Radical Transparency: The CEO’s Shortcut to Trust with Robert Yuen, Co-founder and CEO @ Monograph

What if telling the truth faster could make your company more profitable, your culture stronger, and your life easier?

Robert Yuen, CEO of Monograph, believes it can. He has built an entire business around it.

In this episode of Don’t Be a Jerk, Healey sits down with Robert to unpack what radical transparency really looks like in practice. They discuss everything from open dashboards and revenue lines visible to every employee, to investor meetings where Robert leads with the hard stuff first.

Together, Healey and Robert explore:

- Why transparency is the ultimate trust accelerant and the only sustainable culture strategy

- How to communicate bad news without breaking morale

- When to hold back information and how to do it without eroding trust

- Why asking for help early saves startups from silent collapse

- How Monograph uses visual dashboards, revenue transparency, and consistent cadences to eliminate surprises

- The money conversation script architects and founders should use to make pricing fair, firm, and drama-free

- How transparency with investors flips power dynamics and attracts the right partners faster

- The surprising reason radical honesty is also a form of self-care

Robert’s leadership philosophy is simple but bold: “Transparency might backfire sometimes, but it always nets positive.”

This episode is part tactical playbook, part therapy session for founders who are tired of carrying everything alone. If you have ever wondered how to build a company that runs on trust rather than politics, this conversation is your blueprint.

Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!