Podcasts about startup ceo

What do high school debate team, chemistry labs, law school burnout, and credit card points all have in common?Apparently… they can all lead to becoming a startup CEO.In this episode of The Inventive Journey, Devin Miller sits down with Travis Cormier to unpack one of the most unconventional entrepreneurial journeys we've featured on the show. Travis shares how his path evolved from “super nerd” debate competitor to aspiring astrophysicist, law school student, chemist, freelance writer, COO, and eventually CEO of a rapidly growing media company.Along the way, Travis reveals the pivotal moments that shaped his career — including the realization that prestige and fulfillment are not always the same thing.After initially pursuing law school with dreams of working in a major firm, Travis quickly discovered that the lifestyle attached to those prestigious careers didn't align with the life he actually wanted. Hearing attorneys proudly describe their ability to work until midnight from home while “only” working three weekends per month became a wake-up call that forced him to reconsider his future.That decision eventually led him back into chemistry, where he built a stable career while quietly exploring entrepreneurial opportunities on the side.Then came the Maldives honeymoon.When Travis and his wife began planning their honeymoon, he discovered just how expensive luxury travel could be. Instead of giving up, he became obsessed with learning how travel rewards and credit card points worked. That curiosity introduced him to the travel media world and ultimately opened the door to freelance writing opportunities.What started as side income soon evolved into something much larger.Travis climbed from freelance contributor to editor, then into operational leadership before becoming COO of the business. Over the next several years, the company experienced explosive growth — scaling roughly 1,400% while growing its team and expanding its audience through strategic community building.Today, Travis serves as CEO and is helping guide the company through its next phase of operational maturity and long-term sustainability.Throughout the conversation, Travis shares valuable lessons about:Career pivots and professional identityEscaping prestige trapsStartup growth and scalingCommunity-driven business modelsLeadership transitionsOperational strategyTesting business ideasKnowing when to kill products that no longer serve the businessBuilding sustainable entrepreneurial momentumOne of the biggest takeaways from this episode is the importance of finding the lane your business can truly own.While many brands chase every possible growth channel, Travis explains how their company focused heavily on community-building — particularly within Facebook groups — and turned that focus into a major competitive advantage.He also discusses one of the hardest entrepreneurial realities: sometimes founders become emotionally attached to products or ideas that customers simply do not want.That lesson became painfully clear after realizing one product they loved internally had only a handful of active users while still costing thousands of dollars per month to maintain.As Travis explains, passion matters — but market demand matters more.This episode is packed with honest insights for founders, entrepreneurs, career changers, and anyone trying to figure out how to align ambition with lifestyle design.If you've ever questioned your career path, wondered whether prestige is worth the tradeoffs, or tried to navigate the uncertainty of entrepreneurship, this conversation will resonate deeply.Because sometimes the journey to becoming a CEO doesn't begin with a startup accelerator…Sometimes it begins with trying to afford a honeymoon.To chat about this one-on-one, grab a free consult at strategymeeting.com

Most founders think they have a sales problem. According to Lou Shipley, they usually have a customer understanding problem.Lou is a 3x CEO, Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School, former CEO of Black Duck Software, and co-author of Unlikely Entrepreneurs.During his time at Black Duck, Lou repositioned the company from open-source compliance to open-source security, quadrupled revenue, and helped lead the company to a $565 million acquisition by Synopsys.In this conversation, we discuss: Why founders should not hand off sales too early  The real purpose of your first 100 customer conversations  How to know if you're solving a painful enough problem  Why competitive markets can be better than new markets  The go-to-market framework that helped scale Black Duck  How to identify product-market fit before building too much  What causes churn and how to spot it before it happens  Why most founders misunderstand scaling a sales team  The reality of AI and what founders should pay attention to  Lessons from six startups, multiple exits, and decades of leadership This is a practical conversation about sales, positioning, product-market fit, scaling teams, and building companies that customers actually want.00:00 Introduction to Lou Shipley and Black Duck Software02:00 The Black Duck acquisition story and repositioning strategy04:30 Why founders should own sales longer than they think09:10 Learning from customers before chasing revenue12:00 Why competitive markets are often better opportunities15:00 The myth of the young founder and why experience matters18:40 Understanding customer pain deeply enough to build a company21:20 Signs you're building a solution nobody truly needs22:45 Building software for yourself vs guessing what customers want25:00 How Lou repositioned Black Duck around security27:30 Managing vs leading as your company scales31:00 Escaping the weeds and thinking like an investor33:10 The sales framework behind Black Duck's growth39:00 Churn, product-market fit, and customer retention43:30 AI, software startups, and what founders should watch51:30 What Lou learned after running multiple companies57:20 The one message every founder needs to hearUnlikely Entrepreneurs: Wins, Losses, and Crucial Lessons on Building Great Companies: https://a.co/d/0fPfhi1D

Founded in 2010, the Institut Pasteur spinout PathoQuest sold to top CRO Charles River for $70M this year, a product of years of collaboration and stepwise investments.Jean‑François tells us how the exit unfolded, as well as the importance of biosafety and CMC as pharma and biotech outsource heavily and cell and gene therapies mature. We also cover how animal testing is disappearing from CMC and how France must nurture its biotech ecosystem.---For transparency, this episode has been sponsored by PathoQuest.---⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKERJean-François has more than 20 years of pharma leadership under his belt. Before his ten years at PathoQuest, he was a Senior Vice-President in charge of Ipsen's GI-oncology and endocrinology franchise.He has an engineering degree and a master's degree in Foreign Trade.

Amit Rapaport, Co-Founder & CEO of Compete, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about why most HR metrics don't matter to your CEO, how to think like a CEO when looking at workforce data, and more.----  Downloadable PDF with top takeaways: https://modernpeopleleader.kit.com/5-hr-rulesSponsor Links:

This episode explores how true confidence is built through self-trust, mindset shifts, and leading with belief, especially when titles, validation, and certainty fall away. Guest Anya Cheng is the founder and CEO of Taeler, an AI platform that uses AI to help men choose outfits, and rent them. Having led teams at big brands such as Target, Facebook, eBay, McDonald's, she's a Mentor at ‘500 Startups', Lecturer at Northwestern University, author and a TED speaker. 5 key takeaways: Confidence isn't constant, it grows when you trust your own perspective, not a script or title. Losing external validation can become a powerful catalyst for authentic leadership. Shifting language from “I should” to “I would like to” builds motivation and self-trust. Imposter syndrome appears at every level, and it's most powerful when left unchecked. The most sustainable success comes from building work aligned with what you genuinely care about. Connect with Lucy: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mslucyliu Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mslucyliu Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mslucyliu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mslucyliu TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mslucyliu YouTube: https://youtube.com/@mslucyliu Website: https://www.lucyliucoaching.com Podcast: https://www.lucyliucoaching.com/podcast   Wanna double your confidence in 30 seconds?  Get the ultimate secret here: http://www.confidentandepic.com   Connect with Anya Cheng: https://taelor.style

This is part 2 of our conversation with Thiago Da Costa, serial entrepreneur and founder and CEO of a Datagrid AI, a company that creates agent and connectors to help companies work more efficiently.In part one we explored Thiago's journey as a serial founder, and what it takes to scale companies from zero to meaningful revenue.In this second part, we go deeper into what truly separates great CEOs from dangerous ones. We talk about transparency, capital discipline, customer obsession, and the growing risk of the celebrity CEO—leaders who master distribution and attention before they build real products. Tiago shares candid perspectives on motivation, resilience, and why founders who aren't deeply anchored to the problem they're solving will eventually burn out.We also shift into a broader discussion on AI—why this moment is fundamentally different from past technology waves, where real opportunities still exist, and why so many AI startups are destined to fail.Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.comWebsites:al4ep.comdatagrid.aiAdditional Guest Links:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thiagocosta2Corporate LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/datagrid-ai/Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino CattaneoDino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneoPodcast Instagram – @al4edp Podcast Twitter – @al4edpPodcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edpMusicSusan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

Join me as I speak with Tension Dynamics CEO, US Army Veteran Lieutenant Colonel, and my cofounder Wes Brown about coming up in the Army, getting an MBA from CMU, working on robotics for defense and more. Tension Dynamics is revolutionizing motion simulation and teleoperation and we're looking for investors to take our technology to the next level. Please reach out to Wes Brown or Spencer Krause to set up a meeting if you're interested in getting on board. Liked this episode and want to see or hear more? Please subscribe to Collaborative with Spencer Krause today. You'll get notified every time a new episode releases, and it's the best way to support the channel! Companies looking to outsource difficult robotics engineering problems should consider SKA Robotics. They sponsor this podcast and solve some of the most difficult robotics engineering problems in the world. Companies looking for premium space in Pittsburgh should consider renting in Rockwell Park. Located in Pittsburgh's hip Point Breeze Neighborhood, Rockwell Park features over 800,000 square feet of high-end industrial, retail, and office space. Contact Icon Development Group to learn more.

