Best Manager Ever

Lauren Rhode is the VP of Sales at Webflow, and she’s had several interesting chapters to her career. Lauren got her start in public service, working at the Department of Defense. She also played on the national rugby team, and traveled around the world competing for Team USA. She started her tech career in product, before discovering her knack for sales. She has held prior roles at Bablestreet (formerly Vertical Knowledge) and Anaplan.Lauren's direct reports describe her as a hardworking and empathetic leader. She is known as a “machine”, while also fostering a positive team culture where everyone feels valued and supported.In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Lauren, and they cover:Dealing with leadership transitions in scaling companies How to show up deliberately in virtual interactionsEmpowering teams with optimistic realismManaging your time and schedule intentionally as a leaderJoin us on Substack Connect with Lauren RhodeConnect 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.

Leanna Nazzisi is the Senior Direct of Customer Experience at Victoria Beckham Beauty, a clean beauty, cruelty-free, digital-first makeup and skincare brand. Leanna launched her startup career as a seasonal contractor with Birchbox, where she rose through the ranks to become a senior CX leader as the company scaled. She also had a chapter as a customer success leader during Zendesk’s growth stage. Leanna's direct reports praise her for fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute, highlighting her willingness to embrace change and focus on both personal and professional growth. They describe her as knowledgeable, communicative, in tune with everyday situations, truthful, caring, authentic, and confident.In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Leanna, and they cover:How to manage peers and friends-turned-direct reports Proactively eliciting ideas and really listening Matching the business needs with the strengths and needs of the individuals on the team Creating a culture of transparency, honesty, and clarity Join us on Substack Connect with Leanna NazzisiConnect 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.

Amit Shah is the COO of Virta Health, where he’s built the company from ~30 team members to over 800 colleagues working to reverse obesity and diabetes. Amit has 10+ years of experience in building and scaling entrepreneurial and high-growth healthcare organizations, with a focus on delivering financial and operational results while aligning on mission and values.Amit’s direct reports praise his ability to balance the needs of Virta’s members, business, and staff, describing him as incredibly kind, caring, driven, and a fierce protector of his team. He is celebrated for his passion, structured thinking, dedication to his own growth and development, and continuous improvement in leadership.In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Amit, and they cover:How to build a gratitude practice that supports your team– and yourselfThe importance of emotional awareness and regulation in leadership Energy management habits and practices   A process to take charge of feedback, learning, and growth The relationship between execution and strategy in startups Join us on Substack Connect with Amit Shah 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.

Liz Ludwig is the co-founder of Takes, a game for sports fans. Liz started out working in Fortune 500 companies, before moving into the startup world. She had a successful career building and scaling marketing functions at Sungevity, OhmConnect, and more. Liz’s direct reports describe her as a high-energy manager who builds momentum, trusts her team quickly, empowers them, and balances results with human connection. They appreciate her transparent communication, ability to align teams, and willingness to mentor and support even past their tenure.In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Liz,and they cover:Approaching the ambiguity of early-stage building as a management advantage The importance of hiring and firing fast – especially at the early stage How to help direct reports find their best roleTactics for smooth team transitions Communication tips  Join us on Substack Connect with Liz Ludwig 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.

Luis Duarte is the CEO and co-founder of Amoofy, an AI-guided storytelling platform. Luis has a rich background as a three-time entrepreneur, and a leader in philanthropy and impact investing. Luis's direct reports describe him as an amazing listener, who is able to bring a sense of calm to chaos. They praise his willingness to take on short-term challenges for long-term gains and his focus on building trust.In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Luis,and they discuss:Luis’ unique approach to leadership that emphasizes empathy, risk-taking, and redefining success beyond traditional metricsHow and when to take on short-term pain for the long-term vision Values-driven hiring Living by your own definition of success How to find roles that are the right fit – or build something where you will be the best fit If you’re interested in sponsoring an episode of Best Manager Ever, reach out: sponsor@fortlight.comConnect with Luis DuarteConnect 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.

Carol Mahoney is a seasoned Chief People Officer. She’s well known for her work operationalizing the famously beloved company culture at Gainsight. She’s also served as the SVP of People and Culture at Zoosk and SVP of HR at LivingSocial, among others.Carol's direct reports praise her ability to get things done, while creating a positive culture and showing up as her authentic self. She is recognized for setting high standards and being a strong yet supportive leader, and for adapting to the needs of her team and org. In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Carol,and they cover:What human first leadership actually meansThe importance of co-creating mutually beneficial working relationships Operationalizing values and intentions into a consistent cultureFostering a safe space for concerns and doubts Join us on Substack Connect with Carol Mahoney Check out Carol’s new venture, élan Talent ManagementConnect 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.

Helen Min is a venture partner at True Ventures, and an investor and advisor to over 50 early-stage enterprise software and fintech companies. Helen has a notable background leading global marketing and communications at companies like AngelList, Plaid, and Quora and was an early marketing leader at Dropbox and Facebook. Helen’s direct reports highlight her genuine care for the team, her support for their growth and development, her polished approach to communication, and her ability to involve the team early in strategy and planning. In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Helen,and they cover:Helen’s background, from joining the early marketing team at Facebook to leading global marketing and comms teams, and now ultimately investing and advisingGood vs. bad reasons to want to be a manager The most rewarding and hardest parts of being a manager Long-term benefits of authentic relationship-building When and how to bring the team into project planning Making the most of 1:1s Inquiry as an under-utilized manager superpower Helen’s transition into VC, and how she leverages operating experience as an investor Connect with Helen MinConnect 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.

Seif Salama, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Fanatics and former marketing leader at Carta and Affirm, discusses the nuances of stepping into a management role. He shares insights on navigating the challenges of leadership and emphasizes the value of authentic communication in fostering team morale. Seif also explores the critical impact of hiring on team dynamics, focusing on competency-based tactics and adapting to ambiguity in startups. His experience highlights the delicate balance between maintaining high standards and cultivating a positive workplace culture.

Hank Taylor is Head of Marketing at Laravel. Hank has been on the ground floor of Marketing and Rev Ops functions at Vercel, Lambda School, GitLab, Neo Technology, and more. He has also been an advisor and fractional marketing leader at several companies through his company, GrowthSprint. Hank’s direct reports describe him as an unconventional leader who cares deeply for his people, encourages creative risks, and invests in his team’s development.In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Hank, and they cover how to: Set up a strong hiring process Build trust and set expectations, starting with the hiring processFoster an innovative, high-trust team culture Break away from conventional methods to take risks and achieve outstanding results  Join us on Substack Connect with Hank TaylorConnect 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.

Jully Kim is the Senior Director of Technology Excellence at Autodesk and was previously the Senior Director of Engineering Practices at Zendesk. Jully has a track record of excellence in technology enablement and engineering program management. Jully’s direct reports describe her as unique, action-oriented, extremely transparent, and deeply caring. In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Jully, and they cover: How Jully builds a unique and memorable personal brand at work Tactics for influencing effectively, especially to senior leaders Proactive communication to promote transparency and trust among the team, especially as it scales Connect with Jully KimConnect 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.