Not Another CEO Podcast

In this in-depth conversation, Eran Gil, CEO of AllCloud, shares his professional journey and key leadership philosophies. He talks about the founding and growth of Cloud Sherpas, one of the earliest and most successful Google Cloud partners, eventually acquired by Accenture in 2015. Now leading AllCloud, Gil emphasizes the importance of transparency, continuous communication, and cultural understanding within a global organization. 

Despite challenges in managing teams across different geographies and cultures, he highlights the value of tying an organization’s growth to major cloud platforms like AWS, Salesforce, and Snowflake. Eran further discusses the influences of his mentors, particularly his father, in shaping his business approach, and reflects on balancing his professional ambitions with family life. Looking ahead, he is excited about expanding AllCloud's geographic footprint and ecosystem partnerships, aiming to disrupt the market dominated by large system integrators.

Takeaways:

• Emphasize Transparency with Your Team: Being transparent with your team can greatly enhance trust and alignment within your organization. Sharing both good and bad news openly fosters a sense of unity and collaboration.
• Bridge Cultural Differences: When managing a global organization, it’s crucial to understand and address cultural differences. Conducting exercises and coaching sessions can help leaders appreciate these nuances, improving communication and cooperation among diverse teams.
• Champion Persistence and Follow-Through: Consistency in communication and follow-through is key to building trust and reliability. Make sure everyone in the organization feels supported, and always honor your commitments.
• Adapt Leadership Styles to Circumstances: Be flexible in your leadership approach based on your team’s needs. Understanding and adjusting to different working styles can help maintain high performance and alignment.
• Effective Time Management Across Time Zones: Managing a global workforce means balancing time zone differences. Creating a structure that allows for key tasks to be shifted across regions can ensure continuity and operational effectiveness.
• Embrace and Address Challenges Directly: Whether facing startup challenges or multi-geographical operations, tackle issues head-on with strategic planning and strong leadership to drive the organization forward.
• Continuous Learning and Mentorship: Actively seek mentorship and learn from every leadership experience. Embracing lessons from mentors can significantly enhance your management style and adaptability.

Quote of the Show:

• “It's how you communicate with each other. Are you more hard charging or less? Is there a work life balance or not?” - Eran Gil

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erangil/ 
• Website: https://allcloud.io/ 

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast 

#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #AllCloud

This episode features Craig Walker, the Founder and CEO of Dialpad, discussing his 20+ year journey leading the business communications space. Craig has started 3 companies, 2 of which became Yahoo Voice and Google Voice, and shares insights from his experience building communications giants. 

He emphasizes the value in communication, transparency, and flexible leadership. Craig reflects on strategically selecting investors and how product acquisitions led to rapid growth for Dialpad. He also shares his thoughts on maintaining a balance between work, family, and personal growth, underscoring the critical role of adaptability and team dynamics in achieving success.

Takeaways:

• Jump Right In: Craig emphasizes the importance of diving into challenges directly, sharing his journey of building, getting acquired, and going on his own to continue building within the business communications industry. 
• Ups and Downs of Success: Any successful company has periods of growth and decline when you look under a microscope. Try to focus on the bigger picture when things get difficult. 
• Communicate Often: Craig emphasizes the significance of overcommunication for transparency and maintaining a strong company culture. It is important to keep everyone in the organization up to date on information, even if it isn’t positive.
• Focus on Direction, Not Speed: Strategic vision is crucial, and businesses need to select the right investors who share the long-term growth perspective. This ensures a long-term and beneficial partnership as you grow.
• Make it Delightful: Consumers should not have to trudge through a dull experience. Ensuring there are opportunities for delight helps keep user experiences positive and increases retention.

Quote of the Show:

• “ Just because it's a business B2B service, it can't have moments of delight? Like that's crazy. Of course it can.” - Craig Walker

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwalker123/
• Twitter: https://x.com/cwalker123
• Website: https://www.dialpad.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast 

#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Dialpad

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Ryan Simonetti, co-founder and CEO of Convene, as he shares the company’s inspiring 15-year journey. Known for its innovative meeting, event, and office spaces, Convene has expanded to nearly 40 locations across nine cities. Ryan discusses the vital role of core values established in 2011, which have guided the company through challenges, including the existential crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Join us as Ryan emphasizes the importance of interviewing for core values, maintaining consistency in a high-growth environment, and promoting from within to nurture company culture. We also explore strategic vision, board dynamics, and the role of outsourcing in today’s workplaces. With reflections on his entrepreneurial influences and insights on leadership and parenting, Ryan offers valuable lessons for achieving long-term success and a hopeful outlook for the future. Don't miss this compelling conversation!

