Electrifying Growth

In this episode of Electrifying Growth, we explore how leadership transitions can amplify growth in founder-led companies. Joel Kohn, founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Fingercheck, shares his journey of bootstrapping his HR and payroll software company. Now, with CEO Dan Kazan on board, Fingercheck is ready to take on its next growth phase with fresh perspectives and a scalable vision.

Joel and Dan share how their collaboration supports growth at Fingercheck, including the balance of product innovation and go-to-market expansion. Learn how founders can effectively hand over operational reins, enhancing company culture and strategic goals. This episode provides valuable insight into the practical and strategic considerations involved in leadership transitions.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Strategic Leadership Transitions Drive Growth: How bringing in outside leaders can speed up growth while helping founder-led businesses turn their vision into a strategy that scales

• Addressing the Needs of the Underserved Market: Why niching down and finding your audience—especially the underserved portions—can fast-track your growth

• Commitment to Serving Your Clients Well is Key: How solving problems for both pieces of your audience—the buyer and their employees, in Fingercheck's case—will lead to higher retention and satisfaction rates

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Meet Joel Kohn, Founder of Fingercheck, and CEO Dan Kazan

(02:21) Fingercheck's Mission

(04:11) Joel's Journey: Bootstrapping Fingercheck Without Outside Capital

(06:43) Building an Attendance System for the SMB Market

(09:14) Dan's Experience Stepping into Founder-Led Companies

(13:39) Real-Time Payroll and Employee Compensation

(16:21) Why Deskless Workers Are Often Overlooked by Technology

(19:08) Joel's Decision to Seek Outside Leadership

(24:17) Addressing the Unique Management Needs of SMBs

(30:38) The Partnership Between Founders and CEOs in Growth-Focused Companies

Are you wanting to grow, but wondering if your leadership team is aligned for success? This re-release of Electrifying Growth dives into the critical link between leadership and company performance, especially in high-growth environments.

Our guest is Julie Moore, Director at YSC Consulting, part of Accenture's leadership and culture group. With over a decade of experience in leadership strategy, Julie specializes in helping private equity firms and their portfolio companies align their leadership teams for growth. Her background in human capital consulting at Deloitte and HR roles at Warner Brothers provides her with a deep understanding of how effective leadership teams operate—and how they can be optimized.

Julie gives us real life examples and helpful insight on how the right leadership team is essential to value creation, especially in a competitive market. Whether you're navigating a leadership challenge or aiming for the next phase of growth, this episode offers actionable takeaways for up-leveling your team's potential.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How leadership and culture are vital levers for value creation in high-growth companies

• Why human dynamics and psychological safety are critical to team effectiveness

• Why both data-driven strategies and personal coaching are key to leadership and team effectiveness

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Meet Julie Moore, Director at YSC Consulting

(02:42) Julie's Background in HR and Leadership Development

(04:24) Julie's Path to Becoming a Leadership Coach

(07:53) The Growing Focus on Leadership and Culture in Private Equity

(10:28) How Psychological Safety Drives Team Effectiveness

(12:52) Handling Resistance in Executive Coaching

(16:54) The Art and Science of Leadership Coaching

(20:08) Why Data is Essential in Leadership Development

(22:42) Building Trust and Transparency in Coaching Relationships

(27:10) Key Advice for CEOs on Scaling and Leadership

Resources:

Connect with Julie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julielindeenmoore/

More about YSC: https://www.ysc.com/

What if I told you the most effective growth equity partners prioritize relationships and empathy over everything? Meet Barry Conlon, CEO and founder of Overhaul, a supply chain security and visibility solutions leader. With over three decades of experience, Barry brings a distinct blend of strategic thinking, hands-on leadership, and empathy to the conversation. His military service experience in Ireland and founding two successful companies in the U.S. has made him known for his focus on building strong, high-performing teams and companies. In this episode, Barry shares insights on the importance of selecting the right equity partner, how company culture plays a crucial role in scaling businesses, and why a people-first approach is essential for long-term success. He also discusses lessons from bootstrapping a company and the challenges of navigating crises like the 2007 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether you're a business owner seeking capital or interested in leadership, you'll gain actionable insights on adding people-first practices into your company's ethos. In this episode, you'll learn:

• How Barry Conlon's military background in special ops shaped his leadership style, emphasizing resilience, adaptability, and a people-first approach to building successful businesses.
• Why understanding the personal motivations of founders and leadership teams is critical when selecting the right growth equity partner.
• Insights on bootstrapping and scaling companies while balancing capital efficiency, risk-taking, and cultural alignment for sustainable growth.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Meet Barry Conlon

