What does it take to build and scale a successful company? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis sits down with Zac Smith, Co-Founder and Former CEO of Packet. Zac discusses the importance of structured execution, hiring for passion, and balancing long-term vision with short-term execution. Whether you're a founder, leader, or aspiring entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with valuable insights on leadership, company building, and decision-making. Takeaways:The Power of a 10-Year Vision: Zac believes that thinking long-term is critical for building meaningful businesses. He explains how setting a bold 10-year goal helps guide decision-making and prioritization in the short term.Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) for Success: One of Zac’s most impactful lessons was implementing EOS to create structure and accountability within his companies. He shares how this system helped him move from gut-driven decisions to a scalable business framework.Execution is the Differentiator: Most companies operate at a 3 or 4 out of 10 in execution. Zac explains how simply executing at a 7 or 8 puts businesses ahead of the competition and increases the likelihood of success.Hiring for Passion & Curiosity: Beyond skills, Zac prioritizes candidates who show genuine interest and curiosity. He shares how small actions, like trying a product before an interview, can reveal whether someone is truly invested in a company’s mission.Lessons from Leading Through Crisis: From navigating financial challenges to making tough leadership decisions, Zac reflects on some of the hardest moments of his career, including when he and his co-founder decided to replace themselves as leaders to save the company.Building a Personal Brand in B2B Sales: In enterprise sales, people buy from people, not just companies. Zac shares how investing in personal brand-building—through speaking, blogging, and community engagement—was key to winning customers at Packet.Quote of the Show:“ I don’t need to run a 10 out of 10 for a company. Most companies are operating at a 3 or a 4. I just want to be a 7 or an 8.” - Zac SmithLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zsmithWays to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #PacketChapters:0:00 Intro1:25 What You’d Do Again As CEO3:18 Deep Dive into EOS and Its Benefits7:41 Building a Passionate and Accountable Team9:50 The Importance of Vision and Long-Term Goals13:20 Effective Interview Techniques and Identifying Passion19:57 Communicating Vision and Values29:33 Go-to-Market Strategies and Early Customer Acquisition34:38 Early Users and Initial Challenges39:22 New York Tech Scene Evolution45:25 Biggest Challenge Faced51:41 Rich’s Background1:05:49 Advice to Younger Self1:02:21 Outro

How do you build an organization that truly fights poverty at scale? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis sits down with Rich Buery, CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, to discuss his leadership journey, his experience shaping policies like Universal Pre-K in NYC, and how Robin Hood is evolving to meet modern challenges.Rich shares insights on hiring with purpose, managing multiple stakeholders, and why philanthropy needs both measurable outcomes and deep human connection to drive real change. Takeaways:Weekly CEO Emails for Transparency: Rich started sending a weekly email to Robin Hood staff every Monday morning, sharing updates on his week, priorities, and even personal reflections. This practice fosters alignment, strengthens internal communication, and helps employees feel more connected to leadership.The Power of Celebration in Workplace Culture: Robin Hood embraces celebrations, from birthdays to cultural events, to strengthen relationships among employees. Rich emphasizes the importance of fostering a connected workplace, especially in a hybrid work environment.Hiring for Passion, Not Just Skills: When interviewing candidates, Rich prioritizes one key question: "Why Robin Hood? Why now?" He looks for candidates who have a deep, personal connection to the organization's mission, believing that true passion is the most valuable trait an employee can bring.Balancing Five Key Stakeholders: Robin Hood serves five different groups: donors, nonprofit partners, policymakers, internal teams, and the communities they support. Rich discusses how managing these relationships requires tailored communication and a clear focus on measurable impact.Data-Driven Philanthropy: Robin Hood employs a rigorous evidence-based approach to funding, using data to quantify the financial impact of its programs, to ensure donor funds are invested in initiatives that create measurable and lasting change for those living in poverty.The Role of AI in Social Impact: Rich explores how Robin Hood is working to ensure that nonprofit organizations—and the communities they serve—are equipped to navigate the technological changes from AI.Quote of the Show:“ What is it about your life, your work, your vision of the world that draws you to this mission? It’s the one thing that you can’t necessarily teach or train… for any job.” - Richard BueryLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardbuery/Twitter: https://x.com/RichardBueryWebsite: https://robinhood.org/Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #RobinHoodChapters:0:00 Intro1:37 What You’d Do Again As CEO6:05 Building a Collaborative Executive Team8:56 Hiring for Passion and Mission Alignment14:31 The Importance of Storytelling and Public Speaking3:24 Navigating Multiple Constituencies34:03 Analog Solutions in a Digital World38:43 Challenges of Leading Robin Hood39:41 Fundraising and Donor Engagement43:36 Impact of AI and Technology46:09 Rich’s Background1:00:01 Advice to Younger Self1:02:21 Outro

