Managing Tech Millions

Episode 11: Exit Planning: How to Turn Your Start-Up Equity into an Alternative Investment Portfolio

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Are you tired of wondering what to do with your start-up equity? Look no further! In this exciting episode of Managing Tech Millions, our host Christopher Nelson sits down with the brilliant Litan Yahav, a serial founder and alternative investor. Litan brings his wealth of experience to the table as he shares invaluable insights on entrepreneurship programs, the incredible success of his diamond industry company, and the nitty-gritty details of negotiating its acquisition.

But that's not all – Litan takes us on a journey as he discusses his transition from active to passive investing. Get ready to hear about the challenges he faced and the lessons he learned along the way. You don't want to miss out on this eye-opening conversation!

To top it off, the episode wraps up with a fascinating discussion about the importance of having a comprehensive investment portfolio and the outlook for the private equity market in a high-interest rate environment. It's a treasure trove of information that will equip you with the tools and knowledge you need to turn your start-up equity into a diversified alternative investment portfolio.

Ready to make your money work for you? Don't wait any longer! Click play and listen to this incredible episode now on Managing Tech Millions. Your financial future awaits!

In this episode, you will hear:

- Litan’s background as a naval officer, sailing instructor, and founder of a tutoring school before starting his own companies.

- The importance of validating the market before building a product and the benefits of entrepreneurship programs.

- The difficulties faced in convincing traditional diamond dealers to adopt new technology for trading diamonds.

- The growth of the company, establishment of diamond laboratories, and the acquisition by the same company that initially invested in them.

- The acquisition of Litan’s company by a public company and the role of financing in the process.

- Litan’s experience in managing their newfound wealth and the overwhelming options presented by financial advisors.

- Litan’s decision to invest in private alternative investments, particularly real estate, and the initial challenges and lessons learned in this new venture.

- The benefits and challenges of passive and active investing, and the decision to focus on passive real estate investing.

- The challenge of finding reliable operators in private investing and the importance of building trust through vetting and transparency.

- The need for a software solution to manage multiple investments and the creation of a business, Vyzer, to automate and streamline the investment management process.

- The limitations of personal finance managers and the importance of including alternative investments like real estate and private equity funds.

- The outdated processes and systems in the real estate industry, the complexity of managing multiple investor portals, and the need for consolidation.

- The impact of interest rates on the private equity market, the changes expected in the industry, and the survival of the best operators during the upcoming downturn.

- The process of building and selling a company, highlighting Litan’s experience in this area.

Episode 10: How to Use Risk to Build Wealth with Tech Equity

Ready to explore the latest in tech careers and financial insights? Click here now for an eye-opening journey at http://www.managingtechmillions.com/!

Welcome to the latest episode of Managing Tech Millions, where we discuss all things related to the tech industry and how to make the most of your time and talent. Today, we're diving into the importance of managing risk when trading time and talent for tech equity.

Let's face it, risk is an inherent part of any investment. However, as employees, we have a unique opportunity to manage risk by aligning our risk management strategies with our financial goals. In this episode, Christopher Nelson provides examples of how managing risk should be an active part of your financial planning, whether you're saving for a down payment on a house or thinking about investing in your career capital by joining a promising company.

Have you ever wondered how to mitigate risk when choosing a manager or evaluating a company? Stay tuned, as Christopher will also share tips for creating an avatar to guide you in these important decisions. He'll also highlight the importance of asking good interview questions to assess both the company's and your own risk tolerance.

To sum it up, evaluating risk and aligning financial goals with the companies we work for is a crucial part of building a successful career in tech. Join us for this episode of Managing Tech Millions to learn more about managing risk and making the most of your time and talent in the tech industry.

Don't miss this one! Tune in to the latest episode of Managing Tech Millions now!

In this episode, you will hear:

- The concept of risk and its significance when analyzing investments and making financial goals

- The importance of managing risk around career capital, which includes education, experience, and results. He emphasizes the need to consider the manager and their qualities when choosing a job opportunity

- The importance of creating an avatar to identify the desired attributes in a manager and how it helps mitigate risk

- The significance of building core skills and exposure to high-exposure projects, and the importance of aligning with a manager's goals

- Asking interview questions to assess a manager's professional networking, skill-building, and conference participation, and how it affects risk management

- Varying levels of risk and reward in real estate investments, ranging from low risk with established buildings to high risk with undeveloped land

- Investing in non-public companies without liquidity access

• Possibility of finding liquidity for employees of non-public companies through secondary markets, using the example of Stripe and other unicorns that trade privately

Resources:

From No Dough to IPO: A Proven Playbook for How to Trade Your Time and Talent for Tech Equity

Episode 06 - Maximizing Your Earnings in Tech: A Comprehensive Guide to Working for Equity

Episode 09: The Remote Work Revolution: Darren Murph on the Future of the Workplace

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Are you ready to unlock the secrets of remote work success? Join Christopher Nelson on Managing Tech Millions, as he sits down with remote work expert Darren Murph to explore the untapped potential of working remotely.

