From Start-Up to Grown-Up Wed, 09 Sep 2026 14:55:08 -0400 https://fromstartuptogrownup.buzzsprout.com en-us © 2026 From Start-Up to Grown-Up yes 4d05f353-a98f-5696-9adb-ae72e3eefbe7 Alisa Cohn episodic false Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Alisa Cohn https://storage.buzzsprout.com/w1ntuhesnn2jvpoxbvcsabm1ee6q?.jpg From Start-Up to Grown-Up https://fromstartuptogrownup.buzzsprout.com 126: Joe Thomas Took Loom From 14 Days of Runway to a $1B Acquisition [ENCORE] 126: Joe Thomas Took Loom From 14 Days of Runway to a $1B Acquisition [ENCORE] How did Joe Thomas and his co-founders keep building Loom when they had maxed-out credit cards and only 14 days of runway left?

Before Loom became one of the most recognizable asynchronous video platforms, Joe Thomas, Vinay Hiremath, and Shahed Khan spent nine months testing ideas, making major pivots, and listening closely to early users. Their persistence eventually transformed a struggling user-feedback product into a new way for people to communicate at work.

In this encore episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, executive coach and bestselling author Alisa Cohn sits down with Joe to explore Loom’s earliest days, the approximately 100 fundraising rejections that strengthened his pitch, and the leadership lessons he learned while scaling the company.

Joe also reveals why Loom defined its values when the team had only seven people, how meditation helped him make better decisions, and why founders must become comfortable doing the work they would naturally rather avoid.

This is a candid conversation about resilience, fundraising, company culture, asynchronous leadership, and what it takes to grow from founder to CEO.

You’ll learn:

  • How Joe Thomas and his co-founders discovered the idea for Loom
  • How Joe improved his fundraising skills after approximately 100 rejections
  • Why founders often avoid the responsibilities that make them uncomfortable
  • How Loom defined its company values with only seven employees
  • Why values become most important during difficult decisions
  • How meditation helped Joe become less reactive as a leader
  • Why giving difficult feedback can be an act of belief
  • How leaders can protect their energy while building a company
  • When to communicate asynchronously and when to hold a meeting
  • Why discomfort is an unavoidable part of growing into a leader

We talk about:


00:00 Meet Joe Thomas, co-founder of Loom

01:27 The original idea behind video communication at work

04:20 Nine months of experimentation, customer conversations, and pivots

10:17 Starting the company with $25,000 and a mattress on the floor

12:20 Reaching the final 14 days of runway

16:17 Learning to fundraise after approximately 100 rejections

19:44 Choosing investors for a long-term relationship

22:01 Tracking time and prioritizing a founder’s responsibilities

31:43 Defining Loom’s values with only seven employees

42:13 How meditation improved Joe’s decision-making

46:13 Balancing empathy with difficult feedback

50:33 Becoming friends with hard times

51:28 Why taking care of yourself makes you a better CEO

57:10 When to use asynchronous communication instead of a meeting

01:01:04 Learning to live with imposter syndrome

01:03:28 What Joe wishes he had understood earlier

01:05:16 Joe’s advice for founders growing into leaders


Follow Joe on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> How did Joe Thomas and his co-founders keep building Loom when they had maxed-out credit cards and only 14 days of runway left?

Before Loom became one of the most recognizable asynchronous video platforms, Joe Thomas, Vinay Hiremath, and Shahed Khan spent nine months testing ideas, making major pivots, and listening closely to early users. Their persistence eventually transformed a struggling user-feedback product into a new way for people to communicate at work.

In this encore episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, executive coach and bestselling author Alisa Cohn sits down with Joe to explore Loom’s earliest days, the approximately 100 fundraising rejections that strengthened his pitch, and the leadership lessons he learned while scaling the company.

Joe also reveals why Loom defined its values when the team had only seven people, how meditation helped him make better decisions, and why founders must become comfortable doing the work they would naturally rather avoid.

This is a candid conversation about resilience, fundraising, company culture, asynchronous leadership, and what it takes to grow from founder to CEO.

You’ll learn:

  • How Joe Thomas and his co-founders discovered the idea for Loom
  • How Joe improved his fundraising skills after approximately 100 rejections
  • Why founders often avoid the responsibilities that make them uncomfortable
  • How Loom defined its company values with only seven employees
  • Why values become most important during difficult decisions
  • How meditation helped Joe become less reactive as a leader
  • Why giving difficult feedback can be an act of belief
  • How leaders can protect their energy while building a company
  • When to communicate asynchronously and when to hold a meeting
  • Why discomfort is an unavoidable part of growing into a leader

We talk about:


00:00 Meet Joe Thomas, co-founder of Loom

01:27 The original idea behind video communication at work

04:20 Nine months of experimentation, customer conversations, and pivots

10:17 Starting the company with $25,000 and a mattress on the floor

12:20 Reaching the final 14 days of runway

16:17 Learning to fundraise after approximately 100 rejections

19:44 Choosing investors for a long-term relationship

22:01 Tracking time and prioritizing a founder’s responsibilities

31:43 Defining Loom’s values with only seven employees

42:13 How meditation improved Joe’s decision-making

46:13 Balancing empathy with difficult feedback

50:33 Becoming friends with hard times

51:28 Why taking care of yourself makes you a better CEO

57:10 When to use asynchronous communication instead of a meeting

01:01:04 Learning to live with imposter syndrome

01:03:28 What Joe wishes he had understood earlier

01:05:16 Joe’s advice for founders growing into leaders


Follow Joe on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-19754908 Mon, 07 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -0400 4064 full false 125: Seth Levine on Rebuilding Your Company for the AI Era From Scratch 125: Seth Levine on Rebuilding Your Company for the AI Era From Scratch What if the biggest mistake CEOs are making with AI is trying to improve the company they already have?

Seth Levine believes leaders need to ask a more radical question: If you were building your company from scratch today, how would you design it?

Seth is a founder, investor, author, and co-founder of Foundry, the venture capital firm he built alongside Brad Feld and their partners. After decades of working with founders, boards, and leadership teams, he has seen what separates businesses that adapt from those that remain anchored to the way things have always been done.

In this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, executive coach and bestselling author Alisa Cohn sits down with Seth to explore how CEOs should approach AI transformation, why incremental efficiency is not enough, and what it takes to rethink an organization from the ground up.

