Best Manager Ever

Adam Fishman is a product and growth advisor with 20+ years of experience building and leading startup teams. Adam was on the early team at Lyft, where he served as Head of Growth. He then went on to lead Product & Growth at Patreon and Imperfect Foods, before launching his portfolio career. Adam has been an advisor and fractional leader at ResortPass, Mozilla, HelpScout, Peerspace and more. He is also the creator of FishmanAF newsletter and the host of the Startup Dad podcast. Adam’s direct reports praise him for his exceptional support, trust, and empowerment, as is recognized as a catalyst who brings people together across teams, fostering high trust and commitment. His team members appreciate his transparency, proactive communication, and the way he sets clear mutual expectations. In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Adam, and they discuss:How to build trust quickly as a new leader or fractional executive, and why starting from a place of trust matters.How to get more honest feedback from your direct reportsThe best way to manage defensiveness when receiving feedback– and how Adam learned it the hard way Predictions for how AI will impact product leadership roles Why distributing credit and advocating for your team’s growth leads to higher performance and engagement.If you’re interested in sponsoring an episode of Best Manager Ever, reach out: sponsor@fortlight.comJoin us on Substack Connect with Adam FishmanConnect with Annie RileyCheck out Fort Light to level up your leadership skillsConnect with our show’s Producer, Alexis RamdaouNominate your Best Manager Ever for the PodcastThis is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lauren Gold is the Chief Customer Officer at Kustomer, an AI-powered CX platform. Lauren began her tech career at Yahoo before joining the early team at Yext, where she rose from individual contributor to SVP of Enterprise Customer Success. Lauren’s direct reports and colleagues describe her as a leader who supports without micromanaging, fosters autonomy, and creates an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing, learning, and growing. She’s recognized for her attention to detail, data-driven approach, and willingness to jump in and help, while always encouraging her team to take ownership and develop their own skills.In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Lauren to discuss:How to start well in new roles and build trust quicklyThe art of supporting teams without micromanagingTransitioning from first-line leader to managing managersSpotting and developing leadership talent within your teamThe importance of over-communication and transparency in leadershipWhy building relationships and understanding individual motivations matterIf you’re interested in sponsoring an episode of Best Manager Ever, reach out: sponsor@fortlight.comJoin us on Substack Connect with Lauren GoldConnect with Annie RileyCheck out Fort Light to level up your leadership skillsConnect with our show’s Producer, Alexis RamdaouNominate your Best Manager Ever for the PodcastThis is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlie Coglianese, CTO at Paloma Learning and former founder of Schoolrunner, shares insights on leadership and talent development in edtech. He emphasizes the importance of spotting potential through trajectory rather than just outcomes. Charlie introduces the idea of 'productive struggle,' balancing challenge and support for team growth. He discusses managing founder-executive dynamics and highlights the necessity of clear goals to motivate teams. His approach fosters an environment of trust, encouraging innovative thinking and personal development.

Karin Simelaro is the Chief Revenue Officer at SchoolAI, an AI platform that supports teacher and student success. Previously, Karin served as the Revenue leader at BrainPOP, Pathful, and Seesaw. She was an early employee at Nearpod, where started as the first field sales rep when the company was fewer than 30 people and around $10M ARR, and ultimately grew the business to $100M ARR and a successful exit. Karin’s direct reports describe her as open, transparent, energetic, and having high expectations for herself and her team. Her unique blend of skills positions her as a key player in the intersection of education and technology, poised to shape the future of learning.In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Karin,and they discuss:How to evaluate performance amid the uncertainty of early-stage building using the “REKS” framework The importance of a weekly “coffee and contemplation” How to act like an owner of the business – whether you’re an IC or C-level Using AI to prepare and clarify your thoughtsIf you’re interested in sponsoring an episode of Best Manager Ever, reach out: sponsor@fortlight.comJoin us on Substack Connect with Karin SimelaroConnect with Annie RileyCheck out Fort Light to level up your leadership skillsConnect with our show’s Producer, Alexis RamdaouNominate your Best Manager Ever for the PodcastThis is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Darius Contractor is the Chief Growth Officer at Otter AI. Darius has had a long and impactful career in the startup and tech worlds. Prior to Otter AI, he led engineering, growth and product teams at Vendr, Airtable, Facebook, Dropbox, Bebo and more. He is also an investor and advisor in multiple companies and funds. Darius’s direct reports describe him as a master of frameworks and analogies, someone who balances detail orientation with a big-picture vision, and a manager who pushes boundaries with unconventional but memorable approaches.In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Darius,and they discuss:How to support your team’s career path in a fast-paced, high-growth environment The SEEN framework for career development Designing jobs like dinner plates How frameworks and analogies make concepts more memorable If you’re interested in sponsoring an episode of Best Manager Ever, reach out: sponsor@fortlight.comJoin us on Substack Connect with Darius ContratorConnect with Annie RileyCheck out Fort Light to level up your leadership skillsConnect with our show’s Producer, Alexis RamdaouNominate your Best Manager Ever for the PodcastThis is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stevie Case is the Chief Revenue Officer at Vanta. Stevie started her career as the world’s first female