Better Tech Leadership 140: Lydia Varmazis: Boardroom Insights - Leveraging Advisors for Startup Success
Jun 17, 2025
Lydia Varmazis, Chief Portfolio Officer and Chief Product Officer at RBCx, shares her wealth of knowledge on leveraging board members as strategic assets for startups. She delves into the complexities of scaling after an MVP, highlighting why growth can be tougher than initial development. Lydia discusses the importance of making bold career choices that resonate with personal values and emphasizes data-driven hiring strategies. With insights from her rich background at Adobe and PayPal, she offers invaluable metrics for portfolio success.
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Maximize Board Members' Value
- Use board meetings for strategy discussions, not just reporting.
- Leverage board members' networks for hiring, fundraising, and partnerships effectively.
Board Members Should Speak Up
- Own your point of view and contribute different perspectives as a board member.
- Don't feel pressured to always align or be overly deferential to the board.
Duality of Product and Portfolio Roles
- Product role focuses on building the right things for customers and investors.
- Portfolio role focuses on betting on the right things to provide long-term value.