Takeaways:

• Interviewing for Values: Evaluate candidates for alignment with your core values, using open-ended questions that reveal character and resilience.
• Consistency Across Locations: Maintain consistent service and quality across locations to build customer trust and satisfaction, focusing on training and improvement.
• Adapt and Stay Resilient: Stay adaptable and resilient during crises by maintaining hope, making quick decisions, and staying true to your core values.
• Develop a Farm System: Promote from within to create a strong executive team by nurturing young talent and providing leadership opportunities.
• Effective Board Management: Keep the board small for quicker decision-making and ensure regular communication through transparency.
• Work-Life Integration: Involve your family in the business to instill a strong work ethic and understanding of the business world from an early age.

Quote of the Show:

• “Everything's a trust trade… and part of my trust in you is that you can manage my expectations up or down, but please just don't surprise me.” - Ryan Simonetti

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-simonetti-5873887/
• Twitter: https://x.com/rwsimonetti
• Website: https://convene.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast 

#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Convene

This week we’re joined by Nathan Rosenstock, Co-founder and CEO of Crafty, as he shares his journey as a first-time founder in the food service management industry. Recognized by Forbes as one of America's best startups, Crafty provides a centralized platform for workplace needs and has expanded to 35 markets across five countries. 

Nathan discusses the challenges he encountered, from navigating significant operational shifts during the pandemic to adapting business models and managing rapid growth. He emphasizes the importance of detail-oriented leadership, building empathy within teams, and how constraints can foster innovation. Additionally, Nathan highlights the value of continuous learning, the benefits of an executive coach, and the importance of a clear company identity when seeking investment.

Takeaways:

• Know Your Business Inside and Out: Understanding every detail of your business fosters empathy and credibility, making it easier to connect with and lead your team effectively.
• Be Ready to Adapt Your Business Model: When faced with challenges like the pandemic, pivoting from a market-by-market rollout to a platform model that integrates local operators was key to Crafty’s survival and growth.
• Build Strong Client Relationships: Nurturing close relationships with clients, even as the company scales, provides valuable insights and fosters trust and loyalty.
• Choose the Right Investors: It’s crucial to find investors who truly understand and align with your business model, rather than redefining your pitch for each and every investor. Being genuine to potential investors may not win them all, but it will help you get investors that truly understand your goals.
• Embrace Constraints: Embracing constraints can drive innovation and sharpen focus. Working with limited resources often leads to more efficient and effective outcomes, rather than spreading too thin with excess resources.

Quote of the Show:

• “If you're trying to bend your business to fit what an investor wants, that's a really slippery slope.” - Nathan Rosenstock 

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-rosenstock/ 
• Website: https://craftydelivers.com/ 

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast 

#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Crafty

This episode features Ryan Westwood, the Chairman and CEO of Fullcast, discussing his career and the strategies behind growing successful businesses. Ryan, who has been involved with nearly 100 companies, shares insights from his experience at Simplus, which he grew to over $650 million in revenue before its acquisition by Infosys. 

He emphasizes understanding customer personas and the importance of one-on-one interactions in driving business success. Ryan also shares his approach to fundraising, building the right team, and navigating the challenges of scaling a business. He advocates for deep customer understanding, sticking to a defined ideal customer profile (ICP), and the strategic use of AI in RevOps.

Takeaways:

• Jump Right In: Don't hesitate to dive into challenges head-on. Taking decisive action is often the first step toward finding effective solutions.
• Identify High-Impact Areas: Focus on areas that have the biggest impact on your organization. It’s important to prioritize tasks and projects that drive the most significant results.
• Value One-on-One Time: Prioritize precious one-on-one time with your team. Personalized attention can foster stronger relationships and address individual needs more effectively.
• Deliver Consistently: Consistent delivery of work and results builds trust and reliability within your team and with stakeholders. Ensuring that you follow through on your commitments is a great way to build loyalty.
• Communicate Often: Regular communication is key. Whether it's calling individual team members or holding regular meetings, keep the lines of communication open to ensure everyone is aligned.
• Focus on Direction, Not Speed: While speed can be important, it's more crucial to ensure that your team is moving in the right direction. Align on goals and ensure everyone is headed toward the same objectives.

Quote of the Show:

• “It's so important that as an entrepreneur, we're humble…And I think a lot of entrepreneurs lose precious years because they don't ask enough questions.” - Ryan Westwood

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanwestwood/
• Website: https://www.fullcast.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast 

#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Fullcast

In this episode, we sit down with Kathryn Minshew, Co-Founder and former CEO of The Muse, to discuss her journey in the tech and entrepreneurship space. She shares her experiences from fundraising challenges and building a team to the crucial leadership lessons she learned along the way. 

