Leaders Unscripted

Think upon how often Founders refer to their businesses as ‘their baby’ - could you imagine balancing that with an actual child of your own?Between Co-Founding Cable and parenting two children, Natasha Vernier’s first CEO experience is about as intense as you could ask for.With a noble mission to create global impact in anti-financial crime, we hear from Natasha about leaders as ‘stress absorbers’, the unique CEO challenges, and balancing the financials against family life.This episode covers:Natasha’s background in financial crime through her role at MonzoThe huge amount of laundered money that inspired Cable’s missionHaving an outsized impact on your team as a Founder and CEOBalancing parenthood, business ownership, and postnatal depressionA more holistic approach to businesses’ values and operating systemsVisit Suzan's website: https://www.constellaryhq.com/

Kainar Kamalov, Co-Founder & CTO of Kyo Health, shares his expertise on leading a remote-first, scaling startup. Topics include the challenges of onboarding new team members, the importance of clear communications in a flat structure, and strategies for working across multiple time zones. The speaker also discusses maintaining productivity in scaling startups and differences in scaling a startup versus startup mode.

When it comes to broad roles, they don’t come more varied than that of a COO.Some of the most invaluable skills to help COOs navigate any challenge come from working with people, a transition that Jessica Zwaan has made look effortless.Currently COO at Whereby, she uncovers the deepest aspects of such a fluid leadership role, your culture as a subscription product, and leading a team through huge business pivots.This episode covers:The remarkable fluidity of the COO roleMaking challenging pivots within the businessHow surprisingly often leaders face ‘trolley problems’An outlook on culture as your team ‘subscribing to it’The lesser-spoken downsides of a COO role and promotion Visit Suzan's website: https://www.constellaryhq.com/

The Director role is uniquely sandwiched, with expectations and emotions from both sides - it’s a huge shift, but one in which Sonal Mehta has made herself comfortable.As Director of Engineering at Mailchimp, having worked through the ranks throughout her career, she’s perfectly placed to weigh in on the unique nature of the role.Sonal shares her wonderful perspective with me on Leaders Unscripted, a must-listen for any budding first-time Directors.This episode covers:Sonal’s transition into a director role, and how the experience is akin to parenthoodThe result of no longer ‘being in the weeds’ of day-to-day workManaging high stakes and expectationsThe balance between leaders’ and workers’ emotions, and staying level in the face of thatHow to build the essential tenet of trustVisit Suzan's website: https://www.constellaryhq.com/

When caring for a parent becomes basically a full time job, embracing humanity as a leader becomes absolutely essential, for both the leader and the team around them.Engineering Director at Spotify, Nivia Henry, leads her team through innovation of the highest level, but with a mother in care she’s elegantly balancing these two worlds.Join us on Leaders Unscripted as we share how you can manage the demands of leadership alongside the needs of aging family members, and look after yourself in the process...This episode covers:Coming to terms with parents’ mortalityRecontextualising your worldview and applying it to your leadership styleCreating space for your emotions away from your team’sBeing present with self-care and dignityAdvice for leaders caring for parents when they can’t shift down a gear at workVisit Suzan's website: https://www.constellaryhq.com/

Being acquired by another company might seem like a simple scaling of what you’ve done before, but actually requires leaders to re-learn the basics.Packet was a startup founded by brothers, Zac & Jacob Smith, operating with speed at its core. That said, they’ll attest to the mindset shift that came with their merger with innovation juggernaut, Equinix.Join us on Leaders Unscripted as we dissect the ins and outs of acquisition, bringing your team on the journey, and how to ‘encourage serendipity’.This episode covers:The origins of Packet’s creationAligned goals between Packet and their now-parent-company, EquinixBringing your old company’s team on your new journeyThe change of mindset from speedy startup survival to scaleable impactVisit Suzan's website: https://www.constellaryhq.com/

Few industries pose the same regulatory challenges as finance - that’s a heck of a place to cut your teeth as a first-time CEO…Griffin’s inception was born of CEO David Jarvis’ entrepreneurial ambitions, and he leads with a wonderful sense of honesty and authenticity.In this episode of Leaders Unscripted, we hear the hefty challenges that the startup has overcome so far, what values are essential in those joining the team, the necessity for leaders with honesty & authenticity, and much more.This episode covers:Griffin’s inception and how David brought it to life alongside his Co-Founder, AllenTurning entrepreneurial aspirations into a first-time CEO role in a startupThe ideal values in new hiresSolving long standing, systemic problemsLessons from ‘sandbox’ leadership roles before becoming CEOLeading with honesty and authenticityVisit Suzan's website: https://www.constellaryhq.com/

People may often fight for a CEO role, but having had it bestowed on her among the founding members of Contenda, Lilly Chen is truly excelling as a compassionate leader.Her first experience in leadership shows us that the questions you ask yourself lead you to become a better leader for others. We caught up with Lilly on Leaders Unscripted this week, summing up her Facebook years, chronic illness recovery, and passion for lifting others.This episode covers:Dealing with chronic illness young, and finding her path in a monasteryWorking at Facebook, and balancing job fulfilment with financial gainBecoming a first time leader in an exciting startupWhether the CEO role is a blessing or a curseA company culture of moving work around your life, rather than the inverseAsking yourself what kind of leader you want to beVisit Suzan's website: https://www.constellaryhq.com/

Michelle O'Connor, TaxBit's VP Brand & Global Communications, discusses maintaining culture in a scaling startup, the impact of the startup environment on employees, and the importance of hiring the right fit for the company's culture.

To seek a fulfilling job role is one thing, but to enable dozens of others to achieve the same is the noble next step for those who lead people.Formerly VP of People at Griffin, before taking up the COO role after recording this episode of Leaders Unscripted, Maria Campbell’s journey is brimming with positive culture and work fulfilment.Tune in this week to hear how Maria makes her mark on teams and the wider industry!This episode covers:Maria’s progression into the people-focused role that she lovesFinding fulfilment in helping others to have an enjoyable job Positive culture and values being key in the financial services sectorThe huge potential impact of a financial infrastructure productVisit Suzan's website: https://www.constellaryhq.com/