Remote work is not just a trend—it's a transformative way of life that can skyrocket your career. In this episode, we'll delve into the power of storytelling and how it can unleash your potential, as well as the importance of finding your zone of genius. We'll also discuss essential soft skills like empathy and low-context communication that can set you apart in the remote work landscape. Get ready to discover the endless possibilities of remote work and take your career to new heights!

Don't miss out on this game-changing episode! Subscribe to Managing Tech Millions on your favorite platform and tune in to unlock the secrets of remote work success. Join Christopher Nelson and Darren Murph as we reveal the tools and strategies to thrive in remote work and achieve the career of your dreams. Your future starts now!

In this episode, you will hear:

• The current state of remote work and its benefits for technology employees
• Darren Murph's journey from supply chain analyst to remote work expert, emphasizing the importance of vision and soft skills
• Understanding the importance of storytelling in business and how it can create influence, buy-in, and galvanize teams
• Darren Murph's career transition from a supply chain analyst to a writer, then to roles in remote work and workplace design, and the realization of the power of embedding oneself in various organizations
• Darren Murph's journey to becoming the Head of Remote at GitLab, starting with a phone call from the company and his role in communicating and executing their organizational design
• The groundbreaking moment when GitLab hosted the first IPO publicly, becoming the first fully remote company to do so
• How GitLab made history by live streaming their IPO to the world, showcasing the company's commitment to inclusivity and geographic diversity
• The celebration of humanity and the contrarian path taken by GitLab, highlighting the company's success as a blueprint for other organizations
• The concept of zones of genius and the importance of spending most of one's time in their zone of genius for optimal productivity and fulfillment
• Developing unique expertise outside of one's core job, building a successful consulting practice, and creating a personal brand
• The current state of remote work, highlighting the shift from treating it as a perk or policy to recognizing it as an operating model that requires intentional steps and an architect
• The emergence of remote work as a third lane for people previously excluded from traditional work environments
• The benefits of asynchronous meetings in remote work, including increased flexibility and productivity
• The importance of geographic and time flexibility in remote work, and the role of documentation and workflows in enabling remote teams
• Communicating with a high degree of detail and precision, assuming that the audience has no to low context
• Loom as a tool for contextual information
• The importance of empathy in career success, entering every room and conversation with a mindset of understanding and asking if they should help or just listen

Resources

Darren Murph on LinkedIn

GitLab

GitLab Handbook

Remote Work Authority

Workquake: Embracing the Aftershocks of COVID-19 to Create a Better Model of Working

16Personalities Test

About Darren Murph

Named an “oracle of remote work” by CNBC and featured in The Forbes Future of Work 50, Darren is a recognized visionary in organizational design. He serves as Andela’s VP, Workplace Design and Remote Experience. 

Prior to Andela, Darren led workplace strategy and operations at GitLab, scaling the world’s first fully remote company to IPO. He co-developed organizational design case studies at Harvard Business School and INSEAD.

He holds a Guinness World Record in publishing, and authored GitLab’s Remote Playbook and “Living the Remote Dream: A Guide To Seeing the World, Setting Records, and Advancing Your Career.” 

Darren pioneered the Head of Remote role in the historic IPO of GitLab. His interviews are found in CNBC, CNN, The Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, TechCrunch, Fortune, Digiday, Business Insider, and more.

Episode 08: Acquiring Equity through Critical Skills and Negotiation Strategies

Ready to explore the latest in tech careers and financial insights? Click here now for an eye-opening journey at http://www.managingtechmillions.com/!

Are you a young engineer who is unaware of the importance of equity in your total compensation package? In this episode of Managing Tech Millions, Ajit Deshpande, an IT leader in Silicon Valley, shares his career journey and experiences with compensation negotiation and equity. Ajit emphasizes the importance of being a generalist and constantly learning new skills, as well as the value of building trust and communication between different teams in a company. He also shares his insights on what he looks for when considering a job opportunity, including non-financial metrics like company culture and values, as well as financial metrics like employee size and revenue.