Kathryn emphasizes the importance of being comfortable with making unpopular decisions and the impact of integrating experienced executives into a growing company. She also delves into her recent adventures in advising companies, investing in Broadway shows, and potentially planning her next entrepreneurial venture.

Takeaways:

• Accept That Not Everyone Will Support Your Choices: As a leader, you may have access to information that others don’t, which can lead to misunderstandings. Focus on acting with integrity and staying true to your values.
• Encourage Open Dialogue but Know When to Decide: Foster a culture where team members feel comfortable expressing dissenting opinions. However, there comes a time when you must make the final decision and stand by it.
• Continuously Reevaluate Leadership Approaches: Regularly assess and refine your leadership strategies. Engage with diverse perspectives through reading, mentoring, or coaching to enrich your approach.
• Adopt a Collaborative Mindset: Effective leadership involves seeking advice and fostering collaboration. Welcoming external insights can enhance your decision-making and strengthen your team’s capabilities. 
• Learn from Setbacks: Challenges and failures can offer valuable lessons. Use feedback from rejections or setbacks to improve your methods and strategies for future success.

Quote of the Show:

• “I think culturally we often still want women to be women. Really caring, really kind, really likable… but I also have to make hard calls to run a business. People punish women more when they perceive those things are in conflict.” - Kathryn Minshew

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-minshew/ 
• Twitter: https://x.com/kmin
• Website: https://www.kminshew.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kminshew/  

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast 

How can predictable schedules, clear expectations, and a learning mindset boost company performance, strategic success, and leadership effectiveness? In this week’s episode, we dive in with the leading pioneer of unified interaction management, Dan Michaeli, Co-Founder and CEO of Glia, and explore his 12-year journey. 

Michaeli emphasizes the importance of predictable schedules and clear expectations in driving company performance and executing strategic objectives. The discussion also covers his growth as a CEO, his approach to hiring and building an executive team, and lessons learned in sales and disrupting an industry. He shares personal insights on maintaining a learning mindset, staying sane amidst challenges, and the importance of continual adaptation in business.

Takeaways:

• Fostering a Learning Mindset: Embrace a mindset that prioritizes identifying and filling knowledge gaps through diverse resources. Proficiency and situational awareness in various domains can significantly enhance leadership effectiveness.
• Leverage Immediate Application for Learning: Utilize real-time opportunities to apply newly acquired knowledge. This experiential approach reinforces learning and builds proficiency.
• Importance of Executive Search and Hiring Power: Consistently dedicate time and effort to personally source and recruit top talent. Engaging directly with candidates as a CEO can significantly boost response rates and attract high-caliber individuals.
• Adapting and Rebranding for Growth: Be prepared for rebranding as part of your company's evolution. Rebranding, coupled with a strategic refocus and fundraising, can catalyze significant growth and redefine market positioning..
• Communicating and Managing Change: Use established business rhythms to introduce and manage changes. Connecting change to regular and predictable events helps in gaining team buy-in and maintaining organizational agility and clarity.

Quote of the Show:

• “The first step is really understanding what the gaps in your knowledge are, and then it's really driving to plug those gaps as effectively as possible.” - Dan Michaeli

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielmichaeli
• Website: https://www.glia.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast 

Joining the show this week is someone who’s been building and selling successful companies for 25 years. A well-known and widely respected name in the SaaS community, this guest is none other than the Co-Founder and CEO of G2, Godard Abel. 

Godard joins host David Politis to discuss his journey building multiple successful businesses. Godard examines the importance of having the right co-founders, the benefits of a dialed-in team, as well as struggles when scaling a business. He delves into fundraising experiences and managing leadership transitions. 
 
Takeaways:

• The importance of trusted co-founders. Having co-founders that are equally committed to bringing the company vision to life helped motivate Godard to continue with G2’s mission.
• Getting off the ground with reviews. After putting out G2’s alpha, Godard relied on receiving reviews at events like Dreamforce. They eventually started putting QR codes at the end of keynotes and handing out hoodies to gain thousands of new reviews. 
• Struggles with Silicon Valley. G2 struggled to gain investors initially, unsuccessfully pitching themselves to investors in California. It wasn’t until they focused on local Chicago opportunities that significant investments were made into G2.
• Indirectly flooding Accel. Entrepreneur’s pitch Accel for fundraising started including G2 Grids in their decks en masse. This constant visibility got Accel to see the value in G2 and brought Godard back from Salesforce to scale the company. 
• Giving executives space to operate. While he still has consistent communication and 1 on 1s, Godard is a firm believer of giving executives freedom and responsibility within their roles.
• Patience when hiring executives. David and Godard agree that rushing an executive hiring process is one of the easiest ways to hire the wrong person. Taking the time to find the right match, even if you have to wait for an individual, is worth the time.

Quote of the Show:

• “I'm not like imposing my operating ideas on them, but I wait for them to come and ask.  And then I try to be a good advisor, you know, but I let that be they pull… versus me pushing.” - Godard Abel

Links:

• Twitter: https://x.com/godardabel
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/godardabel/
• Website: https://www.g2.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast 

Joining the show this week is a serial entrepreneur and angel investor that has invested in over 40 companies. He is one of the best when it comes to connecting people, this guest is none other than the Co-Founder and CEO of Hunt Club, Nick Cromydas. 

Nick joins host David Politis to discuss his journey from a collegiate tennis player to a tech entrepreneur. Nick examines the importance of hiring curious and passionate people, as well as the importance of transparency. He delves into his innovative all-hands meetings and how they evolved over time. 

Takeaways:

• Entrepreneur from the start. Nick had been an entrepreneur his whole life. He started reselling tennis equipment as a kid, then built an online platform to connect college athletes and alumni, and now is a Co-Founder of one of the largest leadership search firms in the world.
• A culture of asking questions. Hunt Club has been able to establish a monthly all-hands meeting dedicated to transparency, allowing the rest of the company to share their successes and perspectives, and open and honest communication within the company.
• Leading with curiosity. Nick has found that many in the executive search industry don’t come from a solutions oriented background. When hiring for their team, they prefer to hire someone who is curious and willing to better understand the problem in front of them.
• Having a passion outside of work. If an employee was ever passionate about something outside of their work, a good leader should work to recreate that passion for something in the business. Nick actively looks for passions when hiring new employees.
• Bouncing back from rejection. The economic effects of the pandemic killed an acquisition deal of Hunt Club and caused an 80% loss in revenue shortly after. They were able to cut leadership compensation, cut costs, and capitalize on the new and unique deals to be exceeding goals a few months later.
• Speed to resiliency. The time it takes to get over issues gets shorter as time goes on. What took weeks to get past when you start your business could take minutes to get over in the future. 

Quote of the Show:

• “If you don’t really build a culture where people are comfortable asking a really hard or direct question, or asking something that they don’t know, it’s impossible to actually close the gap on what you're trying to build together.” - Nick Cromydas

Links:

• Twitter: https://x.com/nickcromydas 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cromydas/
• Website: https://www.huntclub.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast 

Joining the show this week is an entrepreneur with a passion for getting people into the tech industry. With over a decade spent trying to improve the lives of low-income New Yorkers, this guest is none other than the Co-Founder and CEO of Pursuit, Jukay Hsu. 

Jukay joins host David Politis to discuss his journey helping people get jobs in tech. Jukay examines the importance of having a mission-driven team, the challenges of going remote, and the importance of communal activity. He delves into adapting to change and how he sees AI affecting the workplace. 

Takeaways:

• Helping people earn more. Pursuit's fellowship program helps individuals transition from low-wage jobs to successful careers in tech, increasing the average income of their fellows from $18,000 before Pursuit to over $90,000 at their first job after Pursuit. 
• The impact of a mission-driven team. Pursuit’s mission is not one that can be achieved easily. Finding and hiring team members that share the same mission as Jukay helps keep his employees motivated and makes the payoff after successes even greater for all involved.
• Ease and struggles of going remote. While many were able to easily transition into a remote environment during Covid-19, some fellows asked to remain in person as they do not have the ability to continue from home. Jukay highlights how important it is to understand how much access to technology their community has outside of Pursuit.
• Technology changing industries. Jukay saw how technology was actively changing industries all over. He chose to focus his business on technology in order to make as big of an impact as he could.
• The need to veto experts as CEO. CEOs will often get guidance or opinions from many stakeholders before making decisions. It is important to remember that a stakeholder’s expertise in one field won’t always translate to a similar field or situation.
• People and AI. Jukay shares his thoughts on AI being introduced into the workplace. He points out that AI is just a tool and that people skills and problem solving in a business setting will be necessary no matter how much technology changes.

Quote of the Show:

• “It doesn't feel like work. It just feels like things I'm interested in and care about, and solving things.” - Jukay Hsu

Links:

• Twitter: https://x.com/jukayhsu 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jukay/
• Website: https://www.pursuit.org/ 

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast