The Bootstrapped Founder

244: Emmet Gibney — Referred Into the Role of CEO

Aug 23, 2023

58:10

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Emmet Gibney, former customer support turned interim CEO of Rewardful, shares his journey and insights on referral and affiliate programs. Topics include setting up referral programs, identifying ideal affiliates, and building impactful communities. They also discuss the benefits of collaboration within a private equity company, the power of customer referrals and affiliate programs, building relationships in the info product space, customer behavior in a recurring revenue system, and exploring selling your business.

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Quick takeaways

Emmet Gibney shares his journey from working in customer support to becoming the Interim CEO of Rewardful, highlighting the potential personal growth and career trajectory that can be achieved through referrals.

The podcast emphasizes the importance of referral and affiliate programs in driving growth and success for businesses, providing insights into setting up effective referral programs and finding the right affiliate profile.

Building relationships with affiliates based on trust and common goals is crucial for running a successful affiliate program, emphasizing the need for personalized outreach and maintaining communication with affiliates.

Deep dives

Emmet Gibney's remarkable journey from customer support to Interim CEO of Rewardful

Emmet Gibney shares his journey from working in customer support to becoming the Interim CEO of Rewardful, a role he stepped into after the departure of the original founders. He discusses the transition and the company's expansion under new private equity ownership. The importance of referral and affiliate programs in driving growth and success is highlighted, with insights into setting up effective referral programs and finding the right affiliate profile for a business. The episode also explores the significance of building and contributing to communities for maximum impact.

Introduction

4min

Growing into the Role of CEO: An Organic Journey

16min

Exploring the Benefits of Collaboration within a Private Equity Company

4min

The Power of Customer Referrals and Affiliate Programs

23min

Building Relationships and Community in the Info Product Space

3min

Customer Behavior and Challenges in a Recurring Revenue System

6min

Exploring the Option of Selling Your Business

3min

Emmet Gibney truly walked the path less taken. Today, you'll hear about an extraordinary journey from customer support to interim CEO of Rewardful. You'll gain insights into how Emmett skillfully braved the transition following the company's acquisition by a private equity group. This episode will acquaint you with the power of referral and affiliate programs, and how they can provide the much-needed edge to entrepreneurs in their quest for growth.

This conversation with Emmett is a goldmine of subject-matter expert insights. We discuss the lucky turn of events that propelled him to the position of interim CEO at Rewardful, and his role in the growth trajectory of the SaaS Group. You'll learn about the intricate management processes this Private Equity company has woven for its portfolio companies. Understand the distinction between customer referral programs and affiliate marketing programs, and the art of setting them up. Emmett's experiences serve as a testament to the potential personal growth and career trajectory that can be achieved by working your way up — or being referred, as we find out.

We also delve deep into the art of building successful referral and affiliate systems. Listen to the success stories of two indie hackers and explore the strategies to build trust with affiliates and identify the right people for your affiliate system. Embrace the wisdom of the long-standing community members and learn how to attract the right newcomers to your work. This episode is not just about strategies but also about the nuances of human relationships in business – a true masterclass for entrepreneurs and those in the SaaS industry.

00:00:00 Journey to Interim CEO at Rewardful
00:11:47 Transitioning to Private Equity
00:22:16 Referral and Affiliate Programs for SaaS Businesses
00:35:41 Building Affiliate Systems for SaaS Businesses
00:39:11 Finding and Building Affiliate Partnerships
00:44:43 Community-Centric Approach in Business

Emmet on Twitter: https://twitter.com/emmetgibney

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/emmet-gibney-referred-into-the-role-of-ceo/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/a68eab7b

The video: https://youtu.be/FpymMil-3Ks

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com