Building a Breakout Company - Howard Ting - Not Another CEO Podcast - Episode #21

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Dec 10, 2024

Howard Ting, CEO of Cyberhaven and former CMO, shares his transformative leadership journey in the cybersecurity industry. He emphasizes the importance of transparent communication through weekly video updates, which boost team engagement. Ting discusses his strategic shift in targeting mid-market companies and fostering a culture of innovation. He highlights the critical qualities he looks for in hires, such as self-awareness and hunger, while navigating the delicate balance between personal life and business growth.

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ADVICE

Weekly Video Messages

Use short, informal weekly video updates to keep your team aligned and engaged.
These videos foster transparency and connection, especially in distributed teams.

ADVICE

Focusing on the Ideal Customer Profile

Focus on mid-market companies with high IP turnover as your ideal customer profile.
Avoid targeting large enterprises prematurely to accelerate product feedback and company learning.

ADVICE

The Role of Investors

Choose investors based on shared ambition, market understanding, and willingness to actively help.
Prioritize those who offer strategic guidance and connections over those who simply govern.

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Joining the show this week is a seasoned CMO who has transitioned into a CEO role. Committed to creating a standout and lasting company in the cybersecurity space, this guest is none other than the CEO of Cyberhaven, Howard Ting.

Howard shares his leadership journey, lessons on building a culture of innovation, and insights into tackling challenges ranging from product positioning to team dynamics.

Takeaways:

Weekly Video Messages: Ting introduced five-minute weekly video updates early in his tenure at Cyberhaven. These videos keep teams aligned and foster engagement across the organization, showcasing his commitment to transparent communication.
Changing from the Start: Upon joining, Ting made sweeping changes to product strategy, positioning, team structure, and culture. This grew the company's ARR by over 120x, positioning it as one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity companies today.
Focusing on the Ideal Customer Profile: Ting emphasizes the importance of discipline in targeting mid-market companies with high IP turnover rather than pursuing large enterprises prematurely, accelerating product feedback and company learning.
The Role of Investors: Ting prioritizes working with investors who share his ambition, understand market dynamics, and actively help scale the company through strategic guidance and connections, rather than just governing from the sidelines.
Hiring for Growth: Ting values self-awareness, vulnerability, and hunger in hires. He digs deep during interviews, exploring candidates’ childhoods and motivations to assess their capacity for growth and alignment with company culture.
Life Lessons for Career Rhythm: Ting's advice to his younger self includes finding a balance between high-intensity career growth and enjoying the journey. He shares how slowing down at times could have enhanced his personal and professional satisfaction.

Quote of the Show:

“The people who are self aware and demonstrate enough vulnerability, I think they have the best chance of growing and scaling with the company.” - Howard Ting

Links:

Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardting/
Personal Twitter: https://x.com/howardting
Company Website: https://www.cyberhaven.com/

Ways to Tune In:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261
Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast

#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Cyberhaven