in the market, even without a finished product, and the scrappy, cost-effective ways to test before going all in. We break down real examples of brands that nailed their early launches through smart validation and lean marketing, and what you can take from those approaches.To wrap up, Connor R shares the three ideal hires he'd make first if he were building a marketing team from scratch and how those roles can help you execute faster, test smarter, and scale sustainably.Zach Stuck on the Core Marketing Tactics to Drive Growth As You Scale: https://youtu.be/M4xn2aISEbg?si=V_8R4sIklXa487CBIf you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction00:08:05 - Less-Talked-About BFCM Tactics & Insights00:24:17 - BFCM Sale Timelines & Pacing Strategy00:36:46 - Analyzing ROAS Lift & Scaling Spend Pre-BFCM00:53:50 - How to Test & Validate a New Product Idea01:10:14 - The First 3 Hires for a New Growth TeamPowered by:Motion.⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trendsPrescient AI.⁠⁠⁠https://www.prescientai.com/operatorsRichpanel.⁠⁠⁠https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescAftersell.https://www.aftersell.com/operatorsHaus.http://Haus.io/operatorsSubscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here:https://9operators.com/

Before AI became a buzzword, a few true believers were already building.Since early 2022, Mati Staniszewski and his team at ElevenLabs have been among them, working to create voices that “actually represent emotions.”He shares with Joubin Mirzadegan how voice AI is transforming diverse fields, from delivering personalized healthcare for different age groups to amplifying creativity in filmmaking.Guest: Mati Staniszewski, co-founder and CEO of ElevenLabsConnect with Mati StaniszewskiXLinkedIn​Connect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.com​​Learn more about Kleiner Perkins

In this episode, Dan and Mason paint a clear-eyed picture of today's land market—where the frenzy has faded, and the fundamentals matter more than ever. They break down what it really means to operate in a “normal” environment again, where easy flips and 30-day cash cycles have given way to longer holds, smarter buys, and sharper execution.You'll hear how the land boom from 2020 to 2023 rewired investor expectations—and why that era of “easy money” was the exception, not the rule. From bulk acquisitions to better debt structuring, they reveal how top operators are adapting to slower demand, leaner margins, and a market that now rewards skill over speed. The conversation dives into strategies for maintaining efficiency, setting realistic hold periods, and building consistency through notes, long-term portfolios, and value-add opportunities.They also unpack how the most resilient investors are creating advantages by mastering their product knowledge—understanding soils, zoning, utilities, and subdivision codes in granular detail—and by cultivating strategic partnerships that turn complexity into opportunity. Tune in to discover what it really takes to thrive as the market normalizes, why less competition means more opportunity, and how disciplined, data-driven investors are building durable wealth—one informed decision at a time.===Key Topics:-Market correction and reality check-Longer cash conversion cycles-Buying in bulk and structuring good debt-Mastering product knowledge and due diligence-Building sustainable land businesses through patience and skill===

Taxes shouldn't decide the future of your farm. We sit down with Jody Robinson, VP of Tax Planning at Mariner Wealth Advisors, to unpack how the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” changes the game for landowners and the families who depend on them. From estate tax thresholds to capital gains strategies, we break down what actually matters when the goal is to keep acres in the family and options open.We start with the bigger picture: how a higher, now “permanent,” federal estate tax exemption buys time and clarity for long-range planning, and why state-level rules can still spring surprises. Jody explains the step-up in basis in plain English and shows how it erases decades of appreciation for heirs, often preventing forced sales at the worst possible time. Then we pivot to active moves: 1031 exchanges to keep gains deferred and capital working, Qualified Opportunity Zones for an alternate deferral path, and portfolio tactics like tax-loss harvesting to soften the blow when sales are necessary.Operators get a timely walkthrough of bonus depreciation's return to 100% for qualifying assets such as equipment, irrigation, and grain bins. The upside is immediate cash flow relief; the catch is potential depreciation recapture when you sell. Jody lays out how to time purchases, align hold periods, and avoid trading short-term relief for a bigger tax bill later. We also dive into titling choices—individual, joint, trust, or entity—and how they affect control, transfer, and taxes. Finally, we tackle gifting versus inheriting: when lifetime gifts support continuity for an on-farm heir, and when waiting for inheritance preserves a step-up in basis for those likely to sell.If you want a practical roadmap—clear steps, real trade-offs, and fewer landmines—this conversation delivers. Subscribe, share with someone planning a transition, and leave a review with your top tax question so we can cover it next.Follow at www.americalandauctioneer.com and on Instagram & FacebookContact the team at Pifer's

