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Thursday Aug 31, 2023
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
Imagine going from part-time teacher to the CEO of the same company. Victoire Lester's journey is exactly that. Victoire began her career with a keen interest in the sociology of music. However, a serendipitous part-time teaching role at Coucou French Classes set her on a path into start-ups and business. Over seven years, she journeyed from teacher to CEO, helping evolve Coucou from a Brooklyn start-up to later expand across New York, L.A., and online.
In this episode, we discuss navigating between Coucou’s roots and growth, understanding leadership nuances, and how Coucou had to adapt quickly online if they wanted to stay afloat during COVID. Victoire gives us insight into hiring the perfect match, and it’s shockingly not about what’s on your resume! All this and more!
Here’s What We Discussed
[00:01] Victoire Lester's Journey from Cultural Researcher to CEO of Coucou French Classes
[04:10] Balancing Roles and Growth as a Small Business
[07:05] How Covid Affected Coucou’s Operations – How to Transition Your Business Online Successfully
[13:06] Insights into Building a Harmonious Multicultural Team
[25:29] Balancing Authority and Openness as a CEO
[27:25] Bridging Online Learning, Bicoastal Operations, and Technological Integration
[34:40] How to Protect the Essence and Heart of a Business as It Scales
About Victoire
Victoire Lester is the CEO of Coucou French Classes. Seven years ago, Victoire started at Coucou French Classes as a part-time teacher. Founded by two French cousins in their 20s, the school was in its infancy, but Lester quickly became an integral part of its growth. From teaching to overseeing operations, she immersed herself in every aspect of the business. Recognizing her invaluable contributions and innate understanding of the company's needs, Coucou appointed her CEO. Today, under Lester's leadership, the once-small corner shop has transformed, showcasing the power of passion and dedication.
Quotes
“I think communication is key; Communication and transparency and not being afraid to repeat yourself.” – Victoire Lester
“One of the principles that I live by is to treat people the way that you'd like to be treated.” – Victoire Lester
ABOUT RUCKUS
We are growth leaders who recruit your game changers. Visit https://bringruckus.com and connect on LinkedIn. Subscribe and listen to more episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Google Podcasts, Audible, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Tuesday Jun 20, 2023
Tuesday Jun 20, 2023
Born from personal adversity and crafted with a spirit of rebellion, Dirtbag Bar is a testament to founder Mark Andrew Gravel’s journey through substance addiction and depression toward a healthier, more fulfilling existence.
In this episode, we discuss how Mark transformed his battle with addiction and depression into a mission to provide a unique, healthy alternative to the candy bars we know. This single-SKU, chocolatey health bar balances indulgence and wellness, connecting with consumers who embrace an active, unconventional lifestyle. We also dive into Dirtbag Bar’s mission to stand for mental health, contributing a portion of sales to organizations providing no-cost mental health care services. We also get an honest insight into what it takes to expand reach and navigate the intricate terrain of growth in food distribution.
Here’s What We Discussed
[00:37] Mark's Unconventional Journey Behind the Creation of Dirtbag Bar
[07:41] How Dirtbag Bar Redefines Health Snack Branding
[13:45] Supporting Non-Profits & Choosing Mental Health Organizations
[19:16] On Growth, Challenges, and Expansion Plans
About Mark
As the Founder of Dirtbag Bar, Mark Andrew Gravel has carved a niche for himself in the food industry, from spearheading unique pop-up restaurant events to crafting an artful food magazine. His professional journey started in 2007 with Bouwerie Projects, where he made his mark as an artist for over a decade. His professional journey in the food industry spans over 15 years, marked by a dynamic mix of popups and conceptual art projects. Throughout his career, Mark's passion for food remained steadfast.
Dirtbag Bar was born out of a personal need for a healthy snack. Starting as a snack bar he made for himself and shared with friends and family, the product quickly grew in popularity. This prompted Mark to commercialize the product, starting from formalizing the recipe to figuring out manufacturing, branding, and packaging, all in the midst of a global pandemic.
About Our Host
Anish Shah is the CEO & Founder of executive search agency Bring Ruckus. Anish has worked in-house in Growth roles at Snapfish and Getable. He started Bring Ruckus as a Growth consultancy 11 years ago working with 40+ clients, then re-focused his firm on executive recruiting for Growth leaders.
