The Operations Room: A Podcast for COO’s

In this episode we discuss: Navigating through an uncertain world. We are joined by Jillian Reilly, Author, Global change facilitator,  Keynote speaker, and International aid veteran. Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here.We chat about the following with Jillian Reilly: What does it really take to be an effective facilitator of change within an organisation?How can operators lead confidently in uncertainty without overpromising outcomes?When should leaders rely on intuition over data—and how do they build that instinct?Can resilience be intentionally developed, or is it only forged through hardship?How do you balance empathy with accountability when leading teams through tough transitions?References https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillianreilly/https://jillreilly.substack.com/www.tenpermissions.comBiography Jillian Reilly is a founder, writer, keynote speaker, and consultant with 30 years’ experience in social, organisational, and personal change across Africa, Asia, and Central Europe. She helps people navigate change and accelerate growth, and is the author of The Ten Permissions (forthcoming), which challenges outdated approaches to adult life in the 21st century. Her memoir, Shame: Confessions of an Aid Worker in Africa, reflects on her early career in international development. Jillian’s work has been featured in the Washington Post, Newsweek, and the LA Times, and her TEDx talk Vain Aid offers insights from the aid industry. She also created the Courageous Conversations podcast, funded by the Ford Foundation, spotlighting African activists.  To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here. Summary00:06:10 – Becoming a change facilitator00:08:43 – Leading in uncertainty00:10:46 – Trusting intuition00:14:19 – Navigating profound change00:18:29 – Leading without a grand vision00:22:40 – Building resilience00:28:15 – Reframing setbacks00:35:50 – Holding onto purpose00:42:10 – Empathy vs. accountability00:44:05 – Final reflectionsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this episode we discuss: From red flags to green lights, making legal work for your scale-up. We are joined by Helen Goldberg, Co-Founder & COO, Fractional General Counsel, Startup & Scaleup Adviser, and Mentor.Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here.We chat about the following with Helen Goldberg: How can founders avoid becoming the bottleneck when every decision passes through them?What should drive hiring decisions—current skill gaps or future strategic needs?How is the evolving role of marketing reshaping sales strategy and growth?Can AI truly transform legal and operational processes without compromising quality?What’s the most effective way to empower sales teams to take ownership of results?References https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-goldberg-1339801/www.legaledge.co.ukBiography Helen is COO at LegalEdge, working with CEO Donna to deliver fractional in-house counsel services for scaling companies. She focuses on using the right people, processes, and technology to simplify legal work, integrate it into operations, and ensure lean, scalable solutions. Passionate about avoiding “over-lawyering,” Helen champions pragmatic, commercial legal strategies that help clients prioritise what matters, manage risk, and close deals faster.To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here. Summary00:03:41 – Founder decision bottleneck00:08:24 – Smarter hiring00:09:07 – Marketing’s new role00:13:56 – AI in legal operations00:15:25 – Scaling the team00:16:49 – Sales team empowerment00:17:10 – Contract management rules00:17:31 – Quarter-end readiness00:43:37 – Startup legal essentials00:43:45 – Scale-up legal strategyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Dirk Sahlmer, Head of Origination at saas.group, is an expert in acquiring and scaling capital-efficient SaaS companies. In this discussion, he explores the balance between ambitious growth and team capacity, the dangers of micromanagement, and how offshoring can impact company culture. Dirk also shares insights on the 'bootstrap future' for scaling sustainably and the essential elements for effective due diligence. He emphasizes the importance of documentation and readiness to avoid deal-breakers, urging leaders to come prepared for success.

Join Anna Tavis, Clinical Professor at NYU, for a riveting conversation on the future of professional development in the age of AI. She discusses redefining career success beyond traditional ladders and critiques our current learning systems as ineffective. Anna explores AI-powered coaching, likening it to sports training for personalized growth. The impact of AI on management roles is examined, revealing potential for mentorship, while also highlighting the necessity of equity in AI tools. A thought-provoking take on adapting to a new work landscape!