Join me as I speak with Tension Dynamics CEO, US Army Veteran Lieutenant Colonel, and my cofounder Wes Brown about coming up in the Army, getting an MBA from CMU, working on robotics for defense and more. Tension Dynamics is revolutionizing motion simulation and teleoperation and we're looking for investors to take our technology to the next level. Please reach out to Wes Brown or Spencer Krause to set up a meeting if you're interested in getting on board. Liked this episode and want to see or hear more? Please subscribe to Collaborative with Spencer Krause today. You'll get notified every time a new episode releases, and it's the best way to support the channel! Companies looking to outsource difficult robotics engineering problems should consider SKA Robotics. They sponsor this podcast and solve some of the most difficult robotics engineering problems in the world. Companies looking for premium space in Pittsburgh should consider renting in Rockwell Park. Located in Pittsburgh's hip Point Breeze Neighborhood, Rockwell Park features over 800,000 square feet of high-end industrial, retail, and office space. Contact Icon Development Group to learn more.

Guest: Derek Baird, CEO & Co-founder, Switchboard HealthResources:Switchboard Health: https://switchboardhealth.com/Conduce Health: https://www.conducehealth.com/Connect with Derek: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debaird/Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-crabbs-5674a233/ Product in Healthtech is community for healthtech product leaders, by product leaders. For more information, and to sign up for our free webinars, visit www.productinhealthtech.com.

Send us a textWhat if the most important leadership job you'll ever hold doesn't come with a test or a title? We sit down with Derek Belch—former Stanford kicker, startup founder, and dad of three—to unpack what real presence looks like, how values take root, and why failing publicly can be a gift to your kids.Derek grew up with parents who made time their superpower. That “time-rich” model frames how he and his wife run the Belch huddle today: clear rules that point to deeper principles, kindness on repeat, and respect for your body and your limits. He shares the tough-love moment that transformed his baseball path at 13, the night he missed four field goals against Notre Dame and chose to show the tape to his kids, and the day he walked off a US AM Golf qualifier mid-shanks—then owned it at home. The throughline is radical accountability: you can't control the bad round, but you can control your response, your repair, and your next rep.We also trace the unlikely origin of STRIVR, Derek's VR training company, born from a Stanford coaching thesis to help quarterbacks process faster. With a nudge from David Shaw, he turned a prototype into a platform used by major enterprises to build skills through immersive learning. Along the way, Derek explains why golf's meritocracy resonates so deeply: the scorecard doesn't care about your résumé, only your work. That mindset fuels his audacious goal to hopefully qualify for a PGA Tour event while leading a startup and coaching four youth teams.If you're a parent, coach, or leader who wants practical ways to model humility, set culture-shaping rules, and turn failure into momentum, this conversation will sharpen your playbook. Hit follow, share this with a friend who needs the reminder, and leave a quick review with your favorite takeaway—we read every one.Support the showPlease don't forget to leave us a review wherever you consume your podcasts! Please help us get more dads to listen weekly and become the ultimate leader of their homes!

Is Your Stress Secretly Sabotaging Your Love Life? In this thought-provoking episode, James Preece welcomes the dynamic Emily Dallara—high performance coach, somatic practitioner, and advisor to startup CEOs—for a heartfelt, honest, and truly fun conversation about how your nervous system might be sabotaging your love life! Emily uncovers the real reasons behind those explosive rows, why you're on edge during dates, and how your nervous system is quietly running the show in every relationship you have. The episode is packed with eye-opening moments: from Emily's own burnout journey (“regulate yourself!”—we've all been there) to practical tips you can use to build long-term emotional resilience and connect more deeply with your partner. Want to learn about “co-regulation” or try a hands-on technique that transforms stress into calm in minutes? Emily leads James (and you!) through a simple, effective exercise you'll want to use again and again. If you've ever wished for less anxiety and more calm, intimacy, and fun in your relationships, this episode will give you the tools (and laughs) you need. Hit play and discover why understanding your own nervous system might just be the secret to love you never knew you needed! About Emily High Performance Coach, Advisor to Startup CEO's & Somatic Practitioner | She helps founders, CEO's & their teams go from good to Supercharged by mastering their nervous system and performance | ex-Web 3 CMO https://www.emilyrosedallara.com/reset  https://www.instagram.com/emilyrosedallaracoach/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyrosedallara/ 

Send us a textSome stories rise from privilege. Others, from perfect timing. But then there are stories like Shelley's — born from the ashes of burnout and built on the courage to begin again.A decade ago, she was a single mum, exhausted and uncertain, trying to find her way back to herself. Today, she's the Co-Founder & CEO of SQR, a tech company making the digital world safer through intelligent identity infrastructure.From performing arts to technology, from rock bottom to leading teams across continents — Shelley's journey is anything but linear. It's a creative remix of resilience, curiosity, and the courage to take the scenic route.In this cinematic conversation, we talk about:What it really takes to build and lead a startupThe villains and turning points that shaped her storyThe power of reinventing yourself after burnoutAnd why growth often begins at the edge of your comfort zone

How can large organizations harness the power of AI for content creation while simultaneously mitigating the risks that come with exponentially scaling content volume and velocity?Agility requires adaptation to new ways of working as well as adapting governance and oversight processes to maintain brand integrity and manage risk in the new paradigm that AI has helped to create. It also requires the ability to quickly react and adjust content strategies in response to real-time performance data and market shifts.This episode is brought to you by Markup AI. AI can create content, but Markup AI's Content Guardian AgentsSM perfect your content. Markup AI instantly scans, scores, and rewrites any content to enforce your standards for brand voice, terminology, and compliance, giving you the confidence you need to scale your use of AI. Learn more at www.markup.ai.Today, we're going to talk about navigating the exciting but often treacherous landscape of AI-driven content creation. The sheer volume of content being generated presents unprecedented challenges for maintaining quality, consistency, and brand integrity.To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Matt Blumberg, CEO at Markup AI. About Matt Blumberg Matt is the CEO of Markup AI and has more than 30 years of leadership in scaling global disruptive technology businesses. Matt is passionate about the power of language — being precise with it, using it to move people, and ensuring brands maintain a consistent voice with it — and he is equally passionate about the power of technology to change lives for the better.Before launching Markup AI, Matt successfully launched and led brands and companies including Acrolinx, MovieFone.com division of 777-FILM (acquired by AOL), Return Path (#2 on Fortune Magazine's “Best Companies to Work for” list and later acquired by PSG/Validity), the nonprofit Path Forward, and Bolster, a disruptive platform for executive search in the tech industry.Additionally, Matt is the author of a blog (Startup CEO), a podcast (The Daily Bolster), and three acclaimed books on startup leadership (Startup CEO, Startup CXO, and Startup Boards), further underscoring his expertise and commitment to innovation. Matt is based in New York City. Matt Blumberg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blumbergmatt/ Resources Markup AI: https://markup.ai/ The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Register now for Sitecore Symposium, November 3-5 in Orlando Florida. Use code SYM25-2Media10 to receive 10% off. Go here for more: https://symposium.sitecore.com/Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can large organizations harness the power of AI for content creation while simultaneously mitigating the risks that come with exponentially scaling content volume and velocity? Agility requires adaptation to new ways of working as well as adapting governance and oversight processes to maintain brand integrity and manage risk in the new paradigm that AI has helped to create. It also requires the ability to quickly react and adjust content strategies in response to real-time performance data and market shifts. This episode is brought to you by Markup AI. AI can create content, but Markup AI's Content Guardian AgentsSM perfect your content. Markup AI instantly scans, scores, and rewrites any content to enforce your standards for brand voice, terminology, and compliance, giving you the confidence you need to scale your use of AI. Learn more at www.markup.ai. Today, we're going to talk about navigating the exciting but often treacherous landscape of AI-driven content creation. The sheer volume of content being generated presents unprecedented challenges for maintaining quality, consistency, and brand integrity. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Matt Blumberg, CEO at Markup AI. About Matt Blumberg Matt is the CEO of Markup AI and has more than 30 years of leadership in scaling global disruptive technology businesses. Matt is passionate about the power of language — being precise with it, using it to move people, and ensuring brands maintain a consistent voice with it — and he is equally passionate about the power of technology to change lives for the better. Before launching Markup AI, Matt successfully launched and led brands and companies including Acrolinx, MovieFone.com division of 777-FILM (acquired by AOL), Return Path (#2 on Fortune Magazine's “Best Companies to Work for” list and later acquired by PSG/Validity), the nonprofit Path Forward, and Bolster, a disruptive platform for executive search in the tech industry. Additionally, Matt is the author of a blog (Startup CEO), a podcast (The Daily Bolster), and three acclaimed books on startup leadership (Startup CEO, Startup CXO, and Startup Boards), further underscoring his expertise and commitment to innovation. Matt is based in New York City. Matt Blumberg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blumbergmatt/ Resources Markup AI: https://markup.ai/ The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Register now for Sitecore Symposium, November 3-5 in Orlando Florida. Use code SYM25-2Media10 to receive 10% off. Go here for more: https://symposium.sitecore.com/ Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