Quotes
“And it's really all about just listening to like what people are saying and the, you know, people that are interested in your product.” – Mark Andrew Gravel
“It goes back to that idea of being unconventional, not being afraid to do what you love or step outside of the boundaries. Just march to the beat of your own drum and live your life in a way that's meaningful to you.” – Mark Andrew Gravel
“The mental health component in Dirtbag intersects. I think access to mental health is access to nature, to be able to go outside, connect with your surroundings, and connect with something that's bigger than you.” – Mark Andrew Gravel
ABOUT RUCKUS
We are growth leaders who recruit your game changers. Visit https://bringruckus.com and connect on LinkedIn. Subscribe and listen to more episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Google Podcasts, Audible, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Tuesday Jun 06, 2023
Tuesday Jun 06, 2023
Venture Capital is a dynamic and ever-evolving landscape, constantly influenced by market trends, tech advancements, and economic fluctuations. This industry has seen significant shifts, prompting both founders and VCs to adapt their strategies and approaches.
In this discussion, Comcast Ventures SVP Allison Goldberg, and Executive Director at Estee Lauder New Incubation Ventures, Ryan Piela, share advice for founders seeking investment and VCs aiming to excel in their roles. We discuss what can go into crafting a winning pitch, how investment decisions are not static, and the importance of strengthening VC-Founder relationships.
Here’s What We Discussed
[00:37] Our Panelists Share Their Background
[06:12] Exploring Untapped VC Opportunities and Collaborating with Founders
[11:36] Corporate VC vs. Traditional VC; Exploring Differences and Commonalities
[20:23] Exploring Changes in Startup Evaluation and Selection
[32:20] Advice for Founders Engaging the Right Investors – Tailoring Your Pitch to Corporate VCs & Harnessing External Insights
[37:57] Advice for VCs & How to Create Lasting Value for Their Investments
About Our Speakers
With a wealth of experience in venture capital, incubation, and mentorship, Ryan J. Piela currently serves as the Executive Director of New Incubation Ventures at Estée Lauder Companies, where he drives innovation and fosters the development of new ventures.
In addition to his role at Estée Lauder Companies, Ryan is an active board observer at Haeckels, a company focused on sustainable skincare. He provides valuable insights and guidance to support their growth and strategic initiatives. He also mentors startups at WEVE Acceleration. Additionally, Ryan is an Entrepreneur in Residence at Starta Ventures, leveraging his expertise to guide early-stage ventures. With a passion for innovation and mentorship, Ryan contributes to the growth and success of emerging companies in the startup ecosystem.
Allison Goldberg is an accomplished SVP & Managing Partner at Comcast Ventures and Startup Engagement, where she leads the management of Comcast Ventures, Lift Labs, and Comcast NBCU SportsTech. With a diverse background in finance, media, and digital industries, Allison has excelled as an investor and strategist, consistently delivering strategic value and driving impressive financial returns. Previously, she served as Group Managing Director & Senior Vice President of Time Warner Investments, overseeing investments of up to $25MM in private companies to generate strategic value and financial returns for Time Warner Inc.
Allison has held numerous board and board observer roles, including companies such as Adify, AdMeld, BDG Media, Bluefin Labs, Discord, Dynamic Signal, Everyday Health, Fanduel, FirstMark Horizon Acquisition Corporation, Fuse Media, Hive, Mashable, Players' Lounge, Proletariat Inc., SambaTV, Simulmedia, Tact.ai, Visible World, Vostok Emerging Finance, and YieldMo
About Our Host
Anish Shah is the CEO & Founder of executive search agency Bring Ruckus. Anish has worked in-house in Growth roles at Snapfish and Getable. He started Bring Ruckus as a Growth consultancy 11 years ago working with 40+ clients, then re-focused his firm on executive recruiting for Growth leaders.