Is bigger always better in the landscaping business? This week, Scott brings on Evan Lindman and Greg Durbin from the Turf Nerds Podcast to talk about why staying small, lean, and professional can be more profitable—and enjoyable—than running a massive operation.   Evan and Greg are in the trenches daily as owner-operators, and they share exactly how they've built dense, profitable routes by focusing on what the big crews often miss: the personal touch. You'll learn why old-school flyers still beat Facebook ads, how being the “eyes on the property” builds incredible trust with clients, and the simple ways professionalism helps you win better jobs from competitors who are just trying to get to the next lawn as fast as possible.   This episode is for any landscaping or lawn care owner who feels the pressure to scale but wonders if there's a better way. Before you think about adding more trucks and crews, listen to this conversation about how to “count the cost” and build a thriving business that serves you, your family, and your clients without the headaches of managing a large team.  

Send us a textNo rumors. No drama. Just facts and perspective.In this solo episode, Aaron breaks down the Air Force Special Warfare Training Wing's Pipeline Optimization Initiative — what it really means, why it matters, and how it could finally fix years of inefficiency in the operator pipeline. This isn't about lowering standards — it's about eliminating wasted time, tightening the process, and producing better operators, faster.Aaron translates the military-speak, explains the Zulu course, dives into the “SNIT” problem (students not in training), and highlights how these changes can actually strengthen the Special Warfare community. It's straight talk on leadership, standards, and evolution — not excuses.If you're serious about joining, leading, or supporting the next generation of Air Force Special Warfare operators, this episode is required listening.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – “We're Not Lowering Standards, You Nerds.” 02:00 – Aaron vs. Overthinking: Just Hit Record. 05:20 – Baby Brain Gains & Creatine Confessions. 07:40 – Breaking Down the Official Pipeline Press Release. 10:45 – SNIT: Fixing the Pipeline's Biggest Time Sink. 13:20 – Zulu Course Deep Dive: Smarter, Unified Training. 18:00 – Dive School and the Eternal Debate. 22:30 – Assessment & Selection: The Missing Details. 25:10 – Crunching the Numbers on Efficiency. 29:30 – The Paragraph That Changed Everything. 33:00 – Leadership, Standards, and Calling Your Shot. 37:40 – Collaboration Over Chaos: AETC and the Future Fight. 40:00 – Final Thoughts: Progress, Accountability, and the Path Ahead.

In this powerful episode of The Abundance Mindset, hosts Vinney (Smile

Brought to you by Applovin. Get access to the Operators channel expansion playbook, online masterclass, and up to $5k in ad credits.https://9operators.com/applovinFounder anxiety. Sleepless nights. Standing on the brink of bankruptcy. Anyone who's put their own chip on the table knows just how painful leading a brand can be. What if it wasn't just one brand, but a portfolio of companies?Join hosts Matthew Bertulli and Jason Panzer as they explore Roman Khan's journey from staring into the abyss to building a holdco of multiple +$100M brands as the president of Peak 21.Discover the challenges + triumphs of entrepreneurship, the importance of distribution over product, and Roman's unique approach to scaling brands like Raycon, Linjer, Nutrition Kitchen, and more. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned business leader, this episode is packed with valuable lessons and brutally honest inspiration.00:00 – The Titanic Moment: Facing Bankruptcy02:46 – Learning From Failure and Founder Anxiety04:20 – From Finance to Rocket Internet06:09 – Starting Linjer: The $20K Kickstarter Gamble07:56 – Pivoting to Jewelry and Early Wins11:25 – Turning 40: Wealth, Purpose & Gratitude15:26 – The Raycon Story: A $14M Playbook for Growth25:55 – How to Buy and Scale Companies the Smart Way39:00 – Leading Teams: Radical Accountability & Execution47:00 – Marketing Deep Dive: Meta, AppLovin & the Future of Growth01:05:00 – AI, Creativity & The Next Era of E-commerce01:22:00 – TITANS 10: Rapid-Fire Founder Insights