pro gamer, and then found her way into the tech and startup world through a self-described “winding path”. Prior to Vanta, Stevie had a successful chapter at Twilio, where she started as an individual contributor and then grew to be the VP of Mid-Market Sales.Stevie’s direct reports consistently describe her as an empowering leader who excels at identifying and nurturing the unique strengths of each individual on her team. They highlight her ability to create an environment where people feel trusted to be themselves, try new things, and take ownership of their work. The most common theme in their feedback is that Stevie makes her team members feel empowered—she is known as a “yes, and…” leader who encourages innovation and supports her team’s ideas, while also setting a high bar for performance and a strong drive to win.In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Stevie, and they discuss:How Stevie has moved between IC and manager roles in her career (and why!) What a manager’s real job is— according to Stevie Why your direct reports are not your “first team” How Stevie vetted Christina as a potential CEO and boss How Stevie’s communication style has evolved as she’s become more senior and Vanta has scaled Why you should prioritize sharing your own story on LinkedIn, even amid a busy startup schedule If you’re interested in sponsoring an episode of Best Manager Ever, reach out: sponsor@fortlight.comJoin us on Substack Connect with Stevie CaseConnect with Annie RileyCheck out Fort Light to level up your leadership skillsConnect with our show’s Producer, Alexis RamdaouNominate your Best Manager Ever for the PodcastThis is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Best Manager Ever shares unfiltered leadership lessons and actionable advice from the most successful and beloved leaders in the startup and tech worlds. This season, you'll hear honest, insightful interviews with operators who’ve been nominated by their teams as the best manager they’ve ever worked for. And for the first time, we’re adding interviews with experts who’ve gone deep on the leadership topics that matter most to you.Each episode is designed to share actionable advice that helps you level up as a leader— almost like a seasoned mentor in your pocket and in your corner. All you have to do is show up and hit play, and we’ll give you something valuable that you can apply in your own work and life. Season 3 starts September 10th and new episodes drop every Wednesday. Subscribe to make sure you never miss an episode, and join the conversation on Substack. If you’re interested in sponsoring an episode of Best Manager Ever, reach out: sponsor@fortlight.comJoin us on Substack Connect with Annie RileyCheck out Fort Light to level up your leadership skillsConnect with our show’s Producer, Alexis RamdaouNominate your Best Manager Ever for the PodcastThis is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this solo episode of Best Manager Ever, host Annie Riley of Fort Light takes a moment to reflect on the standout lessons from Season Two.Annie revisits the powerful insights shared by this season’s guests—from hiring people who challenge you, to seeking out dissenting views, to nurturing both personal and team growth. It’s a chance to pause, look back, and celebrate the wisdom and warmth these leaders brought to the show.Whether you're a longtime listener or just tuning in, this episode offers a meaningful recap of the themes that shaped Season Two—like independent thinking, purposeful leadership, and finding joy and meaning in the work we do.Join us on Substack Connect with Annie RileyCheck out Fort Light to level up your leadership skillsConnect with our show’s producer Alexis RamdaouNominate your Best Manager Ever for the PodcastThis is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s HearIf you’re interested in sponsoring an episode of Best Manager Ever, reach out: sponsor@fortlight.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sruthi Lanka serves as CFO of Public, an investing platform that allows everyone to invest in stocks, ETFs, crypto, and alternative assets, like fine art and collectibles—all in one place. Prior to Public, she was VP Finance at MoneyLion, a consumer lending platform that listed on NYSE via SPAC in 2021. Her previous career was in investment banking at the Royal Bank of Canada and technology at Goldman Sachs.Sruthi's direct reports praise her coaching and context-driven leadership approach, maintaining lean teams while investing heavily in tools and automation, fostering a metrics-driven mindset, and the importance of authenticity and personal connection in leadership.In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Sruthi, and they cover:Recruiting 'scary' talent to push the company's boundariesHow to build cross-functional expertiseMaintaining a strong understanding of company metricsPromoting a culture where lean teams are empowered How to integrate joy into workJoin us on Substack Connect with Sruthi LankaConnect with Annie RileyCheck out Fort Light to level up your leadership skillsConnect with our show’s producer Alexis RamdaouNominate your Best Manager Ever for the PodcastThis is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Asheesh Birla is an Entrepreneur, Angel Investor and Ripple Board Member. Asheesh joined Ripple in 2013 when the team was fewer than ten people. He had a decade-long journey of building Ripple on the product team, and he continues to stay connected to the company as a member of the board. Asheesh’s  direct reports admire his passion, strategic vision, and ability to cultivate a positive work culture. They praise his direct communication, commitment to personal development, and knack for making tough situations enjoyableIn this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Asheesh, and they cover:How to set high standards and expectations while maintaining trust and motivationThe importance of coaching – for yourself and your teamEffective strategies to develop and retain talentThe importance of communicating in a direct and caring wayMethods to handle difficult situations with positivityJoin us on Substack Connect with Asheesh BirlaConnect with Annie RileyCheck out Fort Light to level up your leadership skillsConnect with our show’s producer Alexis RamdaouNominate your Best Manager Ever for the PodcastThis is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.