From Start-Up to Grown-Up

Jeff Byers is the co-founder and CEO of Momentous, a high-performance wellness company delivering science-backed products used by elite athletes, military operators, and high-performers worldwide. A former NFL player and two-time USC football captain, Jeff brings both personal and professional insight to optimizing performance and building values-driven companies.What you’ll learn:Why Jeff says effort and attitude are the only things you can control—and how they ground him in tough momentsThe cultural clash behind merging two wellness companiesHow “speed over consensus” became a core value at MomentousWhy returning to in-person work cost talent but aligned cultureHow EOS helped reset their operating rhythmBuilding high-integrity partnerships with leaders like Huberman and StarrettLessons from Pete Carroll on consistency and energyWhy growth-stage CEOs must “reset the scoreboard” and stay curiousTakeaways:Control what you can: Effort and attitude define how you show upMerge carefully: “Equals” often clash without clear directionCulture lives in person: Jeff prioritized cohesion over convenienceDecide fast on people: Delays around misfits create dragEarn trust: Authenticity attracted elite advisorsBalance roles: EOS clarified vision vs. executionYou define you: Not your title—your choicesFind Jeff:LinkedInMomentousIn this episode: (00:00:00) Expectations in growth-backed companies (00:00:23) Intro to Jeff (00:02:00) NFL to CEO journey (00:03:52) Life as a pro athlete (00:05:28) Teamwork, rhythm, winning (00:09:10) Athletic mindset in startups (00:11:06) Stress rituals, effort & attitude (00:14:02) Purpose-driven leadership (00:19:15) Founding Momentous (00:30:51) Merger lessons (00:35:25) Cultural alignment (00:42:27) In-person work benefits (00:48:38) Standing out in supplements (00:54:20) Partnering with leaders (00:57:59) Co-founder dynamics (01:02:23) Imposter syndrome (01:10:22) Curiosity = leadership growthConnect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on Instagram: @alisacohn Twitter: @alisacohn Facebook: facebook.com/alisa.cohn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/ Website: http://www.alisacohn.com Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

Kevin Evers, Senior Editor at Harvard Business Review and author of 'There’s Nothing Like This', shares insights on Taylor Swift’s strategic rise and her unique brand evolution. He discusses Swift’s 'productive paranoia' and Day One mindset, illustrating how she effectively balances authenticity with innovation. The conversation delves into her bold decisions, fan engagement tactics, and the importance of emotional connections, offering entrepreneurs crucial lessons on resilience and navigating controversy for growth.

Eddie Kim, Co-founder and CTO of Gusto, shares his inspiring journey of building a platform for small businesses. He discusses the nuances of co-founder dynamics and the importance of communication in leadership. Eddie reveals how he transitioned from a technical role to a leader, embracing a hands-off approach to enable his team. He also addresses the unique challenges faced by Asian founders and emphasizes a growth mindset. Bonding traditions among co-founders showcase how friendship fosters stronger professional relationships.

In this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, host Alisa Cohn sits down with Daniel Yanisse, co-founder and CEO of Checkr, to discuss the exhilarating rise and the challenges of sustaining a high-growth company. Checkr revolutionized the background check industry, scaling from a $1M revenue run rate in just three months to processing millions of background checks annually. But with hypergrowth came intense operational, cultural, and leadership challenges.Daniel shares how he navigated:Hiring at hyperspeed—and why some employees quit on day one.The "hangover" after hypergrowth—losing key executives and investor pressure.How to hire and retain top executives—and avoid common leadership hiring mistakes.Revising a company mission to balance fairness and safety while scaling.The "Fly High, Fly Low" leadership approach—balancing strategy and deep operational insights.This episode is packed with real-world lessons for founders, CEOs, and startup leaders facing the challenges of rapid growth, leadership transitions, and market shifts.🎧 Listen now and learn how to build and sustain a high-growth company. Timestamps & Key Topics00:00 – Introduction02:30 – The Early Days of Checkr06:20 – The Downside of Hypergrowth08:45 – Facing Leadership Challenges & Executive Turnover15:30 – Hiring and Managing Executives21:00 – Redefining Checkr’s Mission: Fairness vs. Safety28:00 – Leadership Lessons & Overcoming Challenges39:00 – Confidence, Imposter Syndrome & Founder Loneliness45:00 – Final Advice for FoundersConnect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on Instagram: @alisacohn Twitter: @alisacohn Facebook: facebook.com/alisa.cohn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/ Website: http://www.alisacohn.com Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