Seth also shares the rarely told story behind Foundry’s creation, including the fifth founding partner who ultimately left the firm, the difficult conversation that ended a close friendship, and the months of rejection Seth and his partners endured while attempting to raise their first fund. At one point, Seth believed he had lost his family’s entire life savings. One pivotal yes changed everything, helping Foundry close a $225 million fund.

This is a candid conversation about building boldly, leading intentionally, and creating enough space to breathe along the way.

You’ll learn:

  • The most important AI question every CEO and board should be asking
  • Why using AI to improve productivity is not the same as becoming AI-native
  • How legacy workflows prevent established companies from transforming
  • Why CEOs need firsthand experience with emerging AI tools
  • How Foundry used coaching to build a healthier partnership from the beginning
  • How to prepare for a difficult leadership conversation
  • Why Foundry’s first fund nearly failed before closing at $225 million
  • How one significant yes can change the momentum of a fundraising process
  • The three qualities Seth sees in the most successful founders
  • How intentionality helps leaders remain bold without burning themselves out

We talk about:


00:00 Meet Foundry co-founder Seth Levine

01:25 The 25-year relationship between Seth Levine and Brad Feld

02:06 How boards should evaluate the opportunities and threats created by AI

04:19 Why most companies are still only dabbling with AI

08:50 The difference between improving a company and rebuilding it for the AI era

13:08 How CEOs can redesign their organizational structure from scratch

14:05 Why leaders need to experiment with AI tools themselves

18:00 How organizational coaching shaped Foundry from the beginning

21:44 Seth’s productivity system and morning planning routine

26:38 The untold story of Foundry’s original fifth partner

31:11 The words Seth used to begin a difficult leadership conversation

37:39 The pivotal yes that helped Foundry raise its first $225 million fund

41:32 How writing helped Seth build his reputation and personal brand

55:00 The difference between expressing company values and entering politics

57:21 The qualities Seth looks for in successful founders

59:19 What Seth wishes he had understood earlier in his career

01:03:48 Seth’s advice for founders growing into leaders


Follow Seth on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> What if the biggest mistake CEOs are making with AI is trying to improve the company they already have?

Seth Levine believes leaders need to ask a more radical question: If you were building your company from scratch today, how would you design it?

Seth is a founder, investor, author, and co-founder of Foundry, the venture capital firm he built alongside Brad Feld and their partners. After decades of working with founders, boards, and leadership teams, he has seen what separates businesses that adapt from those that remain anchored to the way things have always been done.

In this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, executive coach and bestselling author Alisa Cohn sits down with Seth to explore how CEOs should approach AI transformation, why incremental efficiency is not enough, and what it takes to rethink an organization from the ground up.

Seth also shares the rarely told story behind Foundry’s creation, including the fifth founding partner who ultimately left the firm, the difficult conversation that ended a close friendship, and the months of rejection Seth and his partners endured while attempting to raise their first fund. At one point, Seth believed he had lost his family’s entire life savings. One pivotal yes changed everything, helping Foundry close a $225 million fund.

This is a candid conversation about building boldly, leading intentionally, and creating enough space to breathe along the way.

You’ll learn:

  • The most important AI question every CEO and board should be asking
  • Why using AI to improve productivity is not the same as becoming AI-native
  • How legacy workflows prevent established companies from transforming
  • Why CEOs need firsthand experience with emerging AI tools
  • How Foundry used coaching to build a healthier partnership from the beginning
  • How to prepare for a difficult leadership conversation
  • Why Foundry’s first fund nearly failed before closing at $225 million
  • How one significant yes can change the momentum of a fundraising process
  • The three qualities Seth sees in the most successful founders
  • How intentionality helps leaders remain bold without burning themselves out

We talk about:


00:00 Meet Foundry co-founder Seth Levine

01:25 The 25-year relationship between Seth Levine and Brad Feld

02:06 How boards should evaluate the opportunities and threats created by AI

04:19 Why most companies are still only dabbling with AI

08:50 The difference between improving a company and rebuilding it for the AI era

13:08 How CEOs can redesign their organizational structure from scratch

14:05 Why leaders need to experiment with AI tools themselves

18:00 How organizational coaching shaped Foundry from the beginning

21:44 Seth’s productivity system and morning planning routine

26:38 The untold story of Foundry’s original fifth partner

31:11 The words Seth used to begin a difficult leadership conversation

37:39 The pivotal yes that helped Foundry raise its first $225 million fund

41:32 How writing helped Seth build his reputation and personal brand

55:00 The difference between expressing company values and entering politics

57:21 The qualities Seth looks for in successful founders

59:19 What Seth wishes he had understood earlier in his career

01:03:48 Seth’s advice for founders growing into leaders


Follow Seth on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Buzzsprout-19681174 Mon, 24 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0400 3892 full false 124: Alex Lieberman Built Morning Brew to $75M. But That Was Just the Start [ENCORE] 124: Alex Lieberman Built Morning Brew to $75M. But That Was Just the Start [ENCORE] What comes after you build and sell the company that has defined your entire adult life?

Alex Lieberman co-founded Morning Brew as a college student after noticing that traditional business news felt dense, dry, and disconnected from the way young professionals wanted to consume information. What began as a Microsoft Word document emailed to a small group of students grew into one of the world’s most recognizable business media brands and ultimately led to a reported $75 million deal.

But the exit was not the end of Alex’s entrepreneurial journey. It became the beginning of a deeper conversation about identity, leadership, purpose, and what success is actually supposed to feel like.

Alex is now on his new entrepreneurial journey building Tenex, an AI transformation consulting firm. 

In this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, executive coach and bestselling author Alisa Cohn sits down with Alex to unpack the decisions behind Morning Brew’s growth. Alex shares why he walked away from his dream job at Morgan Stanley, how he found a co-founder whose strengths complemented his own, and what he learned when the business needed him to evolve from a builder into an operational CEO.

This is an honest, thoughtful conversation about building something remarkable while remembering that your company is something you do, not the entirety of who you are.