Quotes
“Where are those white spaces or those edge cases that we wanna play into? Where's the market going? Consumers are becoming more educated, they're changing, evolving, and they're at different levels of the journey. And so we see a lot of people that are creating in a space that others already own or others already exist in.” – Ryan J. Piela
“We want to do everything that a traditional VC does, plus bring a little bit more to the table to the extent we can with the portfolio company.” – Allison Goldberg
“If you look back in time, lots of great companies were started when the venture markets weren't, you know, amazing” – Allison Goldberg
“When talking to any investor, know who you're talking to, know who that investor is, understand if they're a corporate VC, what their priorities might be, and some of the companies that they've invested in before.” – Allison Goldberg
“I don't think you can time the market, and I'm always surprised when people think they can. I think now's a great time. Its value for VC is right, as well as just an opportunity to support some great people.” – Ryan J. Piela
ABOUT RUCKUS
We are growth leaders who recruit your game changers. Visit https://bringruckus.com and connect on LinkedIn. Subscribe and listen to more episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Google Podcasts, Audible, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Friday Jun 02, 2023
Friday Jun 02, 2023
Aaron Luo is the mastermind behind the Spanish delicacy and gourmet food brand, Mercado Famous, and luxury design house, CARAA. In this episode, he shares his entrepreneurial journey and how his diverse background spanning finance, fashion, and food shaped his approach to founding and running his successful ventures.
We discuss navigating the challenges of expanding your business to international markets, go-to-market branding, how to sustain running multiple ventures while avoiding burnout, and Aaron’s journey of how passion, innovation, and love for food and people converge to create an extraordinary brand.
Here’s What We Discussed
[00:55] The story behind Mercado Famous and the go-to-market branding journey
[10:00] How Madrid has influenced Mercado – Spanish charcuterie and the beauty of enjoying amazing company over delicious food
[14:04] From Finance to Fashion to Food – How Aaron uses his diverse background and transferable skills to be a better entrepreneur
[21:00] Advice for founders venturing into International Markets and the importance of a solid supply chain
[29:38] Aaron’s tips for successfully managing CARAA and Mercado Famous through financial planning, hiring, and work-life balance
[37:48] Aaron’s favorite Mercado Famous charcuteries
About Aaron
Aaron Luo is the CEO and Co-Founder of Mercado Famous, a European gourmet food brand specializing in Spanish delicacies. He is also the CEO and Co-Founder of CARAA, a luxury accessories design house based in New York City. With a background in global supply chain and operations, Aaron is dedicated to redefining luxury functional fashion. He has a passion for sharing the best of Spain with the world through Mercado Famous and creating well-made, versatile accessories at CARAA.
Quotes
“Even if I had the best idea in the world, as an entrepreneur, if ultimately I don't know how to operate a business, I'm not going to be successful.” – Aaron Lao
“Corporate in general, but specifically GE, helped me understand the power of people… How important the function of human resources is and how important it is to build a pipeline, grow your people, and hire right.” – Aaron Lao
“If you don't have supply chain lockdown, you don't have a business, no matter how strong your idea is.” – Aaron Lao
“When you're selling a product, and you have a shaky supply chain, your risk of failure is very, very high.” – Aaron Lao
“You don't have a business unless you have a solid supply chain. The effectiveness of your supply chain can help you drive your cost down, improve your product quality, and can save you a lot of headaches in terms of recalls or defects.” – Aaron Lao
“As a business, no matter how small or big you are, if you don't have the right level of financial planning on a monthly or quarterly basis, you are very much handicapped.” – Aaron Lao
ABOUT RUCKUS
We are growth leaders who recruit your game changers. Visit https://bringruckus.com and connect on LinkedIn. Subscribe and listen to more episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Google Podcasts, Audible, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Friday Jun 02, 2023
Friday Jun 02, 2023
In the realm of food, wellness, and impactful brands, two companies stand out as trailblazers in their respective fields: Krupa Consulting and The Goods Mart. Led by Rachel Krupa, these companies are on a mission to create meaningful change.
In this episode, we talk about the intricacies of CPG, and Rachel shares profound insights into the essential elements of brand success, understanding your market, the power of building a great team, and so much more.
Here’s What We Discussed
[01:46] How Krupa Consulting is amplifying authenticity in food and wellness PR
[07:17] Standing out in the competitive landscape of the Consumer Packaged Goods industry
[14:50] The Goods Mart's journey into Better-for-You international snacks
[21:57] Keys to running two food-oriented bootstrapped businesses in a pandemic
[30:31] The importance of building an incredible team for CPG success
[35:55] What’s next for Rachel Krupa?
About Rachel
With an illustrious career spanning over 20 years, Rachel Krupa stands at the forefront of the PR world, redefining the role of agencies in the food and wellness sectors. As the founder of Krupa Consulting, established in 2010, and the visionary behind the innovative clean-convenience store concept, The Goods Mart, which opened its doors in 2018, Rachel has propelled herself to the status of a true industry force. Her remarkable 20+ year PR journey spans a diverse range of experiences, from navigating the intricacies of D.C. politics and major league baseball to an impactful five-year collaboration with PR veteran Lizzie Grubman and spearheading the West Coast office for Berk Communications.
