In this episode of How to Scale a Business, host Hector Santiesteban talks with Justin Rashidi, co-founder of SeedX, about why he hires for “smart problem solvers” over experience and how that philosophy fuels growth. Justin explains why many companies that think they have a marketing issue are actually facing problems with data, sales integration, or margins, and how understanding core metrics like CAC, LTV, and gross margin reframes decisions as investments. He shares why rigid frameworks fail compared to a flexible tool-belt approach, how cutting the wrong activities can literally save millions, and why AI—though often misunderstood—is transforming processes. Ultimately, he highlights that a company’s growth is often limited not by its market, but by the adaptability of its leadership

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Welcome to How to Scale a Business Podcast
• 00:00:54 - What SeedX Does: Business Consulting for Marketing, Sales, and Tech
• 00:02:11 - The Real Reasons Companies Aren't Growing
• 00:04:05 - A "Tool Belt" vs. "Recipe" Approach to Consulting
• 00:04:47 - The Importance of Understanding Core Business Metrics
• 00:06:29 - The Emotional "Therapy" Aspect of Business Consulting
• 00:07:33 - Balancing Bespoke Strategy with Flexible Processes
• 00:08:51 - Key Metrics Owners Overlook: CAC, LTV, and Margins
• 00:12:47 - Is AI Overhyped or Underhyped?
• 00:14:13 - The Power of Tightly Scoped AI
• 00:16:01 - A Practical Approach: Using AI for Tasks You Don't Want to Do
• 00:17:59 - How Resistant Organizations Can Start with AI
• 00:19:30 - Advice for Early-Stage Scaling: Prepare for People and Operations
• 00:21:06 - Where to Find Justin Rashidi Online
• 00:21:58 - Leadership Self-Transformation

Links And Resources:

• SeedX Website
• Justin on LinkedIn
• Justin on Instagram
• Justin on Twitter/X
• Amplafy Media
• Hector Santiesteban on LinkedIn
• Hector Santiesteban on Twitter

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to How to Scale a Business? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!