(02:44) Barry Conlon's Special Ops Military Background

(08:06)Transitioning to Business & Founding FreightWatch

(12:53) Lessons from FreightWatch and Building Overhaul

(17:37) Overhaul's Mission and Differentiators

(22:44) Integrity and Competition in Today's Supply Chain Landscape

(23:38) The CEO's Evolving Mindset

(24:13) The Importance of a Strong Board

(29:12) Navigating Crises and Black Swan Events

(32:17) Hiring and Developing Young Talent

(35:59) Reflections and Lessons Learned

Resources:

Connect with Barry Conlon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-conlon-2158805 More About Overhaul: https://over-haul.com/

Yusuf Qasim, President of the Payments Optimization Business at Zelis, is an accomplished entrepreneur and business leader with over 20 years in healthcare. In their conversation, Chris Sugden, Managing Partner at Edison Partners, and Yusuf discuss his journey from starting his first business at 16 to co-founding and leading successful companies in the healthcare payments sector.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The importance of coaching and how it fosters critical thinking on your teams

• The value of 360 feedback sessions to improve company culture

• How the "Get Shit Done" ethos and a trusting team environment contribute to high performance

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Getting to know our guest Yusuf Qasim, President of the Payments Optimization Business at Zelis

(04:31) Yusuf's journey into entrepreneurship at 16

(9:03)Why finding a mentor is critical to growth

(13:00) How the role of coaching helps in fostering critical thinking

(17:21) Why feedback transforms teams for high revenue growth

(24:20) How to create a culture of engagement with trust

(30:01) What the role of AI means in transforming healthcare

(33:10) How the ethos of "get shit done" has allowed Zelis to reach it's goals

(41:00) Yusuf's overall philosophy on business and life

Resources:

Learn more about Yusuf: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yusufqasim/

More about Zelis: https://www.zelis.com/

Panos Adamopoulos, the Founder and CEO of Seismos Inc., is an experienced entrepreneur and CEO passionate about high-growth ventures. In today's conversation, we explore Panos's entrepreneurial journey, his service to his country, and the future of digitization in the infrastructure in the United States, especially something as important as the oil and gas industry.

Host Chris Sugden, Managing Partner at Edison Partners, talks with Panos about his entrepreneurial journey, beginning with his military service in Greece, through his ventures in China, and culminating in his innovative work at Seismos in the U.S. The conversation covers the impact of his diverse background on his business acumen, the importance of learning from failures, and the significance of mentorship. Panos also discusses the unique challenges of introducing new technology to a traditional market and the pivotal role of real-time data in optimizing industry processes. Listen in to understand how Panos navigates the entrepreneurial landscape, his approach to creating genuine customer value, and the resilient mindset required to overcome setbacks.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Insights on overcoming setbacks and leveraging failures as stepping stones to success, underscoring the importance of a resilient mindset in the entrepreneurial journey.

• How Seismos is pioneering advanced acoustic technology to revolutionize the oil and gas industries, offering a glimpse of data-driven resource management and optimization.

• The evolving nature of mentorship and its critical role in fostering growth, especially within the challenging landscape of high-growth technology companies.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Introduction to the Electrifying Growth podcast with host Chris Sugden and special guest Panos Adamopoulos

(03:01) Panos's background and military service

(04:52) His journey into entrepreneurship and founding 3 companies

(12:10) The founding of Siesmos

(17:17) Panos's advice for smaller companies to be more local first

(19:27) Smaller companies need to be agile all the time

(21:18) How Seismos is utilizing new technologies

(23:17) Find a mentor you trust

(26:39) How Panos created and lives up to Seismos values

(27:54) What Panos would have done differently if he could go back in time

(31:39) Closing

Resources:

Learn more about Panos: https://www.linkedin.com/in/panosadamopoulos/

More about Seismos, Inc.: https://www.seismos.com/

David F. Eisner is a Wall Street executive, high-growth CEO, and entrepreneur with a remarkable journey from lawyer to banker at Jefferies & Company, where he helped grow the firm's market cap from $100 million to $2 billion, to starting his own company with Idealab. David brings a wealth of experience that stretches from hands-on entrepreneurship to navigating roles at high levels of government. Join us as David shares his wisdom, honed over decades of diverse experiences, on this episode of Electrifying Growth.

In this episode, host Chris Sugden, Managing Partner at Edison Partners, talks with David about his career path, from the inception and success of TheMarkets.com to his tenure at the U.S. Treasury Department. Their discussion taps into the intricacies of scaling businesses, the significance of team development, and the resilience required to succeed in both public and private sectors. Listen to learn from David's unique narrative as well as strategies that could spark your own story.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Insights from David F. Eisner's transition from Wall Street banker to successful entrepreneur, highlighting the importance of adaptability and seizing opportunities.