Dr. Peter Attia, founder of Early Medical and host of The Drive, dives deep into the interplay of health and wealth. He explores how daily habits can significantly boost longevity and healthspan. Attia discusses the evolution from Medicine 2.0 to 3.0, advocating for a new paradigm to tackle chronic illnesses. He highlights the concept of the 'centenarian decathlon,' encouraging fitness goals for maintaining capabilities as we age. Additionally, he addresses mental health challenges in entrepreneurship, emphasizing the need for compassion and timely intervention.

Isabelle Freidheim, founder of Athena Capital and the youngest chairman of a publicly traded company in the U.S., shares her inspiring journey. She discusses the unique challenges women face in finance and the importance of creating opportunities through SPACs. Freidheim emphasizes the benefits of empowering women in leadership roles and shares personal anecdotes of overcoming self-doubt. Her early entrepreneurial experiences shaped her innovative approach to investment, highlighting the value of resilience and collaboration in building successful, women-led teams.

Ethan Evans, former Amazon VP and executive mentor, shares his extensive experience in helping leaders level up their careers. He discusses the importance of self-promotion and strategic relationships in navigating managerial roles. Listeners learn to tackle career challenges by seeing them as puzzles, and Ethan emphasizes the value of mentorship in professional growth. He also addresses overcoming imposter syndrome and highlights the role of self-confidence in fostering career success, encouraging everyone to embrace their unique journey.

Chip Conley, founder of the Modern Elder Academy, offers rich insights as a leading voice at the intersection of psychology and business. He shares how to turn regret into future fuel and the necessity for founders to embrace identity shifts. Chip also discusses strategies for managing older team members and reflects on vital lessons learned from mentorship. Plus, he reveals his favorite interview question that uncovers deeper cultural fits—proof that wisdom truly transcends age in the workplace!

Gary Vaynerchuk, also known as "GaryVee," is a serial entrepreneur, the Chairman of VaynerX, and 5x New York Times Best Selling Author. He is a leading global mind on what's next in culture, relevance, and the internet. Gary possesses an uncanny ability to recognize trends and patterns early to help others understand how these shifts impact consumer behavior. He is one of the most forward-thinkers in business. Gary's approach sits at the intersection of business and culture. He keenly understands how to bring brand relevance to the forefront. “It's not a hokey thing to say you have to enjoy the journey. It's the only sustainable thing.” That’s one of the wisdom bombs from my latest guest on From Start-up to Grown-up, the legendary  Gary Vaynerchuk- Chairman of Vayner X and the author of his brand new book, Day Trading Attention.Here are a few more of the many great takeaways Gary offered during our discussion:“Chasing the short-term is the number one strategy that makes people fail.”“Entrepreneurship is a constant game of losing with occasional wins.”“There’s nothing that happens on earth that doesn’t start with attention.”Learn more about his book, Day Trading Attention | Website garyvaynerchuk.comConnect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on Instagram: @alisacohn Twitter: @alisacohn Facebook: facebook.com/alisa.cohn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/ Website: http://www.alisacohn.com Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

Colin Bryar, a former top executive at Amazon and co-author of 'Working Backwards,' shares invaluable insights from his time shadowing Jeff Bezos. He discusses how Amazon's unique six-page memo process transforms communication and decision-making. Colin highlights the importance of customer obsession and long-term thinking in the company's culture, offering gems about how resilience and mental well-being factor into leadership. He also details the intricate hiring processes that uphold Amazon's high standards, providing practical advice for startups looking to adopt similar frameworks.