Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief with Cameron Herold Ep. 544 - ForAfrika COO Jim Lutzweiler - Game-Changing Habits Every Top COO Uses Now
Are you secretly wondering if your team has what it really takes to scale across borders, cultures, and chaos?
In this episode, Sivana sits down with Jim Lutzweiler, Global COO at ForAfrika, to pull back the curtain on what actually makes world-class teams tick. From the dirt floors of Ghana to the boardrooms of Fortune 500s, Jim’s been the fixer for mission-driven giants—solving people, culture, and growth puzzles in over 100 countries.
If you’re tired of surface-level leadership advice and ready to learn the real, gritty skills for building resilient teams, breaking silos, and driving impact under fire, this conversation is your competitive edge. Listen now to dodge the pain and political landmines of hiring wrong, failing succession plans, or losing visibility on what actually matters.
This episode delivers battle-tested wisdom for COOs who want to thrive. Miss it, and you’ll be left behind. Only here will you find these raw, proven insights. Don’t skip this one.
Timestamped Highlights
[00:00] – The no-surprises rule that keeps leadership out of the headlines (and how silence wrecks your team’s brand)
[02:10] – From Peace Corps mud huts to C-suite: why relentless curiosity built Jim’s game-changing career trajectory
[05:33] – Why hiring for passion isn’t enough—developing the DNA for unstoppable teams across 8 countries
[12:17] – When a single email kills your funding: navigating shock, recovery, and reinvention under global donor cuts
[16:48] – The “BMW engine” mentality that rewired how Jim builds high-output teams
[20:07] – How to spot (and fix) hidden silos—and why most leaders get blindsided
[34:10] – In-person secrets: the critical moves that build (or break) trust when screens won’t cut it
[51:31] – Working with visionaries: telling your CEO the hard truth and loving your “number two” seat
About the Guest
Jim Lutzweiler is the Chief Operating Officer at ForAfrika, an NGO transforming lives by unlocking Africa’s resources to help its people thrive. With over 25 years of experience in international development, including work across 100 countries for governments, NGOs, and Fortune 500 companies, Jim is recognized for building resilient teams, leading successful change initiatives, and managing complex projects at scale.
Mentioned Resources
- World Food Programme
- USAID
- UNICEF
- EOS – Entrepreneurial Operating System
- AARP Foundation
- Duquesne University
About the Co-Host
Sivana Brewer is a Fractional COO for Remote Teams and former COO at Closers.io, where she helped scale the company to multiple eight figures and built over 500+ sales teams in just 2.5 years. She specializes in leadership development, remote operations, and systems that empower teams to grow sustainably.
🔗 Connect with Sivana on LinkedIn
Important Links
- Connect with Cameron: Website | LinkedIn
- Explore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in Command
- Get Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO Book
- Take Cameron’s leadership course: Invest In Your Leaders Online Course (Use promo code PODCAST10 before the end of the month for 10% off)
- Chat or video call with AI Cameron via Delphi
The Second in Command Podcast is an original production hosted by Cameron Herold and co-hosted by Sivana Brewer. Brought to you by COO Alliance. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.