You’ll learn:

  • How Alex Lieberman transformed a college newsletter into Morning Brew
  • Why early reader behavior revealed that the idea had real potential
  • Why regret minimization helped him make a life-changing decision
  • What happened behind the scenes during Morning Brew’s acquisition
  • Why the $75 million exit felt different from what Alex expected
  • How OCD and panic attacks affected Alex’s experience as a founder
  • Why founders can struggle with identity after an exit or leadership transition
  • How to build a “purpose portfolio” beyond your professional title
  • How to choose an executive coach for your current challenges
  • Why reflection is an essential part of growing from founder to leader

We talk about:


00:00 Meet Morning Brew co-founder Alex Lieberman

01:08 How a college newsletter became Morning Brew

04:16 Finding a co-founder with complementary strengths

08:19 Leaving Morgan Stanley to build Morning Brew full time

10:31 Using worst-case scenarios and regret to make difficult decisions

19:18 Navigating Morning Brew’s acquisition during the pandemic

23:25 Why the $75 million exit felt surprisingly underwhelming

28:32 Realizing he was a builder CEO, not an operational CEO

31:34 Leading a growing company while managing OCD and panic attacks

36:01 Losing his identity after transitioning out of the CEO role

40:00 Rebuilding through reflection, experimentation, and connection

50:19 Why every founder needs a diversified “purpose portfolio”

57:27 Making mistakes as a strategy for entrepreneurial growth

01:00:45 What Alex wishes he had understood earlier

Follow Alex on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> What comes after you build and sell the company that has defined your entire adult life?

Alex Lieberman co-founded Morning Brew as a college student after noticing that traditional business news felt dense, dry, and disconnected from the way young professionals wanted to consume information. What began as a Microsoft Word document emailed to a small group of students grew into one of the world’s most recognizable business media brands and ultimately led to a reported $75 million deal.

But the exit was not the end of Alex’s entrepreneurial journey. It became the beginning of a deeper conversation about identity, leadership, purpose, and what success is actually supposed to feel like.

Alex is now on his new entrepreneurial journey building Tenex, an AI transformation consulting firm. 

In this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, executive coach and bestselling author Alisa Cohn sits down with Alex to unpack the decisions behind Morning Brew’s growth. Alex shares why he walked away from his dream job at Morgan Stanley, how he found a co-founder whose strengths complemented his own, and what he learned when the business needed him to evolve from a builder into an operational CEO.

This is an honest, thoughtful conversation about building something remarkable while remembering that your company is something you do, not the entirety of who you are.

You’ll learn:

  • How Alex Lieberman transformed a college newsletter into Morning Brew
  • Why early reader behavior revealed that the idea had real potential
  • Why regret minimization helped him make a life-changing decision
  • What happened behind the scenes during Morning Brew’s acquisition
  • Why the $75 million exit felt different from what Alex expected
  • How OCD and panic attacks affected Alex’s experience as a founder
  • Why founders can struggle with identity after an exit or leadership transition
  • How to build a “purpose portfolio” beyond your professional title
  • How to choose an executive coach for your current challenges
  • Why reflection is an essential part of growing from founder to leader

We talk about:


00:00 Meet Morning Brew co-founder Alex Lieberman

01:08 How a college newsletter became Morning Brew

04:16 Finding a co-founder with complementary strengths

08:19 Leaving Morgan Stanley to build Morning Brew full time

10:31 Using worst-case scenarios and regret to make difficult decisions

19:18 Navigating Morning Brew’s acquisition during the pandemic

23:25 Why the $75 million exit felt surprisingly underwhelming

28:32 Realizing he was a builder CEO, not an operational CEO

31:34 Leading a growing company while managing OCD and panic attacks

36:01 Losing his identity after transitioning out of the CEO role

40:00 Rebuilding through reflection, experimentation, and connection

50:19 Why every founder needs a diversified “purpose portfolio”

57:27 Making mistakes as a strategy for entrepreneurial growth

01:00:45 What Alex wishes he had understood earlier

Follow Alex on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Buzzsprout-19625528 Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:00:00 -0400 3820 full false 123: GiaNina Paolantonio Has Millions of Followers. Here’s the Business Behind Them 123: GiaNina Paolantonio Has Millions of Followers. Here’s the Business Behind Them GiaNina Paolantonio has spent most of her life in the spotlight. She made her Broadway debut in Matilda the Musical at nine, appeared in The Greatest Showman and Dance Moms, and built an online audience of millions. But behind the performances, viral videos, and global following is something much bigger: a multi-channel business built around dance, creativity, and authenticity.

Today, GiaNina’s business includes social content, brand partnerships, dance education, collaborations with artists and record labels, and a global teaching tour developed and managed alongside her family.

In this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, executive coach and bestselling author Alisa Cohn sits down with GiaNina to explore the business behind being a creator. GiaNina shares how one sold-out dance class became an international opportunity, why she refuses to let one niche define her career, and how she monetizes her audience without promoting products or partnerships she does not believe in.

This is an honest look at what it takes to turn creative talent and online influence into an enduring business without losing yourself along the way.

You’ll learn:

  • How GiaNina transformed dance and social media into a multi-channel business
  • Why one sold-out class became the foundation of a global teaching tour
  • How she evaluates brand partnerships and confidently turns down lucrative deals
  • Why refusing to stay in one niche may create greater career longevity
  • What creators must understand about contracts, exclusivity, and content rights
  • How she manages public criticism, overwhelm, and competing demands
  • Why authenticity is the foundation of her brand and long-term strategy

We talk about:

00:00 Meet GiaNina Paolantonio

01:40 Going from the couch to Broadway at nine years old

06:00 Turning social media momentum into a career

08:20 Why GiaNina refuses to be confined to one niche

11:45 Building multiple revenue streams around dance and content

14:51 Creating her own global dance tour

18:30 How an Instagram post revealed worldwide demand

23:35 Managing overwhelm while building a public career

28:23 Handling criticism from millions of followers

33:32 Negotiating partnerships and turning down brand deals

38:00 The hidden business behind being a content creator

45:24 Evolving beyond early success and trusting what comes next

Follow GiaNina on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> GiaNina Paolantonio has spent most of her life in the spotlight. She made her Broadway debut in Matilda the Musical at nine, appeared in The Greatest Showman and Dance Moms, and built an online audience of millions. But behind the performances, viral videos, and global following is something much bigger: a multi-channel business built around dance, creativity, and authenticity.

Today, GiaNina’s business includes social content, brand partnerships, dance education, collaborations with artists and record labels, and a global teaching tour developed and managed alongside her family.

