Host Scott Pollack interviews Xavier Naville, who recounts his journey from finance expert to unintentional CEO of a Chinese food-supply venture. From wrestling with imposter syndrome to forging trusted relationships with local team members, Xavier details his struggles scaling a business to $150 million in revenue. He shares lessons about staying resilient under pressure, asking for help when you don’t have all the answers, and investing in a clear company vision that sets the stage for collaborative decision-making and sustained growth. He further highlights how creating an empowering culture and embracing small, strategic steps can ultimately lead to big wins.
[2:26] – Introduction to Xavier
- Scott introduces guest Xavier Naville, highlighting his journey from Paris to Shanghai and founding Creative Food Group, which grew to supply major restaurant chains in China.
- Xavier’s entrepreneurial path is captured in his book, The Lettuce Diaries: How a Frenchman Found Gold Growing Vegetables in China.
[3:49] – Becoming an ‘Accidental CEO’
- Xavier explains how he found himself thrust into a CEO role at age 27 with no prior leadership experience or training.
- He discusses his imposter syndrome and how projecting overconfidence initially caused more problems than solutions.
[5:42] – Greatest Personal Struggle: Confronting Imposter Syndrome
- Xavier details how his inclination toward rapid, “top-down” decisions and reliance on financial analysis led to disengaged teams.
- Near-bankruptcy forced him to change tactics, ask for help, and empower local Chinese managers.
[7:02] – Cultural Shifts and Team Engagement
- How a critical lunch meeting with a potential key hire led to a game-changing decision on supplier contracts.
- Realizing that consulting team members strengthened trust and uncovered more effective solutions in the Chinese market.
[11:04] – Finding the Right People & the Importance of Trust
- How giving a capable team member decision-making authority not only solved immediate problems but boosted morale and loyalty.
[15:42] – The “Refuse to Fail” Mindset
- Xavier shares his ultimate “superpower”: staying the course through adversity.
- Emphasizes that talent plus sheer persistence helped turn the business from near collapse into a thriving enterprise.
[18:56] – Navigating Growth Tensions & Culture Clashes
- Hiring executives from large multinational companies brought in conflicting values and management styles.
- Highlights the need for clear behavior expectations and culture fit, not just high-profile résumés.
[23:24] – Vision and Strategy
- The power of crafting a shared vision that guides daily decisions.
- Why it’s essential to involve the entire leadership team in long-term goal setting, then continually revisit and reinforce it.
[26:23] – Quick Fire (Entrepreneur Hacks)
- Must-Read Book #1: Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive by Patrick Lencioni
- Must-Read Book #2: Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine
- Morning Routine: Wakes at 5 a.m., enjoys an espresso, and visualizes the day’s goals.
- Favorite Tool: ChatGPT, used as an “idea helper,” albeit with caution for potential inaccuracies.
- Daily Habit for Grounding: Structured exercise regimen coordinated via the TrainingPeaks app.
- Best Business Advice: Focus on what you can control, rather than events you cannot.
[32:26] – Final Lessons & ‘The Road Not Taken’
- Xavier stresses the value of starting small and proving concepts before investing heavily.
- Cautions entrepreneurs against letting the excitement of big funding overshadow the need for agile experimentation.
Mentioned Books & Tools
- The Lettuce Diaries by Xavier Naville
- Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive by Patrick Lencioni
- Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine
- ChatGPT (AI assistant)
- TrainingPeaks (fitness and workout planning APP)