In this episode, the Operators dive deep into the realities of business planning and what happens when things inevitably go off track. They discuss the necessity of formalizing operations as you scale, using frameworks like EOS for quarterly planning and setting OKRs. The hosts share tough lessons on why forecasts are always wrong , the three main reasons plans fail (bad goals, poor execution, or market forces), and the critical growth levers for scaling: brand awareness, new products, and international expansion. They also cover the intense financial discipline required when taking on bank debt and managing covenants , the importance of managing shareholder expectations versus reality , and the best strategies for communicating bad news to your team—like "going ugly early" while always providing hope.Chapters:00:00:00 Introduction00:19:49 Breaking Down Our Quarterly Planning Process00:33:40 Top Down vs Bottoms Up Strategy00:49:09 A Tough Lesson in Tripping Bank Covenants01:03:53 How to Deliver Bad NewsPowered By:Fulfil.io.https://bit.ly/3pAp2vuThe Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficiently Scale 8 and 9-Figure Brands. Northbeam.https://www.northbeam.io/Postscript.https://postscript.io/Richpanel.https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=9O&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescSaras.https://saras-analytics.typeform.com/to/T8jpuAEb?utm_source=9operator_lp&utm_medium=find_out_moreSubscribe to The Marketing Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingOperatorsSubscribe to The Finance Operators here:https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here:https://9operators.com/

Here's a question that'll keep you up at night: How do you take a company from $300K in annual revenue to $1.5 million in 18 months, then scale to $3-5 million within five years? That's the challenge facing Greg Hirschi from Colorado. He's the new executive leader of an 18-year-old company selling ethics assessment services to professional licensing boards. They've expanded from an entrepreneurial model to a small team with one salesperson and one customer service person. The goal is aggressive growth, and Greg needs to know where to focus his limited resources to get the biggest bang for his buck. If you're nodding your head right now because you're in a similar situation, pay attention. Because the mistakes you make at $300K will haunt you at $3 million. The Resource Reality Check Let's be brutally honest about what a $300K revenue company means: You have no money. You have a razor-thin budget. You have one salesperson and one leader trying to do everything. At this stage, you have exactly one priority: REVENUE. You don't have the luxury of fixing operations, perfecting your tech stack, or building elaborate systems. You need to sell. Period. But here's where most small companies screw this up. They think selling means taking anything with a pulse. If it can fog a mirror, they'll do business with it. That's a death spiral disguised as growth. The Operator's Dilemma Greg comes from an operations background. He's analytical, process-driven, and systematic. Those traits are incredible assets for building a business, especially when the goal is to scale fast. But they can also be a liability when managing salespeople. Here's what happens: Operators think in systems and logic. Salespeople think in relationships and emotion. Operators want everything organized and predictable. Salespeople throw deals on the table that are messy and unpredictable. If you're an operator trying to lead sales, you need to understand this fundamental tension. Your salesperson is out there getting hammered with objections every single day, building narratives in their head about why people won't buy. You're thinking, "Just brush it off and do it again. What's wrong with you?" They're thinking, "You have no idea what it's like out here." This is why reading New Sales Simplified by Mike Weinberg is non-negotiable if you're an operator managing sales. You need to learn how salespeople think, how they operate, and how to lead them effectively without losing your mind. Start With Your ICP or Die Trying The single most important thing Greg needs to do right now to scale is get laser-focused on his Ideal Customer Profile. Not kind of focused. Not "we have a general idea." I mean obsessively, precisely, ridiculously dialed in on exactly who they should be selling to. Here's why this matters so much at $300K: Greg's salesperson has a $600K pipeline and will close 50% of it. Sounds great, right? But if half those customers churn because they're the wrong fit, requiring constant re-education and hand-holding, Greg's salesperson will get stuck in account management mode. They'll stop prospecting for new business because they're too busy re-selling existing accounts. That's how you stay stuck at $300K forever. Your ICP drives everything. It determines your messaging, your marketing, your presentation materials, and which stakeholders you need to reach inside target organizations. It helps you build relevant social proof stories. It allows you to coach your salesperson on handling specific objections instead of generic brush-offs. Most importantly, it gives you guardrails. You can ask your salesperson in pipeline reviews: "Tell me the strategic reason why we should chase this account. How does it fit our ICP? Why is this worth our limited resources when our singular goal right now is growth?" When you're running a $300K company with one salesperson and one leader, you cannot afford to chase every deal.