How can large organizations harness the power of AI for content creation while simultaneously mitigating the risks that come with exponentially scaling content volume and velocity?Agility requires adaptation to new ways of working as well as adapting governance and oversight processes to maintain brand integrity and manage risk in the new paradigm that AI has helped to create. It also requires the ability to quickly react and adjust content strategies in response to real-time performance data and market shifts.This episode is brought to you by Markup AI. AI can create content, but Markup AI's Content Guardian AgentsSM perfect your content. Markup AI instantly scans, scores, and rewrites any content to enforce your standards for brand voice, terminology, and compliance, giving you the confidence you need to scale your use of AI. Learn more at www.markup.ai.Today, we're going to talk about navigating the exciting but often treacherous landscape of AI-driven content creation. The sheer volume of content being generated presents unprecedented challenges for maintaining quality, consistency, and brand integrity.To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Matt Blumberg, CEO at Markup AI. About Matt Blumberg Matt is the CEO of Markup AI and has more than 30 years of leadership in scaling global disruptive technology businesses. Matt is passionate about the power of language — being precise with it, using it to move people, and ensuring brands maintain a consistent voice with it — and he is equally passionate about the power of technology to change lives for the better.Before launching Markup AI, Matt successfully launched and led brands and companies including Acrolinx, MovieFone.com division of 777-FILM (acquired by AOL), Return Path (#2 on Fortune Magazine's “Best Companies to Work for” list and later acquired by PSG/Validity), the nonprofit Path Forward, and Bolster, a disruptive platform for executive search in the tech industry.Additionally, Matt is the author of a blog (Startup CEO), a podcast (The Daily Bolster), and three acclaimed books on startup leadership (Startup CEO, Startup CXO, and Startup Boards), further underscoring his expertise and commitment to innovation. Matt is based in New York City. Matt Blumberg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blumbergmatt/ Resources Markup AI: https://markup.ai/ The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Register now for Sitecore Symposium, November 3-5 in Orlando Florida. Use code SYM25-2Media10 to receive 10% off. Go here for more: https://symposium.sitecore.com/Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can large organizations harness the power of AI for content creation while simultaneously mitigating the risks that come with exponentially scaling content volume and velocity? Agility requires adaptation to new ways of working as well as adapting governance and oversight processes to maintain brand integrity and manage risk in the new paradigm that AI has helped to create. It also requires the ability to quickly react and adjust content strategies in response to real-time performance data and market shifts. This episode is brought to you by Markup AI. AI can create content, but Markup AI's Content Guardian AgentsSM perfect your content. Markup AI instantly scans, scores, and rewrites any content to enforce your standards for brand voice, terminology, and compliance, giving you the confidence you need to scale your use of AI. Learn more at www.markup.ai. Today, we're going to talk about navigating the exciting but often treacherous landscape of AI-driven content creation. The sheer volume of content being generated presents unprecedented challenges for maintaining quality, consistency, and brand integrity. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Matt Blumberg, CEO at Markup AI. About Matt Blumberg Matt is the CEO of Markup AI and has more than 30 years of leadership in scaling global disruptive technology businesses. Matt is passionate about the power of language — being precise with it, using it to move people, and ensuring brands maintain a consistent voice with it — and he is equally passionate about the power of technology to change lives for the better. Before launching Markup AI, Matt successfully launched and led brands and companies including Acrolinx, MovieFone.com division of 777-FILM (acquired by AOL), Return Path (#2 on Fortune Magazine's “Best Companies to Work for” list and later acquired by PSG/Validity), the nonprofit Path Forward, and Bolster, a disruptive platform for executive search in the tech industry. Additionally, Matt is the author of a blog (Startup CEO), a podcast (The Daily Bolster), and three acclaimed books on startup leadership (Startup CEO, Startup CXO, and Startup Boards), further underscoring his expertise and commitment to innovation. Matt is based in New York City. Matt Blumberg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blumbergmatt/ Resources Markup AI: https://markup.ai/ The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Register now for Sitecore Symposium, November 3-5 in Orlando Florida. Use code SYM25-2Media10 to receive 10% off. Go here for more: https://symposium.sitecore.com/ Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Sean McCarthy, co-founder and CEO of BackOps, shares how a career in sales prepared him to build an AI-driven logistics company from the ground up. In this episode, Sean reveals how observing real-world pain points at Amazon inspired BackOps' mission and why coming from a non-technical background can actually be a founder's advantage. This is a conversation about scaling, selling, and leading with insight — perfect for anyone thinking about making the leap from operator to founder.Key TakeawaysWhy non-technical founders are uniquely positioned to solve operational problems with AIThe mindset shift required to go from running sales to running an entire companyHow to validate an idea before leaving a stable, well-paying jobWhat it really takes to hand off sales when it's been your superpowerPricing insights that help ensure you're building a scalable businessTimestamped Highlights01:45 Sean's Amazon journey and what time spent in warehouses taught him about customer pain points04:14 The moment he saw the same issues plaguing both small and nine-figure sellers — and spotted an opportunity07:37 How becoming a CEO forced him to rewire his focus beyond sales and build internal infrastructure12:18 Why having a technical co-founder was non-negotiable — and how AI tooling is changing that equation15:18 The tough decision to leave Amazon and how he measured risk versus regret17:59 Learning to let go and trust others with the sales process while still staying close to customersMemorable Moment“Talk to the people that would actually buy your product. Measure the pain point. If it's a one or two out of ten, it's probably not worth building. If it's a nine or ten, and they'll pay for it, now you have something.”Pro TipsValidate early and price with intention. Don't just ask if someone would use your product — ask exactly what they'd pay for it. Those conversations can save months of wasted build time.Call to ActionIf this episode resonated, share it with a friend who's considering the leap into entrepreneurship. Follow the show for more conversations with founders, operators, and tech leaders building the next generation of companies.

From reality show scandal to startup success—Jacqueline Berg-Ramsey joins her husband Tyler Ramsey in one of the wildest and most heartfelt episodes of Painful Lessons Podcast. They relive their forbidden love story that started on Survivor: Gabon, including a secret African romance, getting caught by CBS, and the chaos that followed—including relapse, rehab, and redemption.They also open up about the miracle of boundaries, parenting, forgiveness, and how Jacqueline's revolutionary pregnancy health company, The Fresh Test, is transforming how women experience gestational diabetes testing.This episode is for anyone navigating addiction, marriage, entrepreneurship, or just trying to love better.

