Calling Operator with Laura Nicol Ep 56. The Multi-Domain Operator with Kai Crow
Every great founder has a small Avengers team turning vision into operational reality. This episode shines a light on someone running marketing, customer and revenue operations while acting as the CEO’s trusted right-hand.
Inside:
- 15+ years' CRM, ops, and scaling insights from a multi-functional perspective—from Sonar6 (acquired by Cornerstone), AskNicely, Plexure (formerly VMob) and Joyous
- Leaving memorable marks that show character and care
- Balancing startup freedom with enterprise rigour as Ask Nicely’s first employee
- Why Joyous turned off the tap on traditional marketing—and what broke
- Knowing when to keep systems simple vs. adding complexity
- The CEO partnership model that makes Ruby (Joyous' CEO) say: “I wouldn’t be here without him”
- When to leverage AI and when to stay firmly human
- Spotting whether you’re building or maintaining, and when you’ve outgrown your role
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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