This week, we're joined by Reza Khadjavi, founder and CEO of Motion, the podcast's premier sponsor. Reza breaks down who he'd hire first if he were running growth today, why the best marketers right now are the ones who can merge strategy, execution, and AI into one high-leverage role, and how he's seeing the return of the elite IC reshape modern marketing teams.Connor M shares a behind-the-scenes look at how Ridge has collapsed entire layers of their go-to-market workflow, cutting out handoffs, speeding up launches, and proving that smaller, sharper teams can actually do more. We dig into how AI is automating execution, why creativity still sets teams apart, and what it really means for how work gets done.Then we explore the latest creative trends, from Meta's Andromeda update and what it means for persona-based targeting to how brands should actually be thinking about creative diversity. Reza walks through Motion's new AI tagging system, the eight most important categories for creative testing, and why so many brands miss the mark on evolving their messaging. We also talk about how getting naming conventions right can unlock better insights, sharper strategy, and way more creative clarity.If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction00:05:41 - The Three First Hires for a Director of Growth00:26:28 - How Ridge Collapsed Its Go-to-Market Workflow00:37:36 - When Leaders Become ICs00:51:14 - Meta Andromeda & The Need for Creative Diversity01:07:44 - The Power of AI Tagging & Naming ConventionsPowered by:Motion.⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trendsPrescient AI.⁠⁠⁠https://www.prescientai.com/operatorsRichpanel.⁠⁠⁠https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescAftersell.https://www.aftersell.com/operatorsRivo.https://www.rivo.io/operatorsSubscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here:https://9operators.com/

What's product-market fit like when you give people the power to do what they never thought was possible?On this rerun of Grit from April 2024, Victor Riparbelli, co-founder and CEO of Synthesia, shares how his platform gave billions a new way to create video without cameras, and explores a future where video and audio replace text as the primary way to share knowledge and content.Guests: Victor Riparbelli, CEO and co-founder of Synthesia and Josh Coyne, Partner at Kleiner PerkinsConnect with Victor RiparbelliX: https://x.com/vriparbelliLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorriparbelli/​Connect with Josh CoyneX: https://x.com/josh_coyneLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacoyne/​Connect with JoubinX: https://x.com/JoubinmirLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joubin-mirzadegan-66186854/Email: grit@kleinerperkins.com​Learn more about Kleiner Perkins:https://www.kleinerperkins.com/

LEARN MY STR INVESTING & STRATEGIES

In this episode of Convergence.fm, Ashok Sivanand sits down with Farhan Thawar, Head of Engineering at Shopify, to go behind the scenes of how Shopify not only keeps pace with rapid change but leads it.  The discussion explores how Shopify became one of the first platforms to allow merchants to sell products directly inside ChatGPT, why that move challenges Amazon's dominance, and what it takes to build a company that learns faster than it fails.  Farhan explains the systems that make being first repeatable rather than accidental, including Shopify's internal LLM proxy, MCP servers, experimentation culture, and democratized tooling.  If you are a CEO, COO, or CTO looking to scale through culture, systems, and intentional technology adoption, this episode shows what it looks like to operate with conviction and long-term relevance. Key Topics and Moments: Shopify and OpenAI's commerce integration. The same day OpenAI enabled in-chat shopping, Shopify merchants were already live. Farhan explains what it takes for a company of Shopify's size to move with that kind of speed Competing with Amazon through culture, not size. Shopify has 3,000 engineers compared to Amazon's 35,000+, yet continues to outpace bigger players by focusing on coherence, focus, and empowered execution rather than bureaucracy and scale. The meaning behind Tobi Lütke's April AI memo. Farhan discusses how Shopify operationalized its “AI is non-optional” stance, what baseline expectations look like, and how performance is evaluated in an AI-native organization. AI reflexivity and the “three buckets.” Farhan explains how teams are taught to recognize “AI not allowed,” “AI optional,” and “AI mandatory” problems so that employees develop instinct for when to reach for AI — and when to pick up the screwdriver. The risk of ‘vibe coding' and why hand tools still matter. Farhan shares lessons from real incidents inside and outside Shopify, like the Cloudflare outage caused by unreviewed AI-generated code, and how engineering leaders teach judgment, not just prompting. The LLM Proxy and MCP Servers. Inside look at how Shopify democratized AI across departments by building an internal platform that connects all major models and corporate data sources, enabling every employee to build workflows and ask intelligent questions — not just engineers. AI budgeting vs. SaaS budgeting. Farhan explains why AI usage isn't treated like traditional SaaS spend and how Shopify encourages heavy experimentation by rewarding impact rather than punishing token consumption. Experimentation as a system. How teams are encouraged to show work at 20%, not 80%, and why the speed of learning, not perfection, is the true productivity metric. Subtraction as leadership. Farhan shares how founders and executives must delete outdated processes, rules, and layers of bureaucracy to make room for new ideas — why process should only exist if it makes something possible or 10x better. Hiring and growing AI-native talent. Why Shopify doubled down on internships, hiring 1,000 interns this year and next, and how younger engineers push full-timers to stay current by being born AI-native “centaurs.” Responsibility versus accountability. Why leaders can delegate tasks but not responsibility, and how to stay in the work without disempowering the team. Certainty as intolerance. Farhan's reflection on why overconfidence kills creativity, and how leaders can replace fixed beliefs with wayfinding, curiosity, and adaptive decision-making. Rapid-fire reflections for CEOs. Ashok and Farhan close with lessons on showing unfinished work, modeling curiosity, and removing friction as a cultural operating system. Who Should Listen: Mid-market CEOs, COOs, and CTOs building adaptable organizations that can scale.  Leaders focused on culture and transformation, not just technology adoption.  Operators who want to apply product thinking and modern software practices to traditional industries. Notable Quotes: “We have a baseline expectation of using AI. If you have two people, one using AI and one not, they will both be evaluated the same.” – Farhan Thawar on AI usage expectations  “We don't like waste, but we don't have limits. If you believe in your workflow, use the best model for your problem solving.” – Farhan Thawar on AI token cost and consumption   “You can now buy directly in chat from Shopify merchants. That is a major shift in how people discover and buy online.” – Ashok Sivanand on Shopify launching all their merchants on ChatGPT's Shop feature on the very day it was launched  Related Reading and References: Shopify Blog: Shopify and OpenAI bring commerce to ChatGPT (official announcement) - https://www.shopify.com/news/shopify-open-ai-commerce?podconvergence   Reuters: OpenAI partners with Shopify, Stripe, and others to expand ChatGPT integrations - https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/openai-partners-with-etsy-shopify-chatgpt-checkout-2025-09-29/?podconvergence   TechCrunch: Inside Tobi Lütke's AI Memo and Shopify's Cultural Shift - https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/07/shopify-ceo-tells-teams-to-consider-using-ai-before-growing-headcount/?podconvergence  Farhan's opinions about token consumption - https://x.com/fnthawar/status/1930367595670274058  Farhan's article about “looking stupid”- https://medium.com/helpful-com/why-looking-stupid-is-my-superpower-2ee3fe00a748?podconvergence  The Convergence.fm first episode with Farhan in 2024 - https://convergence.fm/episode/from-code-to-culture-how-shopify-thrives-under-farhan-thawars-thought-leadership  The Convergence.fm Episode about Tobi Lütke's leaked AI memo mandate, and our 6 takeaways - https://convergence.fm/episode/shopifys-leaked-ai-mandate-explained-6-takeaways-for-your-product-team  Tobi's memo Tweet - https://x.com/tobi/status/1909231499448401946 Unreasonable Hospitality (book) - https://www.amazon.com/Unreasonable-Hospitality-Remarkable-Giving-People/dp/0593418573  Farhan's Twitter (public handle) - https://x.com/fnthawar  Reflection and Action Steps: Start with your mission. Before choosing tools, clarify what problem you are solving and what your business stands for.  Enable your team. Ask whether you are removing barriers or creating them.  Are employees empowered to experiment?  Model the change. Use AI tools yourself. Share your learnings, wins, and failures openly. F Foster learning. Consider introducing internal forums or “thinking clubs” that encourage curiosity and reflection across your team.  