How do you scale a company while staying true to your vision? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis sits down with Fredrik Thomassen, founder and CEO of Superside, to discuss his journey in building a global AI-powered creative services platform.Fredrik shares how he learned to think for himself as a leader, the challenges of rapid adaptation, and the impact of global talent on the creative industry. He also reflects on AI’s role in shaping the future of professional services and his belief in continuous personal development as a CEO. Takeaways:Thinking for Yourself in Leadership: Early in his career, Fredrik struggled with following conventional wisdom before realizing that not all frameworks work for every company. He shares how Superside abandoned OKRs in favor of a problem-solving approach that fosters real alignment and innovation.Evolving the Business Model: Superside has transformed multiple times, from a lean startup using chat-based task management to a full-scale AI-powered creative services company. Fredrik shares how adaptability has been key to staying ahead in a rapidly changing industry.The Role of AI in Creative Services: AI is fundamentally reshaping the creative industry, from automating repetitive tasks to enhancing high-level creative strategy. Fredrik discusses Superside’s vision to integrate AI seamlessly into design workflows without replacing human creativity.Leveraging Global Talent: Superside connects top creative talent from cities like Buenos Aires and Cape Town with leading enterprise clients. Fredrik explains why access to global talent is the real game-changer for creative work.Leading Through Crisis: COVID-19 forced Superside into “wartime mode” as they lost nearly 40% of their customers overnight. Fredrik shares how his team’s ability to pivot quickly turned a dire situation into an opportunity for long-term growth.Personal Growth as a CEO: Fredrik recently embraced executive coaching and personal development, realizing that great leadership requires constant improvement. He reflects on how acknowledging his weaknesses has made him a more effective leader.Quote of the Show:“Cultivate joy and excitement about the future possibilities as the antidote to all your fear and worry about the things that can go wrong.” - Fredrik ThomassenLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredrikthomassen/Twitter: https://x.com/f_thomassenWebsite: https://www.superside.com/Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #SupersideChapters:0:00 Intro1:04 What You’d Do Again As CEO10:19 The Evolution of Superside20:42 Global Talent and Creative Hubs24:52 AI's Role in the Creative Market30:53 Running a Business from Oslo37:43 The Impact of COVID-19 on Superside51:27 Balancing Work and Family Life55:08 Advice to Younger Self1:00:20 Outro

How do you align company success with personal growth? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis sits down with Diego Oppenheimer, the founder and former CEO of Algorithmia, to discuss his journey from engineer to entrepreneur and the lessons he learned scaling, selling, and leading a company. Diego shares his philosophy on hiring for alignment, navigating the emotional rollercoaster of being a CEO, and how he successfully positioned Algorithmia for acquisition. He also provides insights into enterprise sales, fundraising, and why finding the right investors and employees is key to long-term success. Takeaways:The Power of Finding the Win-Win: Diego explains his hiring philosophy of aligning company and employee goals. He prioritized candidates whose personal growth goals matched the company’s mission, ensuring stronger retention and culture.Managing the CEO Rollercoaster: From reassuring employees to handling crises behind the scenes, Diego reflects on the emotional toll of leadership. He shares how CEOs act as buffers, absorbing stress to keep teams, investors, and customers aligned.Early Customer Wins & Enterprise Sales Strategy: Algorithmia’s first customers came from a mix of content-driven PLG motion and conference networking. Diego explains how startups must “get on the field” to win enterprise deals.Scaling Yourself as CEO: As the company grew, Diego transitioned from closing every deal to focusing on high-impact interactions. He shares his approach to using thought leadership, content marketing, and direct customer engagement to scale influence.The Role of Investors & Board Dynamics: Not all investors provide the same value. Diego breaks down how he leveraged board members effectively, categorized investor types, and ensured expectations were aligned for mutual success.Positioning for Acquisition: Diego shares how Algorithmia’s strategic focus on machine learning deployment made it an attractive acquisition target for DataRobot. He explains how they navigated the M&A process in just 45 days.Quote of the Show:“Sometimes the worst day of your life and the best day of your life are the same day, just different hours.” - Diego OppenheimerLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doppenheimer/Twitter: https://x.com/doppenheWays to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #AlgorithmiaChapters:0:00 Intro1:21 What You’d Do Again As CEO09:01 The Importance of Team Dynamics16:00 First Customers and Go-to-Market Strategy22:41 Scaling the Business and CEO Involvement27:23 Customer Obsession and Tactical Initiatives30:43 Exclusive Roundtable Discussions32:08 Challenges with Large Customers37:17 Navigating Investor Relationships40:53 The Acquisition Journey47:29 Emotional Rollercoaster of Entrepreneurship51:10 Family Influence and Entrepreneurial Roots56:25 Current Ventures and AI Focus58:12 Advice to Younger Self1:01:47 Outro