In this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, executive coach and bestselling author Alisa Cohn sits down with GiaNina to explore the business behind being a creator. GiaNina shares how one sold-out dance class became an international opportunity, why she refuses to let one niche define her career, and how she monetizes her audience without promoting products or partnerships she does not believe in.

This is an honest look at what it takes to turn creative talent and online influence into an enduring business without losing yourself along the way.

You’ll learn:

  • How GiaNina transformed dance and social media into a multi-channel business
  • Why one sold-out class became the foundation of a global teaching tour
  • How she evaluates brand partnerships and confidently turns down lucrative deals
  • Why refusing to stay in one niche may create greater career longevity
  • What creators must understand about contracts, exclusivity, and content rights
  • How she manages public criticism, overwhelm, and competing demands
  • Why authenticity is the foundation of her brand and long-term strategy

We talk about:

00:00 Meet GiaNina Paolantonio

01:40 Going from the couch to Broadway at nine years old

06:00 Turning social media momentum into a career

08:20 Why GiaNina refuses to be confined to one niche

11:45 Building multiple revenue streams around dance and content

14:51 Creating her own global dance tour

18:30 How an Instagram post revealed worldwide demand

23:35 Managing overwhelm while building a public career

28:23 Handling criticism from millions of followers

33:32 Negotiating partnerships and turning down brand deals

38:00 The hidden business behind being a content creator

45:24 Evolving beyond early success and trusting what comes next

Follow GiaNina on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Buzzsprout-19533440 Mon, 27 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0400 3725 full false 122: The Kettle & Fire Founder Is Fixing How America Pays for Health | Justin Mares, Co-Founder and CEO of Truemed 122: The Kettle & Fire Founder Is Fixing How America Pays for Health | Justin Mares, Co-Founder and CEO of Truemed Justin Mares built Kettle & Fire into one of the best known bone broth brands in the country. Then he walked away from it to go after something a lot less exciting on paper: the red tape standing between Americans and the preventive health products that actually keep them well. 

His new company, Truemed, gives people a simple way to use money they already have set aside for health on things like workouts, better food, and sleep, instead of letting it sit unused or only get spent once they're already sick.

Alisa Cohn, executive coach and author of From Start-up to Grown-up, sits down with Justin to talk about why he left a thriving consumer brand to go build something in one of the most regulated, paperwork heavy industries there is. You'll hear how he tests ideas before he feels ready, how he hires for real mission alignment, why he chose venture capital this time around after largely bootstrapping Kettle & Fire, and how he still wrestles with imposter syndrome four companies in.

You’ll learn:

  • Justin Mares walked away from Kettle & Fire, one of the best known bone broth brands in the country, to go build Truemed instead.
  • Launching an imperfect product, like Justin's ghost landing page for Kettle and Fire built on $500 of ads, beats waiting for a perfect one.
  • Justin chose venture capital over bootstrapping Truemed after growing Kettle and Fire to hundreds of millions in revenue on less than $10 million raised.
  • Hiring your first five to ten people purely for mission alignment shapes every hire that follows, including Truemed's best employee, who found the company through Justin's newsletter.
  • Andreessen Horowitz brought Truemed access to founders and operators that a bootstrapped CEO could never reach cold, well beyond the capital itself.
  • Justin still deals with imposter syndrome after twelve years and four companies, and uses a specific reframe to move from doubt into action.
  • Justin believes startups are fundamentally momentum games, and wishes he had learned to trust his own judgment earlier in his career.

We talk about:


00:00 Justin Mares introduces Truemed and its preventive health mission

00:29 Why Kettle and Fire exposed how expensive prevention really is

02:37 The red tape problem hiding inside health savings accounts

04:43 Why Justin pivoted from consumer products into fintech

07:39 What Truemed tested before writing a line of code

09:54 Why an ugly MVP still proved real customer demand

14:21 How Truemed built its first team around mission alignment

19:37 Why Justin chose venture capital over staying bootstrapped

24:39 What Andreessen Horowitz brought beyond the check

29:00 Why the MAHA movement matters for chronic disease

39:38 How Justin worked through his hardest founder decisions

43:57 What Justin wishes he had known earlier as a founder


Follow Justin on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Justin Mares built Kettle & Fire into one of the best known bone broth brands in the country. Then he walked away from it to go after something a lot less exciting on paper: the red tape standing between Americans and the preventive health products that actually keep them well. 

His new company, Truemed, gives people a simple way to use money they already have set aside for health on things like workouts, better food, and sleep, instead of letting it sit unused or only get spent once they're already sick.

Alisa Cohn, executive coach and author of From Start-up to Grown-up, sits down with Justin to talk about why he left a thriving consumer brand to go build something in one of the most regulated, paperwork heavy industries there is. You'll hear how he tests ideas before he feels ready, how he hires for real mission alignment, why he chose venture capital this time around after largely bootstrapping Kettle & Fire, and how he still wrestles with imposter syndrome four companies in.

You’ll learn:

  • Justin Mares walked away from Kettle & Fire, one of the best known bone broth brands in the country, to go build Truemed instead.
  • Launching an imperfect product, like Justin's ghost landing page for Kettle and Fire built on $500 of ads, beats waiting for a perfect one.
  • Justin chose venture capital over bootstrapping Truemed after growing Kettle and Fire to hundreds of millions in revenue on less than $10 million raised.
  • Hiring your first five to ten people purely for mission alignment shapes every hire that follows, including Truemed's best employee, who found the company through Justin's newsletter.
  • Andreessen Horowitz brought Truemed access to founders and operators that a bootstrapped CEO could never reach cold, well beyond the capital itself.
  • Justin still deals with imposter syndrome after twelve years and four companies, and uses a specific reframe to move from doubt into action.
  • Justin believes startups are fundamentally momentum games, and wishes he had learned to trust his own judgment earlier in his career.