Ajit's experiences at companies like Align Technology, VMware, and Splunk inspired him to help other companies go through IPOs and educate others on the value of equity in compensation. He advises young engineers to ask for data and information to make informed decisions and stresses the importance of continuous learning and taking failures as lessons learned. If you're looking to advance your career in the tech industry, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The importance of equity in total compensation and how many engineers are unaware of its significance
• Integrations and how it helped him advance Ajit’s career at companies like VMware and Splunk
• Ajit’s experience working at VMware during the time when virtualization was a revolutionary technology
• The importance of slowing down and taking a step back to focus on building skills and capabilities, rather than getting caught up in titles or specific technologies
• Building trust with both business and tech teams, and how being a translator between the two can accelerate career growth
• Negotiating for total compensation, including equity, and how to analyze companies to determine their risk and potential for growth
• The importance of equity as part of total compensation, especially in Silicon Valley, and how it aligns employees' interests with the company's
• Factors to consider when evaluating companies, including the stage of the company, risk, and potential for growth
• Aligning with a company's culture and values, financial metrics to consider, and how to calculate equity income
• Ajit’s approach to learning and the importance of carving out time for it, as well as his preferred methods of recharging
• The importance of people and communication skills

Resources

Connect with Ajit on LinkedIn

Splunk

VMWare

Align Technology

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Episode 07: Procurement Maverick: Building Equity in the Tech Industry

Ready to explore the latest in tech careers and financial insights? Click here now for an eye-opening journey at http://www.managingtechmillions.com/!

Welcome to our latest podcast episode, where we have a special guest, Rendi Miller, a procurement maverick who has an inspiring non-traditional tech career journey to share with us. In this episode, we delve into the industry's networking opportunities and the valuable lessons Rendi has learned through negotiating.

Rendi emphasizes the importance of finding mentors of both genders and being genuine in behavior to build a strong network. She shares her experiences and insights on how to network effectively and make meaningful connections in the industry.

We also discuss managing people and making critical hiring decisions. Rendi provides valuable advice on how to lead with empathy, manage teams effectively, and make hiring decisions that align with your company's values.

If you're looking to grow your career and become a successful procurement maverick like Rendi, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to hear her story and learn from her experiences.

Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode. And for more career advice and inspiration, check out our other episodes. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, you will hear:

• How Rendi overcame intimidation when she entered the tech industry
• Why tech employees need to think like shareholders
• Why managing people is not as easy as expected
• Why you need an entrepreneurial mindset
• How to overcome imposter syndrome and discover the personal value
• Key Skills to become a procurement maverick
• What the procurement industry has to offer
• All about negotiation
• Being a female procurement exec in a male-dominated industry

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet. 

We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode 06: Maximizing Your Earnings in Tech: A Comprehensive Guide to Working for Equity

Ready to explore the latest in tech careers and financial insights? Click here now for an eye-opening journey at http://www.managingtechmillions.com/!

Are you ready to learn how working for equity can lead to significant financial gains?

Welcome to Managing Tech Millions, where we explore the intersection of technology, career growth, and financial success. In this episode, we dive deep into the benefits of working for equity as a wealth-building strategy in the tech industry. Host Christopher Nelson shares his expertise on how to negotiate for the best equity possible, choose the right company to work for, and think like an investor when managing equity.

Christopher provides real-life examples and encourages listeners to view themselves as valuable assets in the marketplace. This episode is not just about quick wins, but rather a long-term strategy that requires careful management and a mindset shift toward maximizing earning potential.

So, whether you're a seasoned tech professional or just starting out, tune in to this episode to discover how to leverage equity as a powerful tool for building wealth in the tech industry. Get ready to be inspired and motivated to take control of your financial future!

In this episode, you will hear:

• Why equity is offered as part of compensation packages and how it benefits employees
• How working for equity as a W2 employee provides the benefits of both being an employee and an owner, leading to higher compensation packages
• Comparison of compensation packages for non-tech engineers without equity versus those with equity at Facebook, highlighting the significant financial benefits of working for equity
• How equity works, the importance of managing equity, and how to pick the right companies to work for
• The importance of thinking like an investor when working for equity, including having a framework, understanding risk profile, and working with others
• The mindset shift of realizing that you are the valuable asset being traded for equity, and the importance of investing your time and talent wisely
• Tips on understanding your market value, skills, and compensation to negotiate for the best equity possible
• The importance of selecting the right company to work for equity and examples of people who have successfully built wealth through equity
• Realizing your value and worth in the equity compensation package and how it can change the way you think about job opportunities
• The tax code as the book of laws
• How to avoid the surprise of taxes
• The three types of income
• 1202 stock: The tax break every startup investor should know about
• The gold standard for tax strategy
• How to write off short-term rentals
• How to qualify as a real estate professional and reduce your tax burden

Subscribe and Review

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We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Episode 05: Maximizing Your Tax Savings: Expert Tips on Leveraging a Tax Planner for Radical Reductions

Ready to explore the latest in tech careers and financial insights? Click here now for an eye-opening journey at http://www.managingtechmillions.com/!