How do you build a high-growth company while staying true to your values? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis sits down with Jindou Lee, the founder and CEO of HappyCo, a company transforming property management through innovative technology. Jindou shares his journey from graphic designer to entrepreneur, discussing the challenges of hiring and firing, scaling a business, and learning the rules of the fundraising game. He also reflects on his personal experiences, from his childhood in Australia to launching a successful SaaS company, and offers candid insights on what it takes to build a resilient organization. Takeaways:Culture & Core Values: Jindou stresses the importance of defining company values early. He shares how HappyCo identified its core values and evolved them over time to ensure they remain relevant as the company scales.Hiring & Firing with Intention: Building a strong team requires making tough decisions. Jindou reflects on his journey from hesitating to fire underperforming employees to realizing that removing a poor fit benefits both the individual and the organization.Lessons in Rapid Growth & Downsizing: Jindou explains how the company became more efficient while continuing to grow revenue, proving that success isn’t about headcount but about having the right people in the right roles.Building with the Customer in Mind: Jindou explains why deeply understanding the end user’s needs has been critical to HappyCo’s success. He shares how small design tweaks—like increasing button sizes—can make all the difference.Fundraising is a Game: Jindou learned that fundraising is a game with rules that founders must understand. He shares hard-earned lessons about negotiating terms, dealing with investor pressure, and securing critical last-minute funding.Quote of the Show:“Fundraising is a very unfair game for founders… a lot of early stage founders, myself included, we got bullied. We just didn't know we got bullied.” - Jindou LeeLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jindou/Twitter: https://x.com/jindouleeWebsite: https://happy.co/Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #HappyCoChapters:0:00 Intro1:33 What You’d Do Again As CEO6:16 Experiences Shaping Values12:31 Navigating Growth and Downsizing20:49 The Importance of Customer-Centric Design31:26 Fundraising Realities and Challenges35:04 Navigating Term Sheets and Legalities43:09 Biggest Challenges at HappyCo47:20 Visions for the Future49:44 Jindou’s Background and Upbringing53:39 Career Beginnings and Lessons Learned58:57 One Piece Of Advice59:48 Outro

