Calling Operator with Laura Nicol Ep 52. Operational Leadership with Alexey Mitko
Laura Nicol dials into Alexey Mitko. Alexey’s career has been all about operational leadership. Finance, HR, legal — he’s held the keys to the gritty, foundational work that lets startups scale without falling apart.
He puts it simply:
“When the startup community has been so generous in teaching me how to see the world differently as a 20-something, it’s my obligation — as an almost 40-year-old (don’t forget to stretch, people) — to do the same. If I can pass it on, use my skills, and maybe get rewarded along the way? That sounds pretty good to me.”
Inside:
- I tapped into Alexey’s communities to crowdsource the questions we all wanted answered. How he operates, what he’s learned, and why he believes in being part of the “supporting cast” that helps others shine.
- Helping founders survive the weird, wonderful, and maddening ride of going from nothing to something
- Why one year in a startup can feel like three years of career growth
- From Interactive Accounting in Sydney’s Tank Stream Labs → Canva (back when it was just 20 people in Surry Hills) → Koala (where he built his “early-stage scaffolding” system) → Eucalyptus (his first founder seat)
- The three things that defined Eucalyptus’ early success: a battle-tested ops team, exceptional early hires, and a dash of luck
- Finding (and owning) the stage you’re most useful in
- How to think about ESOP as an employee. How founders think about ESOP as an employer.
Also mentioned:
- Read this before you accept an equity offer at a startup: Alexey’s guide to employee share schemes in Australia, drawing on lessons from designing Canva, Koala & Eucalyptus’ ESOPs.
Guest ideas?
Do you have an operator on speed dial who could be perfect for the show? Please share your suggestions with me via LinkedIn.
A note from your host, Laura:
My goal for Calling Operator is to open-source stories from startup operators across various functional areas and learn how they excel at building and scaling companies. As a Chief of Staff, I often find myself in (virtual) rooms with people facing similar challenges and reinventing the wheel. I want this podcast to open a line for operators across Australia and New Zealand to learn from fellow operators. Each episode shares personal stories, the execution behind big ideas, career-defining moments, successes, failures, and lessons.
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