I just had an incredible conversation with Jon Wells on the DealQuest Podcast about a real estate niche that most investors have never even considered. After 25 years in Denver real estate, Jon discovered something remarkable: group homes for mental health and sobriety programs that generate 6%+ cap rates with almost zero landlord responsibilities. Here's what struck me most from our discussion: Jon's "fix and flop" philosophy completely changed my perspective. "My best deals were the ones that didn't sell," he told me. Those failed flips that he couldn't unload? They became his most profitable long-term holdings and led him to this overlooked niche. The economics are compelling. While everyone fights over compressed margins in traditional real estate (Jon watched fix-and-flip profits shrink from 25% to barely 10%), group homes maintain 6-13% cap rates even in high interest rate environments. His mentor has accumulated 1,000 beds. Jon manages 30-40 beds that provide what he calls "a great living." The structure is brilliantly simple. Operators funded by Medicaid and grants handle everything - maintenance, tenants, daily management. Property owners collect rent. It's "as close to a triple net deal as you can do" in residential real estate. The vetting process Jon shared was eye-opening. Drawing from his 1990s experience helping people save properties from foreclosure, he applies rigorous financial analysis to operators. The key: finding those with grant funding, solid track records, and willingness to accept purchase options so they treat the property like their own. What impressed me most was Jon's disciplined approach to avoiding shiny object syndrome. After a syndication advisor told him "I wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole," he pivoted back to what he knows works - paying off mortgages and creating owner-carry notes for stable, predictable income. The lesson? While everyone chases the same crowded strategies, the best opportunities often hide in markets others don't even know exist. Sometimes the path to financial freedom isn't about following the crowd, but about finding overlooked niches that match your values and expertise. Listen to our full conversation on the DealQuest Podcast where Jon reveals his complete framework for evaluating group home opportunities. FOR MORE ON THIS EPISODE: https://www.coreykupfer.com/blog/jonwells FOR MORE ON JON WELLS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwellsrealtor/ https://abetterwayrealty.com/ FOR MORE ON COREY KUPFER https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykupfer/ https://www.coreykupfer.com/ Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker. He has more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker. He is deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is also the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast. Get deal-ready with the DealQuest Podcast with Corey Kupfer, where like-minded entrepreneurs and business leaders converge, share insights and challenges, and success stories. Equip yourself with the tools, resources, and support necessary to navigate the complex yet rewarding world of dealmaking. Dive into the world of deal-driven growth today!

Oil and gas operations rely on heavy machinery and equipment that perform critical tasks, yet most of this equipment remains disconnected from the digital landscape of cloud computing, analytics, and autonomy. This lack of connectivity leaves operators with higher costs, inefficient maintenance, and limited visibility into how their assets are really performing. The traditional approach to equipment design is no longer enough. Operators face pressure to improve efficiency, reduce emissions, and cut costs, but without better data and smarter tools, these goals remain out of reach. The industry cannot afford to keep treating its infrastructure as “dumb metal.” You might think that only big equipment suppliers can make smart metal, but IJACK, a Canadian equipment manufacturer, is proving otherwise. By embedding remote monitoring, cloud connectivity, and AI-driven analytics into its products, the company enables operators to troubleshoot issues without rolling a truck, optimize performance across entire fleets, and gain valuable insight from real-time data. In this episode, I speak with Dan McCarthy, President of IJACK, about how his team transformed compressors and pumps into intelligent assets, why the industry needs to embrace innovation, and how a small-town company from Saskatchewan is now serving customers around the world.

Make your product irresistible, and everything else will follow.That's the philosophy of Grant Lee, co-founder and CEO of Gamma, an AI design platform with an 'anti-PowerPoint approach', used by over 50M people.This week on Grit, he also shares why enduring businesses aren't one person shows, and how their deliberate hiring process shapes and strengthens company culture.Connect with Grant LeeXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins

Marian Pasko - CEO at Paradise Valley Mineral Management (PVMM) joins the podcast to walk through her team's approach to managing mineral rights and working interest. Throughout the episode, Marian showcases how their team's backgrounds uniquely position PVMM to work with Tribal Nations, Endowments, Non-Profits, & Accidental Owners and how they leverage scale to incentivize Operators to accelerate drilling development on their clients minerals.**Disclaimer: This podcast is meant for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.A big thanks to our 3 Minerals & Royalties Podcast Sponsors:--Tracts: If you are interested in learning more about Tracts title related services and software, then please call 281-892-2096 or visit https://tracts.co/ to learn more.--Riverbend Energy Group: If you are interested in discussing the sale of your Minerals and/or NonOp interests w/ Riverbend, then please visit www.riverbendenergygroup.com for more information--Farmers National Company: For more information on Farmer's land management services, please visit www.fncenergy.com or email energy@farmersnational.com

John Catsimatidis, Red Apple Media Owner & Operator, calls into the show along with his wife Margo, to discuss their attendance at the exciting Yankees game last night in The Bronx, before they delve into their upcoming honor at an Italian American event celebrating Columbus Day, their pride in their Italian ties, and their support for maintaining Columbus Day over Indigenous People's Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if brokers were calling you with storage deals before they even hit the market? The truth is, the best opportunities rarely get blasted out to everyone. Instead, they're quietly offered to a short list of trusted buyers. If you're not on that list, you're already too late. In this episode of Storage Wins, Alex Pardo continues his four-part series on building powerful broker relationships. He reveals the exact steps he used to land on one broker's shortlist of qualified buyers, a relationship that led to an off-market storage facility deal you'll never find on LoopNet. You'll hear how brokers actually source deals, what they look for in buyers, and the follow-up strategies that keep you top of mind. Whether you're brand new or already in the game, this episode gives you the roadmap to becoming the kind of investor brokers call first. You'll Learn How To: Get on a broker's shortlist of serious buyers Build lasting, genuine relationships that lead to repeat deals Avoid rookie mistakes that quietly get you blacklisted Communicate your buy box with confidence and clarity Prove credibility even if you've never closed a storage deal Follow up the right way without becoming a pest What You'll Learn in This Episode: (00:00) Why you can absolutely do this if you stay consistent (02:00) How the best storage deals never reach the open market (03:00) The secret to building credibility brokers can trust (05:00) How one relationship led to two off-market storage deals (09:00) Why following up and being genuine opens doors (11:00) The reason quick responses keep you on a broker's shortlist (12:00) Why confidence and professionalism matter more than experience (14:00) How closing one deal accelerates your path to ten (16:00) How to clearly define and share your buy box (18:00) The long game: why trust takes time but pays off Who This Episode Is For: New investors who want to break into storage without competing with dozens of buyers Operators who are tired of seeing deals only after they've been shopped around Anyone who wants to earn brokers' trust and move from “tire kicker” to trusted buyer Why You Should Listen: The storage industry is smaller than you think, and your reputation with brokers determines whether you get first dibs or leftovers. This episode shows you how to position yourself as a trusted buyer who gets the call when hot opportunities surface. If you're serious about building wealth through storage and ready to stop chasing scraps, this is the playbook that puts you at the front of the line. Follow Alex Pardo here: Alex Pardo Website: https://alexpardo.com/ Alex Pardo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexpardo15 Alex Pardo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexpardo25 Alex Pardo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexPardo Storage Wins Website: https://storagewins.com/ Have conversations with at least three to give storage owners, brokers, private lenders, and equity partners through the Storage Wins Facebook group. Join for free by visiting this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/322064908446514/