Quotes
“A good publicist is not selling things – They're actually telling you and sharing with you what makes a company so special.” – Rachel Krupa
“Being able to have a great team allows you to do a lot.” – Rachel Krupa
“You're seeing what consumers want, and that's the biggest thing – Actually knowing how to talk to people… And so it's this matter of this virtual cycle of talking to real customers. Then you're able to pitch that to editors, but you're also able to talk to other brands and founders.” – Rachel Krupa
“Whoever is in the leadership role, speak last because you need to make sure that you hear everyone. Your opinion should come at the end after you listen to everyone so that they're not swayed by what you think first.” – Rachel Krupa
ABOUT RUCKUS
We are growth leaders who recruit your game changers. Visit https://bringruckus.com and connect on LinkedIn. Subscribe and listen to more episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Google Podcasts, Audible, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Tuesday May 30, 2023
Tuesday May 30, 2023
In today's rapidly evolving job market, upskilling and reskilling have become crucial for individuals seeking to thrive in their careers. In this episode, we speak with the co-founder of StudentFinance.com, Mariano Kostelec, about recognizing the pressing need to bridge the gap between traditional education and the demands of the job market.
Through StudentFinance.com, Mariano aims to tackle a common problem; The constant evolution of skills demanded by the ever-changing economy and technological advancements. Mariano talks about how he’s helping individuals make informed career moves by leveraging data, insights, and personalization based on their background, skills, motivation, and interests and connecting them to the right stakeholders.
Here’s What We Discussed
[00:32] How StudentFinance.com revolutionizes upskilling and career mobility
[09:20] Partnering with education providers to ensure quality in upskilling and reskilling
[12:30] The keys to bridging the gap between traditional universities and job market demand
[19:23] The early days of building StudentFinance.com and filling the talent shortage in the job force
[21:46] Advice from Student Finance's €39 Million fundraising round – Pitch decks, building a relationship with investors, and building trust with funders
About Mariano
Mariano Kostelec, a dynamic and enterprising individual, embodies the spirit of a global citizen, having called ten countries his home thus far. His entrepreneurial journey includes co-founding Uniplaces.com, the largest mid-term rental platform in Europe, which has revolutionized the industry, while StudentFinance.com, a cutting-edge Fintech platform for global career mobility, empowers individuals worldwide to acquire new skills and embrace new opportunities. Mariano's professional background boasts prestigious stints with renowned investment banks such as Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, and UBS, as well as valuable experiences gained from working with several rapidly growing startups.
Quotes
“Student Finance is a career mobility platform to address those three challenges and enable people to upskill to areas in high demand.“ – Mariano Kostelec
“The trigger to solve the problem came when we recognized the gap in talent and skills in many sectors, particularly in the tech industry." – Mariano Kostelec
"When we qualify and vet education providers, we also structure economic incentives so that the actual education provider has skin in the game, in the success of their own students or their own users." – Mariano Kostelec
"The core function or job of the education provider is to provide those skills and provide quality of teaching, quality of training, but really focus on that job market needs." – Mariano Kostelec
"People need to continuously reskill and upskill, and this will continue on an ongoing basis." – Mariano Kostelec
ABOUT RUCKUS
We are growth leaders who recruit your game changers. Visit https://bringruckus.com and connect on LinkedIn. Subscribe and listen to more episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Google Podcasts, Audible, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Tuesday May 23, 2023
Tuesday May 23, 2023
Frame Fitness was co-founded by Melissa Bentivoglio, a leading Pilates and fitness instructor and proprietary Reformer inventor, and her business-savvy husband Lee Belzberg. Frame was put into motion after Melissa noted the shift in the digital fitness world, with group classes like cycling and rowing moving into homes with well-designed, lightweight equipment and a virtually interactive solution. Melissa was inspired to create a digitally-connected reformer that could fit into any space and connect users with a complete community online. She founded the brand with her husband, Lee Belzberg, who comes from a long line of successful entrepreneurs and creatives. Lee is excited to draw upon his deep expertise in real estate and wealth and private equity management to tackle new frontiers in the digital fitness industry by combining his strategic vision with Melissa’s passion for health and wellness.