• How the relentless focus on team development and mentorship at both Jefferies and TheMarkets.com contributed to significant market valuations and long-term success.

• Strategies for CEOs on preparing teams for scalable growth and leveraging dedicated coaching to drive company performance.

Jump into the conversation:

[00:00] Introduction to the Electrifying Growth podcast with host Chris Sugden and special guest David F. Eisner

[02:01] David's background

[06:31] David's transition into entrepreneurship and founding two companies

[12:29] Key steps for CEOs transitioning from startup to scale-up

[18:32] The power of minding a mentor

[23:01] David's experience in the U.S. Treasury Department

[28:30] Encouragement for young people to seize opportunities

[34:28] Closing

Resources:

Learn more about David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-eisner-5b504442/

More about Edison Partners: https://www.edisonpartners.com/

Louise Hill is the founder and CEO of UK GoHenry, a pioneering app that focuses on providing financial education to children. Under her leadership, GoHenry has grown to serve over 2 million users in the US and the UK, merged with Acorns to expand into Europe, and acquired Pixpay in 2022. Louise, a top female fundraiser and influential advocate for financial education, has raised over $100 million in financing and continues to drive her mission to make every kid smart with money.

On this episode of Electrifying Growth, Louise sits down with host Chris Sugden, Managing Partner at Edison Partners, to discuss the founding of GoHenry, its remarkable growth trajectory, and how it has become an essential tool for financial literacy among young people. They discuss the challenges of teaching kids about money, the innovative ways GoHenry engages children through gamification, and the significant impact of early financial education. Louise shares insights from her entrepreneurial journey, including the importance of building scalable business models and learning from setbacks. Tune in to be inspired by Louise's story and gain actionable strategies for achieving electrifying growth in your own ventures.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How GoHenry's strategic merger with Acorns fueled an expansion into European and American markets.

• Louise Hill's journey on how GoHenry transformed from a simple prepaid card into a comprehensive financial education tool for kids.

• Insights from Louise Hill's experience in overcoming significant setbacks and securing vital funding.

Jump into the conversation:

[00:00] Introduction to the Electrifying Growth podcast with host Chris Sugden and special guest Louise Hill

[02:31] Louise Hill's previous business experience in e-commerce, and as an independent consultant

[05:01] The Birth of GoHenry and the challenges of teaching kids about money

[09:01] Growth and Evolution of GoHenry

[12:01] Financial Education and Services provided by GoHenry for different age groups

[15:01] Merging with Acorns and International Expansion

[18:01] Importance of clarifying roles early and managing expectations

[21:01] Mission and Future of GoHenry

Resources:

Learn more about Louise: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-hill-5197614

More about GoHenry: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gohenry/

Stuart McWhorter is the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) and an expert in entrepreneurship, corporate finance, private investing, and public service. Throughout his career, Stuart has impacted countless facets of economic growth, from spearheading nearly 160 projects that have generated over 21,700 job commitments and driven nearly $11 billion in capital investment to leading the Nashville Entrepreneur Center and First Bank Financial Corporation. His background makes him an exceptional leader in the economic development space.

On this episode of Electrifying Growth, Stuart sits down with host Chris Sugden, Managing Partner at Edison Partners, to share the multifaceted landscape of Tennessee's economic growth. They discuss the importance of industry diversification, the burgeoning technology sector, and the favorable business environment within the state. Stuart also shares his insights on supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs, Tennessee's collaborative culture, and the growing presence of venture firms and private equity. Hear about the state's economic strategies, personal stories of resilience and grit, and Stuart's vision for the future. Listen in to be inspired and uncover the secrets to fostering sustainable economic growth in today's dynamic market.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How a leader with a diverse background in healthcare, venture capital, and public service can guide your business toward significant growth and resilience.

• Why Tennessee's welcoming culture and partnership-oriented approach make it an ideal environment for businesses to thrive and innovate.

• Stuart McWhorter's vision for diversifying industries and creating high-quality jobs, showcasing why Tennessee is a powerhouse for entrepreneurs and businesses alike.

Jump into the conversation:

[00:00] Introduction to the Electrifying Growth podcast with host Chris Sugden and special guest Stuart McWhorter

[03:22] Being a commissioner and working with other leaders in the state

[08:44] Collaborative nature of Tennessee's cities and their collaborative approach to economic development

[15:11] Parallels between managing diverse conversations in healthcare and government

[16:35] Tennessee's diverse industries

[20:27] Importance of diversifying industries to support small businesses and entrepreneurs

[22:01] Unionization and high-quality jobs

[24:10] Influence of mentors, especially Stuart's father, in shaping his career

[27:54] Advantages of doing business in Tennessee

[31:16] Advice for young adults: resilience and grit

Resources:

Learn more about Stuart: https://www.tn.gov/ecd/about-us/senior-staff/senior-staff/stuart-mcwhorter.html

More about the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development: https://tnecd.com/

Nick Manolis is the CEO and a board member at GAN Integrity, a pioneering software company dedicated to helping compliance teams manage evolving risks and stay ahead of regulatory challenges. Nick's dynamic leadership has driven explosive growth and profitability at GAN Integrity, making him a formidable figure in the compliance software industry. With a career spanning from his early days at Deloitte to taking the helm at True Commerce, Nick's journey is a masterclass in leadership and strategic direction.

On this episode of Electrifying Growth, Nick sits down with host Chris Sugden, Managing Partner at Edison Partners, to talk about the intricacies of finding the right private equity partner during a majority recap. They explore how PE firms should react to challenges and the importance of openness and transparency in board and investor communications. Nick sheds light on his leadership philosophy, the impact of early mentors, and the crucial role of emotional intelligence in professional interactions. Hear about GAN Integrity's innovative workflow orchestration tools and how they tackle macro trends like political instability. Listen in for an inspiring look at Nick's philosophy of leadership, growth, and the value of human connections in business.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The importance of emotional intelligence and understanding the human side of interactions to foster a collaborative and supportive growth environment.

• The significance of personal core values in leadership and how sharing these values with your team can create alignment and drive success within your organization.

• Insights from Nick's experience on the critical role of clear communication and deliberate interactions, whether leading in-person or virtual teams, to maintain alignment and efficiency in your company.

Jump into the conversation:

[00:00] Chris Sugden introduces the podcast "Electrifying Growth" by Edison Partners

[03:50] Transitioning into a CEO role, learning curves.

[08:49] Importance of openness and transparency with boards and investors.

[11:45] Emphasizes understanding and addressing emotional aspects in professional settings.

[13:09] How to determine if a PE firm is the right fit during a majority recap

[16:18] The importance of focusing on the firm's reaction to challenges and the need for openness and transparency

[19:26] GAN Integrity and its mission to help compliance teams manage evolving risks

[24:36] Importance of humility and the journey of gaining experience

[26:22] Emphasis on candid feedback and the philosophy of learning and growth.

[29:59] Importance of personal core values and sharing them with the team for common understanding.

[34:27] Implementation of a flexible work culture, handling both in-person and virtual teams.

[37:17] Personal reflections on the importance of emotional intelligence in his career.

Resources:

Connect with Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-manolis

More about GAN Integrity: https://www.ganintegrity.com/

Charles Gillespie is the charismatic CEO and co-founder of Gambling.com Group. With a wealth of experience in the online gaming and gambling industry, Charles is a visionary leader who has navigated his company through significant milestones, including taking it public in 2021. Known for his expertise in performance marketing and fostering robust industry relationships, Charles brings an impressive track record and inspirational insights to the table. Under his leadership, Gambling.com Group has emerged as a leading provider of digital marketing services within the global gaming sector.

In this episode, host Chris Sugden, Managing Partner at Edison Partners, speaks with Charles about his dynamic journey from dorm room to taking a company public. Charles opens up about the early stages of online gambling in the US and other major markets, discussing the pathway to future growth and potential regulatory challenges. Charles emphasizes the importance of passion, resilience, and the right team in scaling a company.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The invaluable role of maintaining strong personal relationships and fostering teamwork in scaling a successful business, with emphasis on human connections

• Insights into how flexibility and adaptation can drive long-term growth and stability in companies with strategic pivots and resilience in the face of market challenges

• The power of aligning business pursuits with personal interests, providing inspiration and actionable advice for young entrepreneurs to monetize their passions effectively

Jump into the conversation:

00:00 Introduction to Electrifying Growth with host Chris Sugden and guest Charles Gillespie

04:15 Formation and early focus of Gambling.com Group

08:59 Venturing into China for online gambling affiliate marketing and the subsequent regulatory hurdles

15:01 Financial structuring and investor involvement in the acquisition process

17:25 Importance of grit and resilience despite various challenges

19:43 Impact of the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling and pivoting to the US market

21:44 Discussing growth opportunities and regulatory challenges in online gambling markets

26:06 Importance of taking time to meet up with investors and partners before making big final decision

35:30 Recognition of Charles's resilience and reflections on the company's success.

37:50 Charles's advice to follow passion and curiosity in business