What’s the best career advice CEOs would give their younger selves? In this special compilation episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis revisits interviews with incredible leaders to share their most impactful advice. From trusting your gut to embracing constraints and building resilience, this episode is packed with wisdom applicable to CEOs, leaders, and professionals at every level. Tune in to hear insights from Tom Buiocchi, Melanie Fellay, Adam Bryant, and many more as they reflect on their journeys and what they wished they knew when starting out. Takeaways:Trust Your Gut (David Politis): Trust your instincts when making decisions, whether hiring, strategizing, or pursuing opportunities. Ignoring your gut often leads to regret.No Need to Be the Hero (Tom Buiocchi): Empower your team rather than trying to carry the entire burden of success yourself. Great leaders build teams that can win together.Dream Big and Build the Right Team (Loren Castle): Give yourself permission to think big from the beginning and prioritize hiring exceptional people to execute your vision.Direction Over Speed (Ryan Westwood): Take the time to ensure your business is heading in the right direction. Rushing ahead without alignment can lead to costly mistakes.Patience and the Long Game (Ryan Simonetti): Success takes time. Commit to the process and trust that steady, consistent effort will yield great results in the long term.Speed to Resiliency (Nick Cromydas): Build the ability to recover quickly from setbacks. What once took weeks to overcome should eventually take only minutes.Enjoy the Journey (Adam Bryant): Be present and savor the process. Career success isn’t just about achievements—it’s also about appreciating the steps along the way.Be Yourself (Melanie Fellay): Speak up, share your opinions, and trust that the right people will align with your authentic self.Follow Up and Follow Through (Dan Michaeli): Persistence and reliability are essential. Always follow up on opportunities and deliver on your commitments.Find Your Rhythm (Howard Ting): Careers, like music, have rhythms. Know when to push hard and when to ease up to enjoy the journey and sustain your energy.Learn and Have Fun (Andrew Lau): Work with people you respect and focus on roles that challenge and excite you. If it’s not fun or meaningful, don’t stick with it.It’s All Going to Be Okay (Kathryn Minshew): Even in moments of failure, remind yourself that things will work out. Resilience and adaptability lead to success.The Value of Constraints (Nathan Rosenstock): Constraints fuel creativity and innovation. Embrace challenges as opportunities to build something better with fewer resources.Lead with Consciousness (Godard Abel): Develop self-awareness and adopt a conscious leadership approach to lead with ease, clarity, and impact.Chapters:(0:00) Intro(3:50) David’s Advice(7:11) Tom Buiocchi(8:58) Loren Castle(12:07) Ryan Westwood(13:48) Ryan Simonetti(16:33) Nick Cromydas(20:26) Adam Bryant(22:14) Melanie Fellay(23:42) Dan Michaeli(26:40) Howard Ting(28:33) Andrew Lau(29:17) Kathryn Minshew(30:49) Nate Rosenstock(33:28) Godard Abel(35:16) OutroWays to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #CEOAdvice

What can two wildly different exits teach us about leadership? In this episode, David Politis talks with Tom Buiocchi, a tech industry veteran with a 40-year career that spans iconic companies like IBM and HP, as well as leadership roles at high-growth startups.Tom reflects on his unique journey as a CEO, including selling ServiceChannel for $1.2 billion and handing another company back to its founder for $1. He shares lessons on building resilient teams, over-communicating during crises, and making transformative hiring decisions. This conversation is packed with insights for leaders at any stage. Takeaways:Executive Coaching as a Catalyst: Tom shares how hiring an executive coach early in his ServiceChannel tenure helped him navigate challenges, think more clearly, and ultimately become a better leader.Uncomfortable Hiring Decisions: At ServiceChannel, Tom prioritized hiring experts who challenged his thinking, leading to innovative strategies and significant growth, even though it was uncomfortable at times.Segment Until It Hurts: Tom emphasizes the importance of narrowing target markets to identify ideal customers. By meticulously defining criteria, ServiceChannel created a focused pipeline of less than 700 target companies, improving conversion rates and customer engagement.The Growth Roadmap: Beyond the product roadmap, Tom implemented a "growth roadmap" focused on pricing strategies, new revenue streams, and bundling options that directly drove business growth.Over-Communication During COVID-19: Navigating the challenges of the pandemic, Tom adopted a strategy of daily updates and regular all-hands meetings to keep his distributed team aligned and motivated.Resilience, Grit, and Luck: Reflecting on his career, Tom credits his success to a combination of skill, resilience, and timing, sharing his belief that luck often comes to those who stay in the game long enough.Chapters00:00 Intro01:33 What You’d Do Again As CEO05:15 Tom’s First CEO Experience09:05 Lessons Learned & Hiring Strategies15:08 Dealing With Competition20:13 The Importance of Target Market Segmentation26:20 Metrics and KPIs31:40 Navigating Investor Relationships34:08 The Growth Roadmap42:16 Tom’s Biggest Challenge48:20 Tom’s Background50:56 Biggest Career Impact?52:13 What Motivates You?54:28 One Piece Of Advice57:53 OutroQuote of the Show:“Fish in a pond where you know the names of all the fish.” - Tom BuiocchiLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tombuiocchi/Website: https://servicechannel.com/Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #ServiceChannel

