Navigating cash flow, fostering international growth, and balancing family dynamics—business leadership is both challenging and rewarding. In this episode of The Business OS, host Kushal Saini Kakkar sits down with Kari Yuers, President and CEO of Kryton International, about her transformative journey in these areas.

Kari shares her experiences from starting in her father's factory as a teenager to expanding the family business into an international powerhouse operating in over 50 countries. She discusses overcoming financial struggles, the importance of trust, navigating the male-dominated construction industry, and Kari’s dedication to sustainability. Kari also highlights the value of a vibrant company culture, continuous learning, and fostering a supportive environment for employees.

You’ll Learn:

• Maintaining cash flow is essential for survival, especially in those early stages, way more than profits or revenues
• Discover how the long-term perspective of a family business lays the foundation for consistent growth and innovation
• Finding the correct partners isn’t just a box to check off, it's about ensuring they align with your vision and mission

Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro

(02:17) Innovations and growth at Kryton International

(04:16) How to navigate a male-dominated industry

(06:18) Challenges and strategies in scaling a family business

(10:27) Long-term vision and international expansion

(15:53) Navigating joint ventures and supplier relations

(22:57) Sustainability in business

(28:46) Building a vibrant company culture

(34:14) Learning to lead by listening

(37:58) Overcoming paralysis by analysis

Building a company that fosters innovation and growth takes more than business acumen—it requires trust and a commitment to continuous learning.

In this episode of The Business OS, host Kushal Saini Kakkar sits down with Evan Huck, CEO of UserEvidence, about his journey from introverted sales professional to entrepreneur. Evan shares his philosophy of hiring self-motivated individuals and emphasizes the importance of a balanced work-life environment.

Evan also discusses the power of listening in sales, building a tech startup outside traditional bubbles, and maintaining company culture with practical policies like the Powder Policy. He highlights UserEvidence’s mission to turn customer experiences into valuable testimonials and case studies for B2B companies.

You’ll Learn:

• How fostering psychological safety can boost risk-taking and innovation within your team
• The value of maintaining a balanced company culture in a startup environment
• Why it’s crucial to stick to high hiring standards for team expertise and interpersonal compatibility

Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro

(00:45) From introvert to CEO

(02:51) Succeeding in sales as an introvert

(06:39) Building a thriving tech startup in Jackson

(11:23) The importance of company culture

(15:27) Why leadership requires continuous learning and humility

(28:28) How UserEvidence drives B2B sales success

Building a successful business doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a journey filled with trials, triumphs, and endless learning.

In this episode of The Business OS, host Tom Burgess sits down with Matt Tait, CEO of Decimal, as he shares his journey from being a lawyer to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Matt discusses his initial business failure in restaurant tech and the valuable lessons it taught him about resilience and the importance of openly discussing failure.

Now leading a fully remote company serving over 650 clients with a strong emphasis on values and culture, Matt talks about the challenges and strategies of remote work. He also touches on the significance of personal and mental health for CEOs, the importance of having a coach and peer group, and knowing when to delegate tasks.

You’ll Learn:

• How complementary skills and shared values between co-founders drive both business and personal success
• The importance of personal well-being in leadership, enhancing both individual and team performance
• How maintaining company values and leveraging AI are essential for scaling modern businesses effectively

Timestamps:

(00:00) The power of iteration and reflection

(01:00) From lawyer to entrepreneur

(05:30) Challenges and strategies in remote work

(06:44) The importance of company culture

(11:11) Leveraging technology and AI in business

(14:05) The co-founder relationship

(23:46) Personal health and peer support for CEOs

Navigating the entrepreneurial landscape can feel like walking a tightrope, balancing intuition, process, emotion, and pragmatism.

In this episode of The Business OS, host Kushal Saini Kakkar sits down with Shruti Kapoor, Co-founder of Wingman and head of international business at Clari. Shruti talks about her entrepreneurial journey and shares the importance of connecting with fellow founders, the pivotal moments that propelled her into entrepreneurship, and the indispensable role of gut feelings in hiring and fundraising.

You’ll Learn:

• How gut instincts, like noticing red flags early, are key in hiring and choosing an investor
• The importance of evaluating referrals individually––as a great fit in one context may not work in another
• The value of being emotionally detached when selling a company to make objective decisions

Timestamps:

(00:00) The importance of networking in business

(00:33) Shruti Kapoor’s corporate life to Wingman’s success

(03:52) The challenges and success in building Wingman

(06:03) How co-founders build trust gradually

(08:03) The key to building a strong startup team

(13:33) Navigating fundraising and investor relations

(18:04) What founders should know before an acquisition

(23:42) How to balance parenthood and entrepreneurship

(26:12) Advice for women entrepreneurs

From lab scientist to sales leader, Dini Mehta’s journey is anything but typical.

In this episode of The Business OS, host Kushal Saini Kakkar sits down with Dini Mehta, former CRO of Lattice and current Executive in Residence at Peak XV Partners. Dini shares her journey from studying biology to becoming a successful sales leader, emphasizing the importance of hiring diverse teams and fostering an environment of psychological safety, transparency, and accountability.

She also shares her strategies for hiring the right people, overcoming common challenges in sales, and making decisions based on both data and instinct. Plus, Dini touches on the significance of continuously re-evaluating career paths and the benefits of maintaining a beginner's mindset.

You’ll Learn:

• The power of people-first leadership and how it transforms business dynamics
• Why diversity in your team isn't just a value but a growth driver
• How to balance intuition and data in making critical business decisions

Timestamps:
(00:00) Why building diverse teams is good for business

(01:55) Dini's career path from biology to sales

(03:01) How to build a people-first culture

(10:43) Empathy's impact on workplace culture

(13:59) How to hire for success

(18:22) The importance of diversity in early-stage startups

(21:09) Balancing analysis and intuition in business strategy

(25:40) How to embrace uncertainty in your career journey

The temptation to take every opportunity can be overwhelming. But as today's guest, Julie Bee, emphasizes, sometimes the most strategic move is learning to say no.

In this episode, host Tom Burgess sits down with Julie, a seasoned entrepreneur, burnout strategist, and author, to discuss the importance of managing burnout. Julie shares insights from her new book, "Burnt," and explains why recognizing burnout early can save not just your business, but your well-being.

From running successful ventures to navigating the challenges of corporate life, Julie's journey is a testament to the power of prioritization and the dangers of overextending. She shares practical strategies for business leaders to avoid the burnout trap and highlights the value of delegating tasks effectively. 

Whether you're leading a company or just starting out, this episode offers valuable advice on maintaining balance and staying focused on what truly matters.

You’ll Learn:

• Why saying no to new opportunities can help your business thrive
• The different stages of burnout and how to recognize the warning signs
• Practical tips for managing priorities, improving delegation, and combating burnout as a leader

Timestamps:

[00:00] How to say ‘no’ to avoid burnout

[02:38] A look back to Julie Bee's career & entrepreneurial journey

[07:04] Recognizing, preventing, and leveraging burnout

[10:46] The challenges of burnout in remote work environments

[14:15] Two steps to addressing burnout and saying no

[19:11] Effective delegation for burnout prevention

[23:37] Medical assistance for burnout

[29:05] The benefits of support groups for burnout and useful resources

Building a business from the ground up is no easy task.

It takes dedication, resilience, a clear vision, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. 

Successful entrepreneurs often face numerous challenges, but their persistence and willingness to learn from failures are what set them apart.

In this episode of The Business OS, host Kushal Saini Kakkar sits down with Nick Cegelski, the Founder of 30 Minutes to President's Club, to discuss his transformative journey from startup founder to thriving CEO. Nick shares his personal growth story, detailing his experiences from learning critical lessons on the wrestling mat to running a successful podcast and business.

Nick also shares his experiences grappling with imposter syndrome, the importance of discipline, and the pivotal decisions that shaped his career. 

Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned founder, this episode offers valuable models and insights to help you navigate the complexities of business leadership.

You’ll Learn:

• The difference between selling and running a business
• The importance of discipline and facing discomfort
• How effective communication and respect play a role in leadership

Timestamps:

[00:00] An introduction to the episode

[03:09] Changing perspectives and priorities when running a business

[10:34] Strong relationships formed through shared adversity and communication

[21:18] Frustration with a lack of actionable sales content

[33:27] Why successful sales calls involve mutual information sharing

[35:46] Advice for finding balance and success

Building a business is tough. And transitioning from a founder's mindset to becoming an impactful CEO is even tougher. 

In the debut episode of The Business OS, host Kushal Saini Kakkar sits down with Gaurav Sharma, the founder and CEO of JustCall, to discuss his transformative journey from a startup founder to a thriving CEO. Gaurav shares his personal growth story, detailing how he overcame his introverted nature to become an effective leader.

Listen as Gaurav reveals the strategies he uses to continually challenge himself, avoid complacency, and build high-quality organizations like SaaS Labs and JustCall. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned founder, this episode offers valuable mental models and candid insights to help you navigate the complexities of business leadership.

Tune in to gain actionable takeaways that will empower you to lead and drive your business confidently.

You’ll Learn:

• The difference between being a founder and a CEO
• The importance of hiring the right people and building a robust company culture
• How AI is an opportunity and challenge for businesses today

Timestamps:

[00:00] An introduction to the episode

[05:18] Why Gaurav waited to raise capital until profitable

[09:03] How the fear of failing inspires motivation

[14:05] How Gaurav started with tiny products and became successful

[20:18] The importance of open communication during the hiring process

[24:00] How communication between pre-funded and post-funded teams was crucial for understanding each other's strengths

[25:34] Understanding purpose drives higher contribution, especially across generations in the workplace

Building a business is tough. It takes grit, never-ending days, missed family birthdays, and more coffee than you thought it was possible to drink.

Unfortunately, many business operators do all of this and see initial success but then - crickets! They hit a plateau or, worse, fall off the cliff entirely.

This is The Business OS, a show powered by JustCall dedicated to ensuring that you don't get lost in that Bermuda Triangle of irrelevance.

Join us as we talk to entrepreneurs, business leaders, and real-world operators - folks who know your struggles better than anyone else. They are also the ones with the knowledge and playbooks to help you succeed. Through candid conversations with our guests, we make sure you’ll walk away with actionable takeaways to help you think ahead and pivot fast.

True, building a business is tough - and you have to hustle. But it does get easier when you have a Business OS.