In this discussion, Matthew Stone, an experienced executive coach at ME Consulting specializing in leadership development, dives into the essence of authenticity in leadership. He emphasizes the importance of curiosity and active listening in building trust and engagement. Matthew unpacks how one-on-one meetings can transform into powerful tools for retention and inclusion when managed effectively. He also shares insights on the role of emotional intelligence and vulnerability in fostering strong leadership connections.

In this episode we chat about what's going on in our lives, share some life changing news, and announce the new seasoned approach. Going forward, we'll be releasing 10 episodes at a time, starting June 5th 2025. Join our WhatsApp community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/J8w0bDV0pBtHUPzlvmzTgb Stay tuned! This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Join Dr. Steven Rogelberg, a Chancellor’s Professor at UNC Charlotte and a pivotal figure in meeting science, as he dives into the art and science of one-on-one meetings. He reveals how cancellation sends unintended signals that can erode trust. Listening, he argues, trumps speaking for effective engagement. Furthermore, structured meetings can enhance productivity and team inclusion. Discover why many managers struggle with these interactions—not due to apathy, but a lack of training to make them meaningful.

In this episode we discuss: Unlocking AI for Non-Technical Leaders. We are joined by Charlie Cowan, Founder of Kowalah and author of "How To Sell Tech" and “The Revenue Operations Playbook”.Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here.We chat about the following with Charlie Cowan: Is AI more accessible than we think?What’s the difference between AI agents and workflows—and why does it matter for businesses looking to scale?How can organizations build their own AI-powered tools instead of relying solely on SaaS solutions?What role does leadership play in AI adoption, and why is AI literacy now a must-have skill for future executives?Can a simple “power hour” or habit shift really transform your productivity—and what does AI have to do with it?References https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliecowan/www.charliecowan.aiwww.kowalah.comBiography Charlie works with CEOs and senior leaders looking to embed AI behaviours across their organisation.With a 25 year career in SaaS, consulting and enterprise sales, Charlie bridges the gap between AI technology and practical applied use cases that help teams work smarter and faster.Charlie is the author of two books - How To Sell Tech and The Revenue Operations Playbook.Charlie is the founder of Kowalah, an AI-powered platform that helps buying teams to run a great buying processes, pick the right vendors and reduce the fear of messing up.Charlie built Kowalah as a solo-founder using AI development tools.To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here. Summary26:36 Introduction to AI Adoption for Non-Technical Executives027:16 Understanding AI Optimism vs. Pessimism28:08 Defining AI Policies for Effective Implementation29:52 The Concept of Agentic AI31:23 Distinguishing Between Agents and Workflows33:01 Building Effective AI Agents37:49 Evaluating Future Tech Stacks for AI Integration43:05 Empowering Leadership in the Age of AI46:06 Navigating AI Tools for Policy Management46:23 Crafting Effective Prompts for AI Tools49:54 Building a Data Repository for Enhanced Insights51:44 The Power Hour: Maximizing ProductivityThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

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.Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here.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=ukwww.impactxcapital.comBiography 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.To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here. Summary23:55 The unique role that the CEO plays in a scaling organisation 28:05 The value of the COO next to the CFO30:58 Progressing as a COO33:11 CEO and COO Succession Planning33:51 The Passion of Founders vs. COOs39:56 Planning for Success as a COO43:16 Setting the Agenda in Board MeetingsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this discussion, Chris Hatfield, a mindset and well-being coach with over 15 years of experience, dives into mental health strategies for leaders. He emphasizes the importance of naming anxiety to reclaim control and showcases the 'stress container' exercise to manage stressors effectively. Chris also highlights the value of vulnerability in leadership, urging leaders to engage in honest conversations about mental health. He advocates for proactive approaches, viewing stress as a signal rather than a burden, and encourages embedding well-being into company culture.