Heute steht alles im Zeichen von Aufbruch und Innovation, denn das Team begrüßt ein neues Mitglied: Simon Moser – und der bringt wirklich einiges mit. Simon ist nicht nur Gründer und erfolgreicher Startup-CEO, sondern auch ein echter Pionier im Bereich Künstliche Intelligenz in der Versicherungswelt. Er ist bekannt dafür, im Anzug Cap zu tragen und eher wie der Headliner eines Tech-Festivals zu wirken als wie ein klassischer Versicherungsprofi.In dieser Episode erfährst du mehr über Simons Werdegang, wie er es von der Tätigkeit als Makler bis hin zur Gründung seines eigenen KI-Startups geschafft hat und warum ausgerechnet die Versicherungsbranche dringend mehr innovative Gründer wie ihn braucht. Simon teilt seine Vision davon, wie KI nicht nur Prozesse effizienter machen, sondern auch neue Chancen für alle Beteiligten schaffen kann – von digitalen Maklern über Traditionsversicherer bis hin zu jungen Gründern.Das Gespräch dreht sich außerdem um die Frage, wie es gelingen kann, KI wirklich nachhaltig in die Branche zu bringen. Simon gibt ehrliche Einblicke in die Herausforderungen und Chancen von Startups im deutschen Markt und verrät, warum sein Unternehmen Muffin-Tag heißt – und nicht Donut-Tech! Außerdem erfährst du, worauf es in der Zusammenarbeit zwischen etablierten Playern und Startups wirklich ankommt, und wie wichtig Mut, Fokus und der richtige Mindset sind, um im Versicherungsmarkt mit KI etwas zu bewegen.Freu dich auf eine offene, menschliche und teilweise sehr humorvolle Folge mit vielen spannenden Einblicken hinter die Kulissen – nicht nur über KI, sondern auch darüber, was den Insurance Monday so besonders macht! Schreibt uns gerne eine Nachricht!WERBUNG - Diese Episode wurde durch PPI unterstützt. PPI – Inspired by Simplicity. PPI verbindet Fach- und Technologie-Know-how, um komplexe Finanzprojekte in der Versicherungs- und Bankenwelt unkompliziert umzusetzen. Mit über 800 Expert:innen, europaweit führenden Lösungen im Zahlungsverkehr und der Vision „From Paper to Pixels“ begleitet PPI ihre Kunden erfolgreich in die digitale Zukunft.

Samira is joined by legal expert, patient advocate, and author Rebecca — a powerhouse voice in the cancer and healthcare world. Rebecca shares her unique journey from big law to breast cancer advocacy, and offers practical, game-changing advice for patients navigating diagnosis, treatment, insurance, and employment.Whether you're newly diagnosed, supporting a loved one, or simply want to understand your rights, this conversation is a masterclass in layered patient advocacy.

In this episode of World's Greatest Boss, I'm joined by David Metz, CEO and founder of PrizeOut, a startup that helps credit unions and gaming platforms reward their users with high-value digital gift cards. David shares how he scaled his company from his couch to over 50 employees, what he's learned about leadership, hiring, and culture along the way, and how AI is transforming the startup landscape.We talk candidly about the chaos of startup life, how to hire top talent in today's challenging market, why referrals beat resumes, and how generalists (finally) get their time to shine. David also drops real-talk advice on why soft skills now matter more than ever, and the personal toll entrepreneurship can take without a solid support system.Whether you're growing your team, figuring out how to lead through uncertainty, or just trying to make sense of AI's impact on the workplace, this one's for you.WHAT YOU'LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE:[1:12] Why David's team fell in love with credit unions and how PrizeOut serves them[3:46] From gaming to gift cards - how PrizeOut started and evolved[5:14] Building a 50+ person team and navigating remote vs. in-office culture shifts[7:02] The AI revolution and what it means for your job (and your kids')[10:20] Real-world ways to use AI in hiring and operations today[12:50] What actually works when hiring great people (hint: it's not LinkedIn)[14:32] The problem with AI-assisted projects in interviews[16:14] David's hiring framework: IQ, EQ, BQ (business quotient), and PQ (PrizeOut quotient)[17:17] “Business is easy. People are hard.” Why leadership is emotionally exhausting[19:53] Culture is a reflection of the founder - how David builds with intention[22:37] Leadership habits David's working on now[23:28] The one thing every entrepreneur must have to survive the rollercoasterLINKS & RESOURCES:Learn more about PrizeOutConnect with David Metz on LinkedIn or email him directly at david@prizeout.comTake the CliftonStrengths Assessment to discover your top talents

This week on The AI Report, Liam Lawson talks with Nick Jain, former IdeaScale CEO and founder of Content Hurricane, about how he used AI to completely replace traditional marketing and scale his funnel 50x.Nick shares how a $25 AI agent outperformed his in-house team, created content that outranked McKinsey on Google, and helped him build one of the most efficient B2B funnels in SaaS. He breaks down how he did it, why most marketers are missing the shift, and what the future looks like when AI runs most of your company's creative output.Also in this episode: • Building a 90% AI-powered inbound funnel • Why content teams will be replaced, not reskilled • The new role of product managers in an AI-led org • How Content Hurricane scales enterprise-quality assets with no human input • The future of education, work, and intellectual leverageThis is not a “how to write prompts” episode. It's a front-row view into what happens when a founder goes all in on AI and doesn't look back.Subscribe to The AI Report:https://theaireport.beehiiv.com/subscribeJoin the community:https://www.skool.com/the-ai-report-community/aboutChapters:(00:00) Why Content Marketing Is On Its Way Out(01:14) A $25 Agent vs a Whole Marketing Team(02:26) Nick's Moment of Clarity in Amsterdam(03:28) Scaling Content With ChatGPT in 30 Minutes(05:21) Running Mandatory AI Training at IdeaScale(06:45) Who Actually Adopted the Tech(08:17) From Harvard MBA to Startup CEO(09:00) Inside a 90% Automated Marketing Funnel(10:00) What Good Content Actually Means for SEO(12:31) Why Algorithms Are Not the Point(14:13) Tracking True ROI Across All Content(16:13) The Channels That Still Work(17:08) Nick's Favorite Prompt Strategy(18:34) The End of the Content Marketing Role(20:21) CEO Ethics in the AI Age(22:04) Why Sales and Product Still Matter(24:03) The Future of Product Management(25:31) Why Generalists Have the Edge Now(27:05) What Happens to Traditional Education(28:10) The Chips Are Coming: Post-Human Thinking(30:13) How Content Hurricane Operates(32:01) Awareness to Action With AI(33:36) The Simplicity Advantage in UX(35:09) Prompting for Depth, Not Generic Output(36:03) Product With Purpose(36:22) Massive Growth Metrics From the Funnel(38:12) Why Nick Keeps Building(39:05) How to Connect With Him

What if security wasn't something developers had to think about at all? That's the vision Travis McPeak—former Netflix and Databricks security leader—is building at Resourcely. In this episode, he breaks down why most security tools fail, how trust between security and engineering got broken, and what it really takes to fix cloud misconfigurations before they hit production. Travis also shares what compliance is getting wrong, why developer experience is non-negotiable, and what he learned going from big tech to startup CEO. Travis: www.linkedin.com/in/travismcpeak Resourcely: www.resourcely.io Jon: www.linkedin.com/in/jon-mclachlan Sasha: www.linkedin.com/in/aliaksandr-sinkevich YSecurity: www.ysecurity.io

In this episode, Guillaume Luccisano, founder of Yuma AI, shares his journey of building his third startup. Yuma AI is revolutionizing customer service automation for ecommerce businesses, specifically large Shopify merchants, by leveraging cutting-edge AI technology. Before launching Yuma, Guillaume was an early member of Twitch (formerly Justin.tv) and went on to co-found Socialcam, which was later acquired by Autodesk. From 2015 to 2021, he was the co-founder and CTO of Triplebyte, a company that also went through Y Combinator. With a deep background in startups and a keen eye for innovation, Guillaume has invested in over 70 startups, continuously seeking the next big idea. Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal, leads the top AI Recruitment Firm in Silicon Valley www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and goes behinds to scenes to tell their founders journey.  If you a are growing AI Startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