Taxes are one of the biggest investments that individuals and businesses make, and often they can take a significant chunk out of your income and profits. But what if there was a way to pay less in taxes and use those savings to invest in your future? 

On today's episode of Managing Tech Millions, we sit down with Greg O'Brien and John Malone of Anomaly CPA, who are on a mission to help small businesses and high-net-worth individuals optimize their tax planning strategies. With their combined expertise in accounting and law, Greg and John are able to offer premier tax planning services and leverage technology to streamline the process for their clients. 

Join us as we explore how Anomaly CPA is changing the game with their innovative approach to tax planning and helping clients build a financial fortress for themselves and their families. Greg and John enable small businesses and high-net-worth individuals to combine premier tax planning services and leveraging technology to streamline and make the process effortless. 

In this episode, you will hear:

• The tax code as the book of laws
• How to avoid the surprise of taxes
• The three types of income
• 1202 stock: The tax break every startup investor should know about
• The gold standard for tax strategy
• How to write off short-term rentals
• How to qualify as a real estate professional and reduce your tax burden

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet. 

We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

Anomaly CPA - https://www.anomalycpa.com/ 

http://ManagingTechMillions.com

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Episode 04: Mastering Money Mindset: Achieving Financial Success in Tech with Jenny W

Ready to explore the latest in tech careers and financial insights? Click here now for an eye-opening journey at http://www.managingtechmillions.com/!

Understanding our money mindset is crucial because it shapes how we use and invest our money. In this episode, Jenny Whichello, a finance expert and money mindset coach, shares her insights on achieving financial success in the tech industry. 

With experience as a CFO for various retail startups and currently working in Amazon's finance department, Jenny provides valuable insights on the differences between retail and tech startups, the importance of money mindset, and the impact of mentorship. She also discusses the negative effects of fixating on past mistakes or experiences with money and the process of rewriting our beliefs around money. 

Tune in to this episode and gain a wealth of knowledge on how to improve your money mindset and achieve financial success.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The difference between retail startups and tech startups
• The importance of money mindset
• The impact of mentorship 
• The problem with fixations on the past on money
• How to rewrite your beliefs about money

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet. 

We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

https://jennywhichello.com/ 

http://ManagingTechMillions.com

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Episode 03: Leveraging IPOs as a Personal Wealth Strategy

Ready to explore the latest in tech careers and financial insights? Click here now for an eye-opening journey at http://www.managingtechmillions.com/!

Having been in the Silicon Valley space as a tech executive for 20+ years, Bryan Wise has been instrumental in getting his last three companies (DocuSign, Snowflake, and GitLab) to go public with amazing IPOs. It wasn’t a random chance, but it was more intentional, systematic, and strategic. Bryan is currently the CIO of 6Sense, an account engagement platform that provides buyer journey insights to B2B organizations. 

In this episode, Christopher and Bryan dive into his IPO experience along with some insights into how he carved his path to success. 

In this episode, you will hear:

• Being intentional about your career path
• The value of mentors vs. your peer group
• How to choose the right companies to get an equity stake in
• Asking about company performance and financials
• Looking into the company’s experience vs. passion/innovation

Subscribe and Review

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We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

https://6sense.com/ 

ManagingTechMillions.com

Episode 02: From Tech Novice to Financially Independent: Lessons Learned

Ready to explore the latest in tech careers and financial insights? Click here now for an eye-opening journey at http://www.managingtechmillions.com/!

In tech, we all have the opportunity to grow our careers, build wealth, and reach our financial goals. And if your goal is to be financially independent, there are some things you need to practice and master so you can let your money work for you, and not the other way around.

In this episode, Christopher shares his origin story of how he went from tech noob to financially independent – and how you can too!

It’s important to be able to have these conversations around career and money because in tech, we’re here to work for equity. And so, you want to position yourself for the right roles and the right companies. But unless you change your mindset around managing your money, the chances of a successful career in tech is almost impossible.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Taking a calculated risk of learning a new technology early
• Leveraging the power of compounding
• Thinking like an investor when trading your time and talent for tech equity
• Building a strong peer network and support team
• How to execute your vision and make equity work for you
• Making the hardest decision when you think it’s not the right fit
• Taking a sabbatical in tech

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet. 

We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

ManagingTechMillions.com

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.