In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David sits down with Phil Fernandez, a SaaS legend with over 40 years of experience. Fernandez is the Co-Founder and Former CEO of Marketo, which has become part of the Adobe product lineup.  Fernandez reflects on his journey leading Marketo to become one of the most successful marketing automation platforms in history. From pioneering brand-building strategies to navigating fierce competition and near-death challenges, Phil shares valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and leaders striving to make an impact in today’s fast-evolving business landscape. Takeaways:Start with the Brand: Fernandez emphasizes the importance of building a strong brand presence and engaging customers early, even before launching a product. Marketo’s success was rooted in creating a community of advocates who believed in the company’s vision from day one.Customer-Centric Leadership: Fernandez shares his philosophy of focusing entirely on solving customer problems rather than fixating on competitors. This approach allowed Marketo to foster trust and loyalty, even during challenging times.Overcoming Challenges: Fernandez recounts a critical moment when Salesforce acquired a competitor and temporarily disrupted Marketo’s integration. By focusing on customer impact, the company was able to regain their Salesforce integration.Navigating Funding Hurdles: Despite a stellar track record, Fernandez faced resistance raising Marketo’s initial funding in 2006. He recalls the perseverance needed to secure their first $1.5 million and how he and his co-founders built momentum from there.Hiring for Culture: Fernandez reflects on the importance of assembling a team that shares the company’s values. He shares the story of recruiting Bill Binch over a year-long process, ultimately creating a sales organization aligned with Marketo’s mission.Quote of the Show:“ All of our communications with the market was about customers, was about what we were seeing, how to be better, how to do better, how to think better.” - Phil FernandezLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-fernandez-6902881/Twitter: https://x.com/philf1217Website: https://business.adobe.com/products/marketo.htmlWays to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Marketo

Joining the show this week is a journalist turned executive leadership expert. Having interviewed over 1,000 CEOs over the course of his 30 year career, this guest is none other than the Senior Managing Director at The ExCo Group, Adam Bryant. Bryant shares his insights from over 30 years of interviewing leaders and exploring the paradoxes of leadership. From his framework for authenticity to understanding the "optimal band of busyness," Adam discusses what motivates effective leaders to lead and how they navigate the ever-increasing complexity of today’s challenges. Takeaways:Simplifying Complexity: Effective leaders excel at breaking down intricate problems into clear, digestible priorities for their teams. Bryant emphasizes the importance of framing challenges in a way that inspires clarity and action, ensuring everyone knows where they’re going and how to get there.The Authenticity Framework: Authenticity is about aligning how people perceive you with how you intend to show up as a leader. It’s not about oversharing emotions but about communicating your values and the stories behind them to build trust and credibility.Leadership Paradoxes: Bryant explores the delicate balancing acts leaders must navigate, such as being confident yet humble or compassionate while holding people accountable. He highlights the importance of contextual decision-making to manage these complexities effectively.OBOB (Optimal Band of Busyness): Leaders thrive when they find their "optimal band of busyness"—a balance that keeps them engaged without overwhelming or under-stimulating them. Bryant shares how this concept applies to both leadership and post-exit planning.Team Trust Building: Building trust within teams starts with vulnerability and open communication. Bryant describes exercises like leadership user manuals and storytelling to help team members see each other as human beings, fostering deeper connections and collaboration.Why Leaders Lead: Many leaders are driven by transformative early-life experiences, whether adversity, immigrant stories, or the influence of extraordinary parents. Bryant reflects on how these motivations shape leaders’ decisions and their approach to challenges.Quote of the Show:“ I always think about leadership as a series of paradoxes or contradictions or balancing acts. It's never about one thing. And I think to be an effective leader, you have to be comfortable in those paradoxes.” - Adam BryantLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adambryantleadership/Twitter: https://x.com/adambbryantWebsite: https://www.excoleadership.com/Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #TheExCoGroup

In this conversation, Melanie Fellay, Co-founder and CEO of Spekit, shares her journey as a female entrepreneur and AI advocate featured on Forbes 30 Under 30. She discusses the power of early branding and unconventional customer acquisition strategies, like her breakthrough at Dreamforce. Fellay emphasizes the importance of hiring self-aware leaders and reflects on navigating growth challenges faced by Spekit. Her story of resilience and innovation in the tech landscape inspires future generations of entrepreneurs.