The Operations Room: A Podcast for COO’s 72. Is the COO the Single Source of Truth?
In this episode we discuss: Is the COO the single source of truth? We are joined by Eric Collins, Investor, Serial Entrepreneur, CEO & Founding Member at Impact X Capital investing in underrepresented entrepreneurs; Author of We Don’t Need Permission (amzn.to/3Qp6G9d); & Host of Channel 4's The Money Maker.
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We chat about the following with Eric Collins:
- What makes the COO the true "source of truth" in scaling a venture-backed company?
- How can COOs balance growth while CFOs maintain financial discipline—and why does this partnership make or break success?
- Why is succession planning not just a CEO concern, but a critical step for every COO aiming to lead?
- Can a COO ever match a founder's passion, or is their power found in something entirely different?
- What does it really take for a COO to transition into the CEO seat—and what role does backfilling play in that journey?
References
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericdcollinsba/?originalSubdomain=uk
- www.impactxcapital.com
Biography
Eric Collins is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and host of Channel 4's The Money Maker. He’s held leadership roles at AOL, TimeWarner, SwiftKey/Microsoft, and Touch Surgery/Medtronic.
Appointed by President Obama to the Small Business Administration’s Council on Underserved Communities, Eric now serves on the boards of Cirata, UnLtd, Crux, and Autograph ABP. A sought-after speaker and Audi brand ambassador, he’s consistently featured on The Powerlist of influential Black Britons.
His award-winning book, We Don’t Need Permission (Penguin), advocates for investing in Black and underrepresented entrepreneurs as a powerful driver of social change.
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Summary
23:55 The unique role that the CEO plays in a scaling organisation
28:05 The value of the COO next to the CFO
30:58 Progressing as a COO
33:11 CEO and COO Succession Planning
33:51 The Passion of Founders vs. COOs
39:56 Planning for Success as a COO
43:16 Setting the Agenda in Board Meetings
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