In this conversation, Michael Fisher, founder and CEO of Rotten, shares his journey of building a candy brand from scratch with zero experience in the industry. He talks about the initial trap that many startup CEOs fall into, himself included, of chasing the symbols of success instead of focusing on the business fundamentals. Michael then shares his personal connection to candy and the creative process behind building a brand narrative that emotionally resonates with consumers. During the conversation, we touch on the power of learning from advisors, the role of Kickstarter in validating his product concept, and his focus on healthier ingredients while maintaining great taste. Michael also shares insights on creative collaboration, the challenges of competing in the candy industry, including navigating legal issues with larger brands, and his vision for a better world through diverse product options.Key points from this episode:Transitioning from a startup CEO mindset to a real business is crucial.Learning from advisors and networking is key to success.Kickstarter served as a validation tool for Rotten's concept.A personal connection to candy inspired the brand's focus.Building a brand narrative is essential in a competitive market.World-building with engaging characters enhances brand identity through rich and engaging storytelling.The candy industry is brand-dominated, requiring strong branding to compete for loyalty.A significant portion of consumers are purchasing less candy due to health concerns.The brand aims to attract consumers who have never purchased better-for-you candy before.Formulation challenges are common when creating healthier candy options.The brand has undergone multiple reformulations to improve product quality.Legal challenges from larger brands can be daunting, but also indicate market presence.The goal is to provide consumers with better options that taste great.A better world means offering diverse food options, including healthier choices. Sound Bites:"It's really hard to remember that there isn't a playbook. What's going to work for your brand is going to be a unique path.""I stopped buying a lot of candy, actually, and I missed it. I missed the experience of eating candy.”"I really wanted to have a focus on building a strong brand that people could love.""We have worlds that haven't been explored, you know, Freektopia and all these fun places.”“More than a third of consumers in our category, non-chocolate candy, reported purchasing less candy over the last year. And the number one reason they report that is health and diet concerns."“We are showing that there is demand from people and people are willing to pay a premium for candy that still tastes incredible and gives them some of these health benefits.”“We're gonna win here is if someone eats our candy and it's their favorite candy, regardless of the health benefits.""So that was a fun time for me to play around in my kitchen, but I quickly learned that it's a very technical product to make." Links:Michael Fisher on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-fisher1/Rotten - https://eatrotten.com/Rotten on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eatrotten/Rotten on Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eatrottenRotten on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@eatrottenRotten on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/eatrotten/posts/…Dr James Richardson - Evolve CPG episode 74 - https://modernspecies.com/brands-for-a-better-world-podcast/focus-on-your-fans-dr-james-richardson-premium-growth-solutions?rq=rampingRamping Your Brand Book - https://www.rampingyourbrand.com/…Brands for a Better World Episode Archive - http://brandsforabetterworld.com/Brands for a Better World on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-for-a-better-world/Modern Species - https://modernspecies.com/Modern Species on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-species/Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagemitchell/…Print Magazine Design Podcasts - https://www.printmag.com/categories/printcast/…Heritage Radio Network - https://heritageradionetwork.org/Heritage Radio Network on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/heritage-radio-network/posts/Heritage Radio Network on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeritageRadioNetworkHeritage Radio Network on X - https://x.com/Heritage_RadioHeritage Radio Network on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heritage_radio/Heritage Radio Network on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@heritage_radio Chapters: 03:00 Introduction to Michael Fisher and Rotten06:09 The Transition from Startup CEO to Real Business08:49 Learning the CPG Landscape12:00 The Role of Advisors and Networking14:59 Kickstarter: A Launchpad for Validation18:11 Personal Connection to Non-Chocolate Candy21:05 Building a Brand with a Narrative23:55 World Building in Brand Development28:31 Creative Collaboration in Candy Design31:49 Building Emotional Connections with Consumers33:01 Competing in the Candy Industry39:05 Formulation Challenges and Product Development47:42 Navigating Legal Challenges with Big Candy53:39 A Vision for a Better World through Options

Welcome to Culture Rebooted. A podcast from HR Rebooted. As a fractional Chief People Officer, Michelle Strasburger helps CEOs of fast-growing companies realign leadership actions with the culture you want to build. She enables your teams to re-engage, your leaders to unite, and your company to scale without losing its identity. On this podcast, Michelle and her guests share their insights on how to establish a winning organizational culture. Today we met with Dominique St. Fleur from Intramark.  Dominique shares his insights on culture, growth and scaling while keeping culture strong.  He also shares some nuggets for Startup CEOs.  Learn more about Intramark at www.intramark.io or on their LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/company/intramark

In this episode, Amir sits down with Zach Barney, Co-founder and CEO of Mobly, the system of record for event marketers. Zach's story takes us from his early ambitions of joining the NSA to a career-altering injury, a serendipitous fall into sales, and eventually the founding of Mobly. This episode explores not only the career pivots that led Zach to entrepreneurship, but also the mental, financial, and strategic challenges he faced along the way.If you've ever thought about switching paths or launching your own thing — especially from a non-technical background — Zach's journey is proof that drive, vision, and grit can get you there.

Squire Technologies CEO and cofounder Songe LaRon joined Forbes senior writer Jabari Young at the Nasdaq MarketSite to update the New York-based software company. In 2021, Forbes reported Squire reached a $747 million valuation after a $60 million raise that attracted investors, including NBA star Stephen Curry and entertainer Trevor Noah.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does it take to go from engineer to founder, from startup CEO to scale CEO? In this special live episode of Founded & Funded, Madrona Managing Director Karan Mehandru sits down with Mohit Aron, founder of Nutanix and Cohesity, to uncover the lessons behind his success. Mohit shares his unique hiring strategy, how to identify product-market fit, and the power of balancing vision with execution. Whether you're navigating your first company or scaling your third, Mohit's advice is a masterclass in resilience, grit, and building a legacy. Full Transcript: https://bit.ly/42xnyD9 Chapters:  (00:00) Introduction  (02:04) Traits of Successful Founders  (05:03) Challenges in Transitioning from CTO to Startup CEO to Scaling CEO  (07:51) Effective Hiring Strategies (13:42) Defining Product-Market Fit 15:55 Balancing Vision and Focus  (17:48) The Importance of a Bigger Vision  (20:12) The Role of a CEO Post Product-Market Fit  (22:00) Delegation and Leadership Strategies  (24:23) Generative AI: Hype vs. Reality  (27:09) Crafting a Vision and Minimum Lovable Product  (28:56) Choosing the Right Investors and Building a Board  (32:15) Framework for Startup Success

Alex Kantrowitz of Big Technology weighs in on what Microsoft and Meta's reported job cuts and hiring freeze means about the broader landscape for Big Tech.  Plus, the CEO of AI chip startup Blaize discusses the decision to go public through a SPAC merger.  And, Gabelli Funds Co-CIO Chris Marangi highlights one financial name that offers an alternative entry point into the sector.

Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.comOften the most important transformation to your business is transforming yourself. In this episode of 97% Effective, host Michael Wenderoth speaks with Julia Grace Samoylenko, founder and CEO of Asteri AI. They speak bluntly about how Julia navigated her transition from big corporate to founding Asteri, an AI startup in Silicon Valley focused on upskilling the workforce. They discuss finding the right environment, putting yourself first, paying attention to emotions – and how to ensure that perseverance and determination work for you, and don't undercut you.SHOW NOTES:Julia's one hard truth about entrepreneurshipThe price of perseverance and determination3 keys to “Picking the right environment” that gets you real feedback and brings you energyHow rational people can benefit from paying attention to emotions – and treating that as a skill to be developedWhat do others want to see from their leaders?Putting yourself firstAvoiding burnout: looking at your schedule and your built environmentGetting the right people in your orbit: How Julia met KellieHow to identify and communicate when speaking to investorsHow Julia's “intrapreneurship” most served her as a start-up founderJulai's 5 points on becoming an entrepreneur BIO AND LINKS:Julia Grace Samoylenko is founder and CEO of Asteri AI, a startup unlocking workforce potential with AI-driven, industry-specific “skills inference” at scale. Julia's career has spanned the globe in supply chain, IT, finance, channel management, commercial, and marketing, enabling her to build and deploy innovative IT solutions worldwide. Prior to Asteri, Julia spent 15 years leading transformation for Fortune 500 companies, including Director of Commercial Transformation at Medtronic, where she spearheaded a 100-member global team, secured over $10 million in funding, and was instrumental in setting up an IT hub in Shanghai that drove $50 million in inventory cost reductions. Medtronic recognized her contributions with 7 company-wide awards, including the coveted CIO awards and the Star of Excellence. Julia has lived in Europe, Asia, and the US, and now calls the Silicon Valley her home. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-samoylenko/Asteri AI: https://www.asteri.aiAsteri and Julia in the news: https://www.asteri.ai/companyKellie Romack, VP at ServiceNow https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellieromack/Michael's book, Get Promoted: What Your Really Missing at Work That's Holding You Back https://tinyurl.com/453txk74Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The biggest outcomes tend to be founder-led, and building anything great is a long and hard journey. In this episode, Mark MacLeod,, Startup CEO Coach and host of the Startup CEO Podcast, shares his framework for generating long term sustainable results without burning out and without sacrificing company performance.Mark has spent over two decades helping high-growth technology companies achieve their potential. As a former CFO for industry leaders like Shopify and FreshBooks, a venture capitalist, and the founder of an investment bank, Mark has navigated everything from failures to driving hundreds of millions in financing and exits. Mark balances his professional achievements with his passions as a yoga instructor, CrossFit enthusiast, and electronic music producer.Specifically, Mark discusses:- How founders can align personal and professional goals for sustained success.- The seven personal practices that foster peak performance for startup CEOs.- Why founders must reinvent themselves to match their company's growth.- The importance of building intentional boundaries to balance work and life.- How to leverage senior leadership to amplify organizational impact.- Why connecting with peers and advisors is crucial for overcoming isolation.- The role of fun and personal passions in reducing stress and enhancing creativity.- Strategies for maintaining mental and physical health in high-growth environments.Resources Mentioned:​​Mark MacLeod | Website -https://markmacleod.me/Mark MacLeod | LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/themarkmacleod/Ikigai Explained -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikigai“Why We Sleep” by Matthew Walker -https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Sleep-Unlocking-Dreams/dp/1501144324Five Minute Journal -https://www.intelligentchange.com/products/the-five-minute-journalThis episode is brought to you by:Leverage community-led growth to skyrocket your business. From Grassroots to Greatness by author Lloyed Lobo will help you master 13 game-changing rules from some of the most iconic brands in the world — like Apple, Atlassian, CrossFit, Harley-Davidson, HubSpot, Red Bull and many more — to attract superfans of your own that will propel you to new heights. Grab your copy today at FromGrassrootsToGreatness.comEach year the U.S. and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits, and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don't get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AILaunch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.caContent Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com#startupleadership #founderjourney #ceoinsights #product #marketing #innovation #startup #generativeai #AI

Summary Riggs has a net worth of $14.5 million. He is in his early 70's. He is currently the CEO of OriginClear, a water treatment company. He shares his journey from working in the nonprofit sector to becoming a startup CEO and eventually leading a company to the NASDAQ. Riggs talks about the challenges and successes he has faced in the industrial water space and the innovative solutions his company is providing. He emphasizes the importance of perseverance and the desire to make a positive impact in the world. Riggs discusses the company's focus on retail fundraising from accredited investors and their plans to help launch future companies. He emphasizes the importance of having a hot idea with differentiation, strong organizational development, and a path to financial success. Eckelberry also highlights the need to provide investment opportunities for both accredited and unaccredited investors. In the rapid-fire questions segment, he shares anecdotes about his first job, expensive purchases, and changing beliefs about Russia.  

In this engaging episode, we sit down with Mark Macleod, a seasoned CFO, VC, and angel investor whose career has significantly impacted high-growth technology companies. Mark takes us through his extensive experience, from his roles at FreshBooks and Real Ventures to founding SurePath Capital Partners. He shares invaluable lessons on the evolution of the CEO role, emphasizing the critical aspects of communication, team building, and financial management. In episode 10 of season 2, Mark explores the importance of maintaining boundaries and preventing burnout, offering practical advice on time management and self-care. He introduces the concept of the 24-hour rule for decision-making and discusses the necessity for CEOs to shift from working in the business to working on the business. Mark's insights on creating optionality for startups and navigating uncertain times provide listeners with robust strategies to enhance their leadership skills. As a coach to high-growth company CEOs, Mark brings a unique perspective on balancing professional demands with personal well-being. He highlights the importance of being authentic and designing roles that align with your strengths and passions. Mark's ability to distill complex ideas into actionable advice makes this episode a must-listen for anyone aiming to excel in leadership positions. This episode is filled with practical tips on preventing burnout, managing time effectively, and building high-performing teams. Tune in to gain Mark's wisdom on leading with intention and navigating the challenges of high-growth environments. . . . Like this episode? Be sure to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review and share the podcast with your colleagues. . . . TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [04:31] Career experiences and leadership, mistakes [07:55] The Importance of pausing and avoiding panic [11:45] The CEO's role in communication, vision, and values [14:18] Burnout and time management as a leader [21:58] Calendar audits = key to avoiding burnout. [23:53] Design your role for personal happiness [29:30] The roles and focus areas of a CEO [34:23] Dealing with uncertainty and layoffs [39:42] Be your authentic self to avoid burnout  

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, founder and CEO of LaSalle Network, joins Jon Hansen to talk about how meditation can help you be a stronger business leader, and how employees can talk about mental health with managers and ways managers can create a mentally healthy workplace. Segment 2: Jim Dallke, National Editor, American Inno, talks to Jon about […]

Part 2 of 3. My guest for this week's episode is Grant Aarons, Co-Founder and CEO of FabricNano, a London-based biotech whose mission is to transform industrial chemical processes using cell-free biomanufacturing. FabricNano empowers users with the world's most advanced, flexible, and easily scalable biocatalyst platform, providing highly stable and performant biocatalysts to enable profitable production of sustainable and biobased chemicals. Their approach starts with novel immobilization engineering for enzyme stabilization, followed by budget-conscious protein engineering and process engineering to reach their clients' targets for commercialization of their new biochemical production process.

My guest today is Sanjit Biswas, the co-founder and CEO of Samsara, a platform that helps companies digitize their physical operations. In 2023, Samsara reached $1 billion in ARR, making it one of the fastest startups in history to hit this milestone. But this wasn't Sanjit's first major success. Before starting Samsara, Sanjit left his Ph.D at MIT to build Meraki, a cloud networking company that Cisco acquired for $1.2 billion in 2012.In our conversation, Sanjit shares his journey from grad school research to bootstrapping Meraki in the early days. He reflects on the lessons he learned from Meraki's pivot to the enterprise, the decision to sell to Cisco, and the insights that led him to start Samsara. We then turn to how Samsara found product-market fit, Sanjit's philosophy on allocating capital, and the areas where he believes generative AI will have the biggest impact. It was a really fun and insightful conversation that I think you'll enjoy!(00:00) Intro(00:16) Sanjit's background and the genesis of Meraki(06:25) Meraki's pivot to the enterprise and rapid growth(09:45) Lessons from building Meraki's enterprise sales motion(16:15) The decision to sell Meraki to Cisco(20:05) Founding Samsara and its mission(27:11) Defining Samsara's product strategy based on customer feedback(31:00) Samsara's unique journey to $1B in revenue(39:16) Sanjit's "70/20/10” framework for allocating capital(43:13) The importance of board alignment and company culture(50:58) Sanjit's thoughts on AI and hype cycles(54:22) Sanjit's advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

In this episode, Charles Allan at MY01 and Duane Mancini discuss his background in the Medtech industry, what MY01 is working on, the Medtech Innovator program, focus on collecting clinical data for commercialization support, fundraising strategies as you advance rounds, the Canadian Medtech ecosystem and so much more.

Episode #334 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Don Bulens, 5 time Startup CEO and Executive Chair at CloudZero. This episode was recorded live at Suffolk University which was so much fun! We recorded 3 interviews with Suffolk alums on April 2nd, so this is the first conversation and we'll have two more coming in the following weeks. And just a side note about Suffolk, the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well at the school. I was blown away by how many students attended the sessions and how many came up to me afterward with great questions. Back to this episode... Don has had lots of success throughout his career including being the CEO at EqualLogic which exited to Dell for $1.4B in cash, which was the largest cash transaction of its time for a venture backed company… but what I admire about Don is his transparency about his failures. His first two CEO positions didn't quite work out and he shares the details of this experience of getting knocked down and losing confidence, but how he got back at it and ultimately persevered. Today, Don is the Executive Chair at CloudZero, a venture backed cloud cost intelligence platform, which raised $41M last year in one of the most difficult markets to raise capital. In this episode of our podcast, we cover: * Why the success of a company is all about the people. * Don's background story and how he got into sales, plus the importance of learning how to sell. * A journey down the tech industry across the companies he led as a CEO - that being Radnet, Trellix, EqualLogic, Unidesk, and CloudZero. * Don's 3 secrets to success. * The story of the EqualLogic exit. * All the details about CloudZero and how they found product market fit. * Meeting his wife, Lynne Capozzi at Suffolk, who was the Chief Marketing Officer at Acquia. * And so much more.

Episode 316: Upshift CEO Ezra Goldman joins us for this podcast to discuss his startup, Upshift Cars. Upshift offers a subscription-based partial car ownership experience, aiming to improve upon the standard rental car experience. Ezra and Francie discuss the background of the company as well as its experience offering EVs to its customers. Upshift faced numerous challenges, both expected and unexpected, with fleet electrification. Join us to hear all the details!Learn more about Upshift at https://www.upshiftcars.com/Sources used to support today's show:https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/climate.shtml#:~:text=Highway%20vehicles%20release%20about%201.5,year%20for%20a%20typical%20vehicleIntroductions: 0:00Electrification of fleets: 1:02What is Upshift? 3:35Rental vehicle vs vehicle ownership: 7:53How to create a good system for an electric/hybrid fleet: 11:35What does a mobility hub look like?: 17:27Who are the key partners?: 21:21Working with cities and regulation can be a challenge!: 24:32The unique obstacles of fleet electrification: 30:05Even hybrids can be a challenge!: 41:36What needs to happen to allow fleet electrification?: 43:04Let's be clear on the importance of residuals: 45:08Unintended consequences of incentives: 49:12How incentives could help fleet electrification: 51:51Shoutout to our sponsors for more information find their links below:- Fort Collins Kia: Visit focokia.com for full details. Disclaimer: *Delivery covers up to $1,000. - Star Charge: https://www.starcharge.com/charging/ - Kempower: https://kempower.com/america/charging-solutions/Find us on all of these places:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/outofspecpodcastApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/out-of-spec-podcast/id1576636119Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tKIQfKL9oaHc1DLOTWvbdAmazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/473692b9-05b9-41f9-9b38-9f86fbdabee7/OUT-OF-SPEC-PODCASTFor further inquiries please email podcast@outofspecstudios.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a serial entrepreneur behind 5 companies and over $200 million in revenue Jeff Mains is now helping other founders achieve rapid growth through an operating system for alignment, ROI-focused decision-making, and monopoly control of niche markets. Enjoy his key insights on avoiding dilution, tight focus, strategic use of AI, and indispensable tools like Reclaim.ai and Slack. Join 2,500+ readers getting weekly practical guidance to scale themselves and their companies using Artificial Intelligence and Revenue Cheat Codes.   Explore becoming Superhuman here: https://superhumanrevenue.beehiiv.com/ KEY TAKEAWAYS Avoid giving away too much equity too soon to co-founders or investors. This dilutes your ownership early on. Founders often don't delegate enough as the business grows. Hire strong leaders and let them own areas. Clearly define your ideal customer profile and niche down as much as possible to own the market. Use AI strategically where it adds value to the user, not just because it's new and trendy tech. To protect against fast copycats, shrink your niche and own the market rather than going broad from the start. Having an operating system drives alignment on vision and consistent tracking of KPIs across the organization. AI and Slack are indispensable tools for managing his schedule, communication and productivity. BEST MOMENTS "I don't think I've ever given anything away without leaving claw marks all over it." "You can only be as big as you are small, so if you want to get big, go small." "Everybody in the organization has visibility, alignment. They understand their roles, their KPIs, and managing their own goals." "If you think about, you know, we work with B2B SaaS companies, we don't do B2C, we don't do, you know, all of these other things and, and, and that's it." "When you can get into that community and, you can say, we're one of you, you're one of us, then it's a lot easier to expand out from there." Ryan Staley Founder and CEO Whale Boss ryan@whalesellingsystem.com www.ryanstaley.io Saas, Saas growth, Scale, Business Growth, B2b Saas, Saas Sales, Enterprise Saas, Business growth strategy, founder, ceo: https://www.whalesellingsystem.com/closingsecrets

Episode 111: In today's episode, I talk about transitioning from early-stage founder to late-stage CEO. I read the essay, The second job of a startup CEO by Ali Rowghan, Managing Director at Y Combinator, the former COO of Twitter, and CFO of Disney. Ali breaks down the three distinct jobs of a startup CEO and how to go from being a stage 1 doer-in-chief to a stage 2 company-builder-in-chief. Original Essay: https://www.ycombinator.com/library/3k-the-second-job-of-a-startup-ceo Send us an email and let us know what you think of the idea! foundersjournal@morningbrew.com #FoundersJournal #Startups #Entrepreneur Listen to Founder's Journal here: https://link.chtbl.com/OV4W93_W Watch Founder's Journal here: https://www.youtube.com/@FoundersJournal/  Subscribe to Morning Brew! Sign up for free today: https://bit.ly/morningbrewyt Follow The Brew! Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/morningbrew/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/MorningBrew Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@morningbrew Follow Alex! Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Itamar Sher is the CEO at Seal Security, an early stage startup focusing on open source vulnerability & patch management.

Jeremy Burton is the CEO of Observe and a board member of Snowflake. He has a background in product management and marketing, with experience at companies like Oracle, Symantec, and Dell.In this episode of the Revenue Builders Podcast hosted by John McMahon and John Kaplan, Jeremy Burton, CEO of Observe, shares insights from his transition from working at large companies to leading a startup. He emphasizes the importance of introspection and humility, building a culture of open feedback and discussion, and understanding the continuous process of product-market fit. He also discusses the potential of AI to transform industries and increase productivity, while acknowledging its limitations.Tune in to this conversation with John McMahon and John Kaplan on the Revenue Builders podcast.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:09:01] Importance of optimism and comfort with the unknown in a startup[00:10:53] Importance of being prepared to make mistakes and learn[00:13:11] Pride is detrimental, need to readjust and reassess decisions[00:19:42] Look for a startup that could become a big company[00:21:50] Importance of humility and listening to customer feedback[00:26:01] Building for larger enterprises can have a stronger value proposition[00:29:30] Focusing on solving customer problems rather than cool features[00:40:31] Skill sets of sellers and understanding users and enterprise[00:47:38] Generative AI can automate troubleshooting tasks and improve efficiency[01:00:00] Marketing's role in making sales successfulADDITIONAL RESOURCESLearn more about Jeremy Burton and about their company:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jburton0/https://www.linkedin.com/company/observe-inc/Download our Sales Transformation Guide for Leaders:https://forc.mx/3sdtEZJHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:54:33] "And I think all of those kinds of industries where a domain expert is required to explain, they're sort of the gatekeeper and you've got to pay them a lot of money. I think that interface is changing. It's going to be blown wide open. And so, if your value is in doing this translation from complicated domain specific language to layman's, you find somewhere else to add value because that's not going to be it."[00:55:52] "But the number of people that can then interact with that is going to be an order of magnitude greater. And so you better make sure your system can scale because more people are probably going to engage. There's a whole bunch of sort of caveats that I think almost every software company is going to have to think through, which is why, if you don't have someone really important in your company working on this, then you're making a mistake."

Board meetings are hard to get right as a CFO—that's why we brought on Dave Kellogg, who's sat on both sides of the table, to give you the ultimate run-down of how to execute a great board meeting. If you're looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/metrics --- SPONSORS: NetSuite provides financial software for all your business needs. More than thirty-six thousand companies have already upgraded to NetSuite, gaining visibility and control over their financials, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you're looking for an ERP platform ✅ NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/metrics and defer payments of a FULL NetSuite implementation for six months. Tropic is the next-generation Procurement Platform that's helping modern CFOs take control of their budgets and bottom line. By combining approval workflows, supplier management, and pricing benchmarks all in one place, Tropic makes savings opportunities easy to find and act on.

Board meetings are hard to get right as a CFO—that's why we brought on Dave Kellogg, who's sat on both sides of the table, to give you the ultimate run-down of how to execute a great board meeting. If you're looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/metrics --- SPONSORS: NetSuite provides financial software for all your business needs. More than thirty-six thousand companies have already upgraded to NetSuite, gaining visibility and control over their financials, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you're looking for an ERP platform ✅ NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/metrics and defer payments of a FULL NetSuite implementation for six months. Tropic is the next-generation Procurement Platform that's helping modern CFOs take control of their budgets and bottom line. By combining approval workflows, supplier management, and pricing benchmarks all in one place, Tropic makes savings opportunities easy to find and act on.

Locomo is a Coder, Writer, Cook, Thinker, Podcaster, Ex{Googler, Director, Teacher, Author} and is also a Startup CEO. In this episode locomo and Raam do a follow up live episode on youtube to continue their discussion on mental health, wellbeing and the meaning of success.***Masty o Rasty is not responsible for, or condone, the views and opinions expressed by our guests ******مستی و راستی هیچگونه مسولیتی در برابر نظرها و عقاید مهمان‌های برنامه ندارد.***-------------------------King Raam Tour:Milan, Italy - April 28Vienna, Austria - April 29Budapest - Apr 30Stockholm - May 5Zurich - Mary 20London - May 28Toronto - June 23Montreal - June 24Vancouver - July 1kingraam.com/tour-------------------------Social Media: @kingraam Voice Messages: www.t.me/mastyorasty Merch: www.kingraam.com/merch NFT: www.foundation.app/kingraam Donations: paypal.me/raamemami Venmo: @kingraam

Locomo is a Coder, Writer, Cook, Thinker, Podcaster, Ex{Googler, Director, Teacher, Author} and is also a Startup CEO. In this episode locomo and Raam scratch the surface of some of life's biggest mysteries.***Masty o Rasty is not responsible for, or condone, the views and opinions expressed by our guests ******مستی و راستی هیچگونه مسولیتی در برابر نظرها و عقاید مهمان‌های برنامه ندارد.***-------------------------King Raam Tour:Milan, Italy - April 28Vienna, Austria - April 29Budapest - Apr 30Stockholm - May 5Zurich - Mary 20London - May 28Toronto - June 23Montreal - June 24Vancouver - July 1kingraam.com/tour-------------------------Social Media: @kingraam Voice Messages: www.t.me/mastyorasty Merch: www.kingraam.com/merch NFT: www.foundation.app/kingraam Donations: paypal.me/raamemami Venmo: @kingraam

David Sobie is a Vice President at PayPal, and he is also a co-founder of Happy Returns. Happy Returns is a Los Angeles-based software and reverse logistics company that works with online merchants to handle product returns. Their clients include Gymshark, Everlane, Levi's, and Revolve, among other popular e-commerce brands. Prior to that, David served as Chief Marketing Officer at REVOLVE Clothing.  You can learn more about:  How to build an e-commerce SaaS company Raising funding, building industry partnerships, hiring and managing a team  How to set milestones for your company  ===================== YouTube: @GraceGongCEO Newsletter: @SmartVenture LinkedIn: @GraceGong TikTok: @GraceGongCEO IG: @GraceGongCEO Twitter: @GraceGongGG =====================

The M-Score is warning that the chance of fraud is the highest in over 40 years; Did KPMG fail to issue a critical audit matter for Silicon Valley Bank?; The spreadsheet apocalypse, revisited; Former startup founder charged by prosecutors for defrauding JPMorgan Chase; EY split fails; watch out for AI voice cloning scams; and more!SponsorsOh My Fraud - https://ohmyfraud.com/Relay - https://cloudaccountingpodcast.promo/relayClient Hub - https://cloudaccountingpodcast.promo/clienthubChapters (00:00) - Preview: Incentives to allow fraudulent users (00:52) - Introduction and welcome to the show (03:51) - WSJ reports fraud indicator "M" score is up (08:52) - Should KPMG have issued a critical audit matter for SVB? (16:13) - EY no longer to split off auditing (18:36) - JPMorgan defrauded for $175 million by startup founder (23:10) - CPA in Bakersfield stole $355,000 from investors (24:20) - Block accused of allowing fake accounts to boost their user growth numbers (27:37) - Square is changing their refund policy to not refund processing fees (28:52) - A few new Intuit announcements (31:55) - Security risks with AI and voice cloning is happening in real life (35:42) - Microsoft Loop (40:23) - Nicholas asks for recs for CPAs who want to start their own small firm (46:54) - Michael's email about barriers to CPA (48:26) - Corey from Minnesota CPA Society shares message and website with resources (49:31) - Will AI attract or detract more people to the accounting profession? (57:54) - Blake co-wrote an article for CPA Practice Advisor (01:02:35) - Wrap up and where to reach us Need CPE? Subscribe to the Earmark Accounting Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark CPE: https://earmarkcpeShow NotesIntuit QuickBooks Launches Rest-of-World App Store - CPA Practice Advisorhttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2023/04/11/intuit-quickbooks-launches-rest-of-world-app-store/78582/ EY's leaders missed a brewing revolt at the firm's biggest operation. Soon, their deal was scuttledhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/ey-breakup-plan-doomed-by-miscalculations-and-powerful-opponents-61b7e02d ‘I've got your daughter': Scottsdale mom warns of close call with AI voice cloning scamhttps://www.azfamily.com/2023/04/10/ive-got-your-daughter-scottsdale-mom-warns-close-encounter-with-ai-voice-cloning-scam/ Bond losses such as those at Silicon Valley Bank could have been raised as “critical audit matters”—a measure designed to help investors decode risks and uncertainties buried in financial statementshttps://www.wsj.com/articles/auditors-didnt-flag-risks-building-up-in-banks-6506585c Former Start-Up Founder Charged by Prosecutors for Defrauding JPMorgan Chasehttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/04/business/charlie-javice-jpmorgan-fraud.html The Spreadsheet Apocalypse, Revisited [Chart]https://twitter.com/johnnosta/status/1641586085640695810?s=12 The M-Score is warning that the chance of fraud at major companies is the highest in over 40 years, writes Numbers columnist @JoshZumbrunhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/accounting-fraud-indicator-signals-coming-economic-trouble-506568a0 New Microsoft Loop app is built for co-creation | Microsoft 365 Bloghttps://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/03/22/new-microsoft-loop-app-is-built-for-modern-co-creation/ Shares of the payments company formerly known as Square fell more than 20% in early trading Thursday after a short seller questioned the company's user numbers and accused it of predatory tacticshttps://www.wsj.com/articles/short-seller-hindenburg-says-jack-dorseys-payments-company-inflates-user-numbers-f3216466 Startup CEO charged in $175 million fraud case        https://abcnews.go.com/Business/startup-ceo-charged-175-million-fraud-case/story?id=98363900 Our Obsession with Hours Is Destroying the Accounting Professionhttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2023/04/12/our-obsession-with-hours-is-destroying-the-accounting-profession/78643/ Accounting firm EY calls off 'Project Everest' to break up firmhttps://www.bbc.com/news/65247525 Intuit QuickBooks Launches Rest-of-World App Storehttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2023/04/11/intuit-quickbooks-launches-rest-of-world-app-store/78582/ Intuit Mailchimp Launches Email Content Generatorhttps://www.destinationcrm.com/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=158086 Mailchimp's new GPT-powered AI tool can write marketing emailshttps://www.fastcompany.com/90877547/mailchimp-gpt-powered-tool-can-write-marketing-emailsGet in TouchThanks for listening and for the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and, if you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on iTunes, or Podchaser. Interested in sponsoring the Cloud Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus, and NOW, you can see our smiling faces on Instagram! You can now call us and leave a voicemail, maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.comLimited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessitiesTeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merchSubscribe Apple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcasts Podchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaser Spotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/Spotify Stitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/Stitcher Overcast: http://cloudacctpod.link/Overcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CloudAccountingPodcast ClassifiedsClient Hub - https://clienthub.app/Future Firm Accelerate - https://futurefirmaccelerate.com/capUncat - https://www.uncat.com/Nett Tracker - https://www.nett-tracker.com/Want to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Why not let the listeners of The Cloud Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad? Hit the link below to get more info.Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAd The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page