We talk about:


00:00 Justin Mares introduces Truemed and its preventive health mission

00:29 Why Kettle and Fire exposed how expensive prevention really is

02:37 The red tape problem hiding inside health savings accounts

04:43 Why Justin pivoted from consumer products into fintech

07:39 What Truemed tested before writing a line of code

09:54 Why an ugly MVP still proved real customer demand

14:21 How Truemed built its first team around mission alignment

19:37 Why Justin chose venture capital over staying bootstrapped

24:39 What Andreessen Horowitz brought beyond the check

29:00 Why the MAHA movement matters for chronic disease

39:38 How Justin worked through his hardest founder decisions

43:57 What Justin wishes he had known earlier as a founder


Follow Justin on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-19486354 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 2867 full false 121: Founder Mode on Bitcoin: Double the Volatility, Double the Stakes | Will Reeves, Co-Founder and CEO of Fold 121: Founder Mode on Bitcoin: Double the Volatility, Double the Stakes | Will Reeves, Co-Founder and CEO of Fold Building a startup on Bitcoin means you're not riding one rollercoaster, you're riding two at once. The volatility of launching a company is hard enough. Layer on top of that a protocol still finding its own product-market fit, and you get a compounding effect that will break founders who aren't prepared for it. 

Will Reeves knows this firsthand. He co-founded Fold, lived through deep bear markets with no investor interest in sight, made a critical pivot after realizing he was building the wrong solution, and took Fold public on Nasdaq in February 2025 as the first Bitcoin financial services company on the exchange. 

In this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, host Alisa Cohn sits down with Will Reeves, Co-Founder and CEO of Fold, to explore the real cost of building on Bitcoin, why "growth at all costs will destroy you," how a Starbucks line changed everything for Fold, what shifts the moment you go public, and the one truth about imposter syndrome most founders will never admit. 

You’ll learn:

  • Why building a company on top of Bitcoin creates a compounding risk that most founders and investors seriously underestimate
  • The exact moment Will realized Fold was solving the wrong problem, and how the pivot unlocked real product-market fit and landed Visa as their first major partner. 
  • Why "growth at all costs" is uniquely dangerous for Bitcoin companies, and what it actually looks like to build a business for long-term survival
  • What changed when Fold went public 
  • How to spot when an executive has stopped scaling with the company
  • What imposter syndrome actually feels like from inside a public company CEO role

We talk about:

00:00 Why building on Bitcoin means you're riding two rollercoasters at once 
04:03 Is resilience something you're born with or something you build over time? 
06:37 The advice Will gives founders on withstanding the startup journey day to day 
09:32 How Fold realized it was solving the wrong problem, and what they did about it 
13:22 How do you get your team on board when you've found a new direction? 
15:04 What Bitcoin is really for: decentralization, inflation, and financial freedom 
22:23 Why growth at all costs will destroy you when you're building on Bitcoin 
24:41 Why Fold went public via SPAC and what that decision looked like from the inside 
33:03 The painful lesson of replacing yourself as a founder CEO 
39:18 The lowest lows and highest highs of building Fold 
43:13 Have you ever experienced imposter syndrome? Will's honest answer 
46:43 Advice for founders on building a company and a life at the same time

Follow Will on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Building a startup on Bitcoin means you're not riding one rollercoaster, you're riding two at once. The volatility of launching a company is hard enough. Layer on top of that a protocol still finding its own product-market fit, and you get a compounding effect that will break founders who aren't prepared for it. 

Will Reeves knows this firsthand. He co-founded Fold, lived through deep bear markets with no investor interest in sight, made a critical pivot after realizing he was building the wrong solution, and took Fold public on Nasdaq in February 2025 as the first Bitcoin financial services company on the exchange. 

In this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, host Alisa Cohn sits down with Will Reeves, Co-Founder and CEO of Fold, to explore the real cost of building on Bitcoin, why "growth at all costs will destroy you," how a Starbucks line changed everything for Fold, what shifts the moment you go public, and the one truth about imposter syndrome most founders will never admit. 

You’ll learn:

  • Why building a company on top of Bitcoin creates a compounding risk that most founders and investors seriously underestimate
  • The exact moment Will realized Fold was solving the wrong problem, and how the pivot unlocked real product-market fit and landed Visa as their first major partner. 
  • Why "growth at all costs" is uniquely dangerous for Bitcoin companies, and what it actually looks like to build a business for long-term survival
  • What changed when Fold went public 
  • How to spot when an executive has stopped scaling with the company
  • What imposter syndrome actually feels like from inside a public company CEO role

We talk about:

00:00 Why building on Bitcoin means you're riding two rollercoasters at once 
04:03 Is resilience something you're born with or something you build over time? 
06:37 The advice Will gives founders on withstanding the startup journey day to day 
09:32 How Fold realized it was solving the wrong problem, and what they did about it 
13:22 How do you get your team on board when you've found a new direction? 
15:04 What Bitcoin is really for: decentralization, inflation, and financial freedom 
22:23 Why growth at all costs will destroy you when you're building on Bitcoin 
24:41 Why Fold went public via SPAC and what that decision looked like from the inside 
33:03 The painful lesson of replacing yourself as a founder CEO 
39:18 The lowest lows and highest highs of building Fold 
43:13 Have you ever experienced imposter syndrome? Will's honest answer 
46:43 Advice for founders on building a company and a life at the same time

Follow Will on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-19401749 Mon, 29 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400 3033 full false 120: Miro's Founder on Reinventing a 100-Million-User Company | Andrey Khusid, Founder of Miro 120: Miro's Founder on Reinventing a 100-Million-User Company | Andrey Khusid, Founder of Miro What happens when you've already built a company used by more than 100 million people, and suddenly the world changes again?

In this episode, Alisa Cohn sits down with Andrey Khusid, Founder and CEO of Miro, to explore one of the biggest leadership challenges founders face: reinventing a successful company while it's still growing.

As AI transforms the way teams work, Andrey shares how Miro evolved from a digital whiteboard into a collaborative platform where humans and AI agents create together. He explains why founders must embrace "day one thinking," how to build startup energy inside a 1,600-person organization, and why many leaders struggle when shifting between founder mode and CEO mode.

The conversation dives deep into innovation, company culture, organizational transformation, leadership chemistry, experimentation, and what it really takes to stay relevant when technology changes faster than ever.

If you're a founder, CEO, executive, or entrepreneur navigating growth, change, or AI disruption, this episode offers a masterclass in adapting without losing your mission.

You’ll learn:

  • Why Andrey believes every company is now searching for product-market fit again
  • How AI is changing the future of collaboration and teamwork
  • What "day one thinking" means and why founders need it
  • The difference between experimentation in scaling versus reinvention
  • Why conviction matters more than consensus in zero-to-one innovation
  • How founders can communicate vision when they can't fully articulate it yet
  • The biggest mistake leaders make when trying to innovate inside large organizations
  • Why founder mode and CEO mode are both essential leadership skills
  • How AI is reshaping management, teams, and organizational design
  • The surprising reason culture becomes weaker as companies scale
  • Why entrepreneurial talent is becoming more valuable than specialized expertise
  • How to create startup energy inside an established business
  • The role of trust, feedback, and productive conflict in high-performing teams
  • Why leadership chemistry matters more than most executives realize
  • The mindset shift required to survive rapid technological disruption

We talk about:


00:00 How Miro evolved from a digital whiteboard to an AI-powered collaboration platform

04:00 Day One Thinking, AI disruption, and why every company must reinvent itself

06:00 Leading with conviction when the vision isn't fully formed yet

10:00 Finding product-market fit again inside a 1,600-person company

13:00 Founder Mode vs. CEO Mode and the leadership skills required for both

16:00 Learning faster, staying entrepreneurial, and adapting in the AI era

19:00 Culture Growth Trips, founder fit, and building a mission-driven company

24:00 Rebuilding startup energy, ownership, and accountability at scale

26:00 AI, organizational design, and the future of management

29:00 Leadership coaching, team chemistry, and creating a culture of trust

35:00 Why productive conflict beats politeness and how great teams challenge each other

42:00 The hardest lesson about company transformation and Andrey's advice for founders


Follow Andrey on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> What happens when you've already built a company used by more than 100 million people, and suddenly the world changes again?

In this episode, Alisa Cohn sits down with Andrey Khusid, Founder and CEO of Miro, to explore one of the biggest leadership challenges founders face: reinventing a successful company while it's still growing.

As AI transforms the way teams work, Andrey shares how Miro evolved from a digital whiteboard into a collaborative platform where humans and AI agents create together. He explains why founders must embrace "day one thinking," how to build startup energy inside a 1,600-person organization, and why many leaders struggle when shifting between founder mode and CEO mode.

The conversation dives deep into innovation, company culture, organizational transformation, leadership chemistry, experimentation, and what it really takes to stay relevant when technology changes faster than ever.

If you're a founder, CEO, executive, or entrepreneur navigating growth, change, or AI disruption, this episode offers a masterclass in adapting without losing your mission.

You’ll learn:

  • Why Andrey believes every company is now searching for product-market fit again
  • How AI is changing the future of collaboration and teamwork
  • What "day one thinking" means and why founders need it
  • The difference between experimentation in scaling versus reinvention
  • Why conviction matters more than consensus in zero-to-one innovation
  • How founders can communicate vision when they can't fully articulate it yet
  • The biggest mistake leaders make when trying to innovate inside large organizations
  • Why founder mode and CEO mode are both essential leadership skills
  • How AI is reshaping management, teams, and organizational design
  • The surprising reason culture becomes weaker as companies scale
  • Why entrepreneurial talent is becoming more valuable than specialized expertise
  • How to create startup energy inside an established business
  • The role of trust, feedback, and productive conflict in high-performing teams
  • Why leadership chemistry matters more than most executives realize
  • The mindset shift required to survive rapid technological disruption

We talk about:


00:00 How Miro evolved from a digital whiteboard to an AI-powered collaboration platform

04:00 Day One Thinking, AI disruption, and why every company must reinvent itself

06:00 Leading with conviction when the vision isn't fully formed yet

10:00 Finding product-market fit again inside a 1,600-person company

13:00 Founder Mode vs. CEO Mode and the leadership skills required for both

16:00 Learning faster, staying entrepreneurial, and adapting in the AI era

19:00 Culture Growth Trips, founder fit, and building a mission-driven company

24:00 Rebuilding startup energy, ownership, and accountability at scale

26:00 AI, organizational design, and the future of management

29:00 Leadership coaching, team chemistry, and creating a culture of trust

35:00 Why productive conflict beats politeness and how great teams challenge each other

42:00 The hardest lesson about company transformation and Andrey's advice for founders


Follow Andrey on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Buzzsprout-19296580 Mon, 15 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400 2800 full false 119: Eric Ries, Author of The Lean Startup, The Corporate Governance Crisis No One Wants to Admit 119: Eric Ries, Author of The Lean Startup, The Corporate Governance Crisis No One Wants to Admit What if the biggest threat to your company is not competition, but the systems everyone told you to trust?

In this episode, Alisa Cohn sits down with Eric Ries, creator of the Lean Startup methodology and bestselling author of The Lean Startup, The Startup Way, and Incorruptible, for a conversation about leadership, corporate governance, innovation, and why so many modern companies lose their way as they grow.

Eric unpacks the dangerous side of “best practices,” why shareholder primacy often destroys long-term value, and how financial pressure quietly reshapes company culture from the inside out. He also shares the untold story behind Costco’s governance model, why Anthropic’s structure matters in the AI race, and what founders misunderstand about speed, alignment, and leadership integrity.

You’ll learn:

  • Why many “best practices” are actually value destroying
  • What Eric Ries means by “financial gravity”
  • How companies lose their mission after founders lose control
  • Why Costco became one of the strongest governance models in business
  • The hidden danger of shareholder primacy
  • Why trustworthiness may be the most underrated asset in business
  • How Lean Startup was misunderstood by most founders
  • The real purpose behind MVPs and rapid experimentation
  • Why principles create faster companies, not slower ones
  • How aligned teams move faster with less management overhead
  • What Anthropic is doing differently with AI governance
  • Why constraints often create breakthrough innovation
  • The leadership lesson Eric learned from nearly compromising his own principles
  • How founders can build companies their grandchildren will be proud of

We talk about:

00:00 Why Eric Ries says builders are “under siege”
02:00 The hidden problem with modern business “best practices”
05:00 Why shareholder primacy destroys long-term companies
08:00 The untold Costco and Sol Price story
12:00 How Costco built a governance fortress
16:00 Understanding “financial gravity” inside organizations
19:00 Why Costco shareholders defended leadership decisions
22:00 The problem with management entrenchment
24:00 Why corporations should function more like balanced systems
26:00 Anthropic’s governance structure and AI leadership
30:00 Why checks and balances do not kill innovation
32:00 The real philosophy behind Lean Startup
35:00 Why principles create speed inside organizations
38:00 The overlooked role of trust and alignment
40:00 Why great leaders intentionally make things harder
42:00 The danger of compromising on core values
44:00 Eric’s hardest leadership decision
46:00 What founders misunderstand about success and power
47:00 How to build companies designed to last generations

Follow Eric on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> What if the biggest threat to your company is not competition, but the systems everyone told you to trust?

In this episode, Alisa Cohn sits down with Eric Ries, creator of the Lean Startup methodology and bestselling author of The Lean Startup, The Startup Way, and Incorruptible, for a conversation about leadership, corporate governance, innovation, and why so many modern companies lose their way as they grow.

Eric unpacks the dangerous side of “best practices,” why shareholder primacy often destroys long-term value, and how financial pressure quietly reshapes company culture from the inside out. He also shares the untold story behind Costco’s governance model, why Anthropic’s structure matters in the AI race, and what founders misunderstand about speed, alignment, and leadership integrity.

You’ll learn:

  • Why many “best practices” are actually value destroying
  • What Eric Ries means by “financial gravity”
  • How companies lose their mission after founders lose control
  • Why Costco became one of the strongest governance models in business
  • The hidden danger of shareholder primacy
  • Why trustworthiness may be the most underrated asset in business
  • How Lean Startup was misunderstood by most founders
  • The real purpose behind MVPs and rapid experimentation
  • Why principles create faster companies, not slower ones
  • How aligned teams move faster with less management overhead
  • What Anthropic is doing differently with AI governance
  • Why constraints often create breakthrough innovation
  • The leadership lesson Eric learned from nearly compromising his own principles
  • How founders can build companies their grandchildren will be proud of

We talk about:

00:00 Why Eric Ries says builders are “under siege”
02:00 The hidden problem with modern business “best practices”
05:00 Why shareholder primacy destroys long-term companies
08:00 The untold Costco and Sol Price story
12:00 How Costco built a governance fortress
16:00 Understanding “financial gravity” inside organizations
19:00 Why Costco shareholders defended leadership decisions
22:00 The problem with management entrenchment
24:00 Why corporations should function more like balanced systems
26:00 Anthropic’s governance structure and AI leadership
30:00 Why checks and balances do not kill innovation
32:00 The real philosophy behind Lean Startup
35:00 Why principles create speed inside organizations
38:00 The overlooked role of trust and alignment
40:00 Why great leaders intentionally make things harder
42:00 The danger of compromising on core values
44:00 Eric’s hardest leadership decision
46:00 What founders misunderstand about success and power
47:00 How to build companies designed to last generations

Follow Eric on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Buzzsprout-19253923 Mon, 01 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400 2931 full false 118: Josh Reeves, Co-Founder and CEO of Gusto, The 3-Part Alignment Framework Every Founder Needs Before Their Next Hire [ENCORE] 118: Josh Reeves, Co-Founder and CEO of Gusto, The 3-Part Alignment Framework Every Founder Needs Before Their Next Hire [ENCORE] What if you have been hiring wrong this entire time?

In this episode, Josh Reeves, Co-Founder and CEO of Gusto, a $10B people platform serving over 300,000 businesses, joins Alisa Cohn for one of the most practical and deeply human conversations about building teams that actually work.

This is not a generic leadership talk. This is a masterclass in how to hire people who genuinely care, how to scale a values-driven culture without losing it, and how to lead through the kind of uncertainty that breaks most founders.

Josh shares the three-part alignment framework Gusto uses at every level of hiring, why the skills conversation gets too much attention, how he fires himself from jobs as fast as possible, and what the Platinum Rule taught him about giving feedback that actually lands.

You’ll learn:

  • Why values and motivation alignment matter more than skills in the startup hiring process
  • How to scale a hiring process so culture stays intact past 50, 150, and 2,500 employees
  • What the Platinum Rule is and why it will transform how you give feedback
  • The difference between a builder and a manager (and why it matters enormously in a startup)
  • How to recognize when a leader is in over their head before it costs you too much
  • Why great talent sometimes fails at the wrong stage company
  • What Josh learned from a previous startup that shaped everything about how Gusto was built
  • The one question to ask yourself before committing to any startup idea

We talk about:

  • 00:00 Introduction to Josh Reeves and Gusto
  • 02:00 The founding story and what problem Gusto was built to solve
  • 08:00 The three-part hiring alignment framework: values, motivation, and skill
  • 17:00 How Gusto scaled their hiring culture to 2,500 employees
  • 19:00 How the CEO role evolved across 12 years
  • 24:00 Symptoms of a leader who is outpacing their role vs. one who came from too large a company
  • 29:00 The difference between builders and managers in a startup
  • 33:00 Situational leadership and why directive leadership is not the opposite of empowerment
  • 37:00 The Platinum Rule and how it changed the way Josh gives feedback
  • 48:00 Highs, lows, and leading through uncertainty as a founder
  • 59:00 The lesson from his previous startup that shaped everything about Gusto
  • 01:03:00 Final advice for founders: imagine describing your company for the 10,000th time

Follow Josh on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> What if you have been hiring wrong this entire time?

In this episode, Josh Reeves, Co-Founder and CEO of Gusto, a $10B people platform serving over 300,000 businesses, joins Alisa Cohn for one of the most practical and deeply human conversations about building teams that actually work.

This is not a generic leadership talk. This is a masterclass in how to hire people who genuinely care, how to scale a values-driven culture without losing it, and how to lead through the kind of uncertainty that breaks most founders.

Josh shares the three-part alignment framework Gusto uses at every level of hiring, why the skills conversation gets too much attention, how he fires himself from jobs as fast as possible, and what the Platinum Rule taught him about giving feedback that actually lands.

You’ll learn:

  • Why values and motivation alignment matter more than skills in the startup hiring process
  • How to scale a hiring process so culture stays intact past 50, 150, and 2,500 employees
  • What the Platinum Rule is and why it will transform how you give feedback
  • The difference between a builder and a manager (and why it matters enormously in a startup)
  • How to recognize when a leader is in over their head before it costs you too much
  • Why great talent sometimes fails at the wrong stage company
  • What Josh learned from a previous startup that shaped everything about how Gusto was built
  • The one question to ask yourself before committing to any startup idea

We talk about:

  • 00:00 Introduction to Josh Reeves and Gusto
  • 02:00 The founding story and what problem Gusto was built to solve
  • 08:00 The three-part hiring alignment framework: values, motivation, and skill
  • 17:00 How Gusto scaled their hiring culture to 2,500 employees
  • 19:00 How the CEO role evolved across 12 years
  • 24:00 Symptoms of a leader who is outpacing their role vs. one who came from too large a company
  • 29:00 The difference between builders and managers in a startup
  • 33:00 Situational leadership and why directive leadership is not the opposite of empowerment
  • 37:00 The Platinum Rule and how it changed the way Josh gives feedback
  • 48:00 Highs, lows, and leading through uncertainty as a founder
  • 59:00 The lesson from his previous startup that shaped everything about Gusto
  • 01:03:00 Final advice for founders: imagine describing your company for the 10,000th time

Follow Josh on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Buzzsprout-19157168 Mon, 18 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400 3966 full false 117: Jyoti Bansal, Two-Time Founder, How to Win the AI Race Before Your Competitors Catch Up 117: Jyoti Bansal, Two-Time Founder, How to Win the AI Race Before Your Competitors Catch Up What happens after you “make it”… and realize money was never the point?

In this episode, Jyoti Bansal, Founder & CEO of Harness and founder of AppDynamics (sold for $3.7B), sits down with Alisa Cohn for a conversation that cuts deeper than typical startup playbooks.

This is not just about building companies. It’s about what happens when the finish line disappears… and you have to decide who you are without it.

Jyoti shares the unexpected identity crisis that hit after his exit, why he chose to build again anyway, and what most founders misunderstand about success, sales, and staying relevant in a world that’s changing faster than your roadmap can keep up.

From the brutal reality of startup milestones to the urgency of the AI transformation, this episode is a masterclass in how to think, move, and lead when the stakes are real.

You’ll learn:

  • Why a worse product can still beat you (and how to prevent it)
  • The hidden identity crisis founders face after a big exit
  • How to think of entrepreneurship as a craft, not a one-time event
  • Why startup growth is about milestones, not perfection
  • The real reason most companies fall behind during major tech shifts
  • How to operate in “founder mode” when speed is everything
  • The difference between product differentiation and go-to-market dominance
  • How to build a scalable sales machine (not just hire “charismatic closers”)
  • The hiring framework Jyoti uses to spot elite sales talent
  • How to align a company fast during high-pressure transformation
  • The “startup within a startup” model that creates ownership at scale
  • Why transparency in numbers builds accountability across the entire org

We talk about:

  • 00:00 The uncomfortable truth after a billion-dollar exit
  • 02:00 Why Jyoti came back to build again
  • 05:00 The founder identity crisis no one prepares you for
  • 08:00 Entrepreneurship as a craft, not a single shot
  • 11:00 The milestone framework for building successful companies
  • 15:00 The AI transformation and why most companies will lose
  • 18:00 Founder mode, speed, and making decisions in real time
  • 22:00 Aligning teams when everything is changing fast
  • 26:00 Why revenue is the only truth in business
  • 29:00 Sales as a competitive advantage 
  • 32:00 The myth of “relationship-based” selling
  • 35:00 Building a scalable, structured go-to-market machine
  • 38:00 How to hire great sales leaders (and avoid getting sold in the interview)
  • 41:00 The onboarding mistake most founders make
  • 44:00 Transparency, numbers, and company-wide accountability
  • 47:00 The “startup within a startup” model explained
  • 52:00 Ownership, incentives, and building multiple winning products


Follow Jyoti on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> What happens after you “make it”… and realize money was never the point?

In this episode, Jyoti Bansal, Founder & CEO of Harness and founder of AppDynamics (sold for $3.7B), sits down with Alisa Cohn for a conversation that cuts deeper than typical startup playbooks.

This is not just about building companies. It’s about what happens when the finish line disappears… and you have to decide who you are without it.

Jyoti shares the unexpected identity crisis that hit after his exit, why he chose to build again anyway, and what most founders misunderstand about success, sales, and staying relevant in a world that’s changing faster than your roadmap can keep up.

From the brutal reality of startup milestones to the urgency of the AI transformation, this episode is a masterclass in how to think, move, and lead when the stakes are real.

You’ll learn:

  • Why a worse product can still beat you (and how to prevent it)
  • The hidden identity crisis founders face after a big exit
  • How to think of entrepreneurship as a craft, not a one-time event
  • Why startup growth is about milestones, not perfection
  • The real reason most companies fall behind during major tech shifts
  • How to operate in “founder mode” when speed is everything
  • The difference between product differentiation and go-to-market dominance
  • How to build a scalable sales machine (not just hire “charismatic closers”)
  • The hiring framework Jyoti uses to spot elite sales talent
  • How to align a company fast during high-pressure transformation
  • The “startup within a startup” model that creates ownership at scale
  • Why transparency in numbers builds accountability across the entire org

We talk about:

  • 00:00 The uncomfortable truth after a billion-dollar exit
  • 02:00 Why Jyoti came back to build again
  • 05:00 The founder identity crisis no one prepares you for
  • 08:00 Entrepreneurship as a craft, not a single shot
  • 11:00 The milestone framework for building successful companies
  • 15:00 The AI transformation and why most companies will lose
  • 18:00 Founder mode, speed, and making decisions in real time
  • 22:00 Aligning teams when everything is changing fast
  • 26:00 Why revenue is the only truth in business
  • 29:00 Sales as a competitive advantage 
  • 32:00 The myth of “relationship-based” selling
  • 35:00 Building a scalable, structured go-to-market machine
  • 38:00 How to hire great sales leaders (and avoid getting sold in the interview)
  • 41:00 The onboarding mistake most founders make
  • 44:00 Transparency, numbers, and company-wide accountability
  • 47:00 The “startup within a startup” model explained
  • 52:00 Ownership, incentives, and building multiple winning products


Follow Jyoti on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Buzzsprout-19098757 Mon, 04 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400 3751 full false 116: Gina Bianchini, Founder of Mighty Networks, Stop Building an Audience. Build Community Instead [ENCORE] 116: Gina Bianchini, Founder of Mighty Networks, Stop Building an Audience. Build Community Instead [ENCORE] What if the thing you’ve been told to build… isn’t the thing that actually creates results?

In this encore episode, Gina Bianchini joins Alisa Cohn to break down why community, not content, not audