LEVELS – A Whole New Level

#194 - Personal growth as a CEO in different stages of a growing startup | Sam Corcos & Ben Grynol

Dec 12, 2022

Sam Corcos, CEO of Levels, discusses personal growth and challenges in different startup stages with Ben Grynol. Topics include time management, strategy vs. people ops, startup requirements, and quarterly think weeks. They also explore conflict avoidance, tough decisions, and key takeaways for founders and CEOs, such as humility, trust, and good decision-making.

45:36

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Episode guests

Ben Grynol

Sam Corcos

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Quick takeaways

Different stages of a growing startup require different skill sets and responsibilities for a CEO.

Effective decision-making as a CEO requires reflection, seeking advice, and creating the necessary conditions.

Deep dives

Transitioning from Individual Contributor to CEO

In this podcast episode, Sam Corcos, co-founder and CEO of Levels, shares his journey from being an individual contributor to becoming a CEO. He discusses the challenges of transitioning from writing code and shipping products to leading a team and making strategic decisions. Sam emphasizes the importance of having context, making decisions, and connecting the dots cross-functionally in his current role as a CEO. He also acknowledges the need for leaders to recognize their responsibilities and overcome personal hurdles like conflict avoidance and decision-making to effectively lead and drive their organizations forward.

Recognize Limits and Delegate for Growth

01:43

Sam’s Key Advice for CEOs

01:22

The Biggest Errors of Opportunity for Sam + His Lessons

01:27

The Challenge of Leading and Providing Feedback in Organizations as a CEO

01:18

Introduction

3min

Transitioning from Engineer to CEO

33min

Exploring Conflict Avoidance and Being Present

5min

Navigating Difficult Conversations and Making Tough Decisions as a Leader

3min

Key Takeaways for Founders and CEOs: Humility, Trust, and Good Decision-Making

2min

Over the lifespan of Levels, the company and the CEO role evolved drastically. Sam Corcos went from coding the initial product to CEO, and he experienced a lot of personal challenges and growth along the way. Listen as Sam chats with Ben Grynol about time management, strategy versus people ops, requirements at each startup stage, and taking time to reflect through quarterly Think Weeks.

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Transcript: https://www.levelshealth.com/podcasts/194-personal-growth-as-a-ceo-in-different-stages-of-a-growing-startup-sam-corcos-ben-grynol

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