Here’s What We Discussed
[00:30] From Pirouettes to Pilates – How Melissa became a Pilates instructor
[06:26] Frame’s early founder journey and the keys to success in business, fitness, and innovation amidst a global pandemic
[16:05] How Frame revolutionized Pilates with its multi-channel approach and disruption of traditional practices
[26:00] Leveraging B2B marketing opened up the at-home Pilates industry market
[31:07] How consumer perspective on health and wellness has shifted in recent years
About Our Speakers
Melissa Bentivoglio is a classically trained ballet dancer and a renowned Pilates and fitness instructor. Melissa credits her dedication to Pilates as having changed her life after years of elite-level performance. In 2018, she designed her own proprietary Reformer for use in her own studio. By launching Frame, she hopes to make Pilates more widely available and accessible so that everyone has a chance to improve their quality of life.
Following in the footsteps of his family, Lee Belzberg continues the Belzberg legacy with Frame. He seeks to combine his deep expertise of wealth management, real-estate banking, and private equity with his passion for health and wellness. Lee is excited to venture into new frontiers and take his strategic vision and entrepreneurial spirit to the digital-fitness startup space.
Quotes
“By offering the different variations and the different styles with the different instructors who have the various certifications, we're able to consolidate really efficiently… Why not offer all the different types of instruction with one very, very simplistic machine? So we really just simplified everything. There was innovation to be had, and we did it.” – Melissa Bentivoglio
“We actually knew our first 500 pre-orders were Pilates enthusiasts. We didn't have to convert anybody. There was no barrier to entry… People who are buying a pre-order product without seeing it in real life are crazy enthusiasts.” – Melissa Bentivoglio
“We're adding, not replacing. When you already have a product, you already paid for it, and you're not going to replace it. But if you [introduce] a new product in there, it will bring a new offering to them.” – Lee Belzberg
“In the initial months of the pandemic, we kind of lived like we were invincible, and then all of a sudden, there was this unprecedented virus with so many unknowns. And I think that shifted the wellness world in a way where now all of a sudden, every single person was thinking about their health; How they can achieve greater health.” – Melissa Bentivoglio
“One of the most important parts of working in a startup is trust. And when you have ultimate trust with your partner, it allows the business to move efficiently.” – Lee Belzberg
ABOUT RUCKUS
We are growth leaders who recruit your game changers. Visit https://bringruckus.com and connect on LinkedIn. Subscribe and listen to more episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Google Podcasts, Audible, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Tuesday May 16, 2023
Tuesday May 16, 2023
A guy walks to a bar and leaves with a sales career. Sounds serendipitous, but Kyle Mendoza’s sales career has been nothing short of extraordinary. After graduating from Chapman University, Kyle intended to pursue a career in industrial organizational psychology, but his lack of internships made it difficult to get started. While feeling down and unemployed after applying for fall internships, he walked into a bar and ended up unknowingly launching a career in sales.
In our conversation, we dive into the value of networking from a human perspective, Kyle shares his approach to learning from experiences in previous roles, leveraging the lessons gained that have rounded out his skills and the key attributes he seeks in candidates when building an exceptional team.
Here’s What We Discussed
[00:35] Kyle’s background and how a chance encounter at a bar led him to sales
[06:12] Transitioning from corporate gifting and software sales to Head of Sales in luxury goods
[10:34] Kyle’s early learnings in his role: Embracing the beginner mindset, emphasizing passion, and networking
[13:14] What Kyle looks for in prospective candidates when building a sales team – Coachability, Adaptability and
[16:47] Kyle’s experience working with Ruckus
About Kyle
Kyle Mendoza, the Head of Sales and Business Development at Venus et Fleur, is a highly driven and motivated sales professional with a unique story of how he started in sales. After completing his studies in Psychology at Chapman University, Kyle found himself at a crossroads. Despite facing setbacks in securing an internship in his field, Kyle refused to let his circumstances define him and instead chose to pivot in a new direction.
As the former Sales Manager at Revolution Ordering and BinWise, Inc. (acquired by BlueCart), Kyle honed his leadership skills by successfully leading the BlueCart, BinWise, and Revolution Ordering sales teams. Today, he leverages his wealth of experience to drive growth and develop new business opportunities for Venus et Fleur. With his proven track record of delivering results, Kyle is an invaluable asset to the company and a leader in the industry.
Quotes
“Failure, to me, is not learning the lesson.” – Kyle Mendoza
“It's okay to be the beginner or the new person. We've all been in new roles where we don't want to ask questions because we're going to look dumb. But remember, you’re new to the team; We don't know everything about the brand and the processes that are in place.” – Kyle Mendoza
“Never stop networking.” – Kyle Mendoza
“Software sales forced me to get out of that longer sales cycle that we get into in in-person selling. It's easy for in-person selling to rely on rapport building; Just hoping by doing these favors, we will get a sale with no action items around it. Ultimately we always have to ask for the business.” – Kyle Mendoza
ABOUT RUCKUS
We are growth leaders who recruit your game changers. Visit https://bringruckus.com and connect on LinkedIn. Subscribe and listen to more episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Google Podcasts, Audible, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Tuesday May 09, 2023
Tuesday May 09, 2023
Becoming a CEO is a daunting task in and of itself, but imagine taking on that role as a non-founder. It's a unique and challenging position that comes with its own set of hurdles and obstacles.
In this conversation with AllTrails CEO Ron Schneidermann, and former CEO of Weedmaps, Chris Beals, we discuss the complexities and difficulties of being a non-founder CEO. From navigating senior leadership to balancing the delicate task of reshaping company culture while preserving its core values, we explore the nuances of this role. We talk about valuable lessons learned during the transition into the CEO and also delve into the crucial aspects of fostering a healthy and productive workplace culture.
Here’s What We Discussed
[02:29] Ron and Chris share their unique journeys to becoming non-founder CEOs
[07:29] CEO-imposter syndrome and recognition in the workplace
[11:51] Transitioning into a CEO – Navigating the skillset shift and learning to let go
[16:28] Aspects of senior leadership that Ron and Chris were not prepared for
[23:34] Unforeseen challenges – Why urgency and definitiveness matter when enacting change
[32:50] How to balance preserving and reshaping culture and values
[42:45] The importance of hiring and weeding out anti-culture employees for the sake of healthy culture
About Our Speakers
Ron Schneidermann is an entrepreneur who is passionate about building great companies that help people have authentic, organic, real-world experiences. He is the CEO of AllTrails, the most trusted and used outdoors platform in the world. In 2005, Ron co-founded Liftopia, the global leader in ski lift ticket bookings, and was Head of Growth at Yelp Reservations. Ron attended UCLA, earning his bachelor’s degree in Communications, and lives in California with his wife Jenny, their three children, and their dog Sally. Ron loves riding his mountain bike, but his all-time favorite trail is the Na Pali Coast Trail in Kauai.
Chris Beals is a technology executive and startup advisor with a focus on ecommerce and SaaS. He was most recently the CEO of WM Technology, the parent company of the largest online cannabis marketplace, Weedmaps, and WM Business, a suite of SaaS solutions for cannabis brands/retailers. During his 7-year tenure at the company, Chris grew the company from $35mm to over $200mm in ARR and oversaw the transition of the business from listings into online ecommerce with business in 7 countries and 37 states. During that time, he also built out through M&A roll-up and internal development the WM Business SaaS suite (e.g., CRM, logistics, embedded ecommerce, in-store display, API engine). He then led the company through its NASDAQ IPO in July 2021. Prior to Weedmaps, Chris provided turnaround and operating advice to SaaS, software, and healthcare companies at PE-style credit fund and, prior to that, was a practicing attorney focusing on technology and healthcare.
Anish Shah is the CEO & Founder of executive search agency Bring Ruckus. Anish has worked in-house in Growth roles at Snapfish and Getable. He started Bring Ruckus as a Growth consultancy 11 years ago, working with 40+ clients, then re-focused his firm on executive recruiting for Growth leaders.
Quotes
“The funny thing about going up the chain is, when you get to senior leadership, the skills that got you there aren't really part of your day-to-day job anymore. The whole thing about going up is learning to let go; you have to fire and rehire yourself continuously.” – Ron Schneidermann
“A very common pattern with becoming a CEO is there's a lot of changes that don't loudly announce themselves, and one of them is the minute you take that title, you automatically take a 50% reduction in your approachability.” – Chris Beals
“One of the challenges when coming in as a non-founder CEO is you need to be pretty laser-focused on figuring out what you think the current state of affairs is and what needs to change for the future state of affairs; the state of affairs that are going to exist under you as a leader. And then over-communicating that and working through it.” – Chris Beals
“Often so much of culture is really just leading by example.” – Ron Schneidermann
“Don't let perfect be the enemy of a hundred times better.” – Chris Beals
“When you take over the ranges as CEO, a big part of it is assessing the team that you have and who is willing to come along with you for the ride.” – Ron Schneidermann
“There's a spectrum of things that you do. No matter what it is, even when you're being definitive and snapping that chalk line on the change, you need to be thoughtful and do your research in advance, but you need to have some degree of urgency in doing the research.” – Chris Beals
ABOUT RUCKUS
We are growth leaders who recruit your game changers. Visit https://bringruckus.com and connect on LinkedIn. Subscribe and listen to more episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Google Podcasts, Audible, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Tuesday Apr 04, 2023
Tuesday Apr 04, 2023
In this episode, our panel of seasoned leaders from GitBook, Double Finn, and formerly CB Insights, sit down to discuss the role of the modern COO in fast-growing companies. They share their stories and advice on career mapping, team management, to executing organizational change. Whether you're an aspiring COO or simply interested in the inner workings and nuances of a fast-growing organization, you'll find plenty of valuable insights in this episode.
Here’s What We Discussed
[01:43] The Panelists Share How Their Specific Roles Differ From Other C-Level Executives
[10:38] Career Advice: How to map your career path to COO
[16:53] Frameworks and strategies for effectively managing a large team
[23:03] Finding your number two: Key traits to look for in a COO or Exec
[31:29] Strategizing organizational change: How a new COO should approach the first 30-60-90 days
[37:53] Strategies for balancing short-term and long-term organizational goals
[44:04] How has the role of COO evolved over the years?
About Our Speakers
Ha is an experienced operator at large technology businesses with a passion for helping SMBs scale up. He is currently COO at Doublefin, an HR tech company, where he leads the company's go-to-market efforts. Prior to Doublefin, Ha advised PE-backed B2B and B2C companies. Ha spent a decade leading partnerships and product teams at Walmart e-Commerce, Yahoo, and Google.
Sara has spent the majority of her career in the startup world, after starting out in finance. As the former COO of Framer, she helped the design tool startup scale both ARR growth and the company from Seed to Series B. As the current COO of GitBook, Sara is passionate about building efficient and impactful teams, developer tooling, and sustainable growth engines.
Fabio has held multiple entrepreneurial executive positions in several companies, with a proven track-record in creating impact, delivering results, and building strong teams and organizations. He was previously the COO at CB Insights and held multiple C-Level positions at Gympass. Before that, he was a Senior Management Associate at Bridgewater Associates, CFO at TG Agroindustrial (portfolio company from Angra Partners where he also did private equity investing), and worked in Investment Banking at Itau-Unibanco Fabio currently holds multiple board positions and advises and mentors several startup companies globally. He holds an MBA degree from Harvard Business School (Class of 2013) and a Bachelor of Economics degree from Unicamp in Brazil
Quotes
“For COOs and CEOs that are great partners, You don't look at it as just one functional responsibility; You're trying to weave together everybody that's necessary to accomplish a particular objective.” – Ha Ly
“As a COO every time there's an element that I am confused about, that confusion is going to multiply down the line.” – Fabio Salim
“So that is key; Can they actually understand the full scope and know where to spend their time? Being COO is so cross-functional, it's really across the entire business, and there are only so many hours in a day. You can't possibly move everything forward at all times. So a strong ability to prioritize is a big one." – Sara Tandowsky
“I look for a good ability to think and build systems. Someone who can look into a particular reality, synthesize that reality, almost define it, and then refine it in a way that others can execute.” – Fabio Salim
“If you don't know the answer, find someone who does. Find someone who can share expertise. Most problems aren't brand new.” – Sara Tandowsky
”Technically skilled, objective-oriented folks can get down to the priorities and understand what a company needs to do, but being able to convey that to the rest of the company and build the right relationships internally to execute on that is extremely important.” – Ha Ly
ABOUT RUCKUS
We are growth leaders who recruit your game changers. Visit https://bringruckus.com and connect on LinkedIn. Subscribe and listen to more episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Google Podcasts, Audible, or wherever you get your podcasts!