Unlocking Product-Market Fit - Scott Voigt - Fullstory - Episode #65

How can CEOs stay adaptable while leading through pivots, growth, and constant change? In this episode, Scott Voigt, Founder and CEO of Fullstory, shares his journey from a failed first product to creating the leading digital analytics platform used by thousands of companies worldwide. 

Scott dives into the tough realities of leadership, from making difficult people decisions to evolving as a CEO as the company scales. He opens up about the power of storytelling in fundraising and leadership, the importance of mental well-being, and the lessons he’s learned from being an early builder in Atlanta’s thriving tech ecosystem.

Takeaways:

• The Power of Storytelling: Scott Voigt emphasizes the significance of storytelling in his role as CEO. It's not just about what you say but how you say it. Through effective storytelling, he energizes and aligns his team, creating a shared vision and purpose.
• Hiring and Building a Strong Team: Voigt discusses the challenges of hiring and the importance of finding the right fit. He stresses the necessity of moving people out quickly if they are not a good fit, even though it can be difficult.
• Navigating Investor Relations: Scott’s journey of securing funding for Fullstory involved both challenges and triumphs. He shares the importance of being strategic and deliberate in choosing investors and board members.
• The Journey of Fullstory's Market Fit: Voigt candidly reflects on the evolution of Fullstory's product-market fit. Initially, as the team worked on a different product, they faced numerous rejections. However, the pivot to Fullstory's current offering brought about an immediate and undeniable product-market fit.
• Overcoming Internal Challenges: Discussing exits, Voigt argues that the company's mission should transcend any individual's role, ensuring continued alignment and progress regardless of internal changes.

Quote of the Show:

• “When your spidey sense tells you something isn’t working with a person, make the change fast. It only gets harder the longer you wait." - Scott Voigt

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmvoigt/ 
• Website: https://www.fullstory.com/ 

Ways to Tune In:

• Substack: https://notanotherceo.substack.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast 
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ 

#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Fullstory

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:36 The Biggest Impactful Decision at Fullstory

03:35 The Challenges and Lessons of Letting People Go

08:38 Hiring Philosophy and Interview Techniques

18:56 The Importance of Storytelling as a CEO

24:54 Fundraising Journey and Product Pivot

33:38 Reflecting on the Early Struggles

37:14 The Importance of Team Chemistry

43:28 Navigating the Atlanta Tech Scene

48:20 Biggest Challenges and Lessons Learned

51:01 Future Vision for Fullstory

57:15 Personal Reflections and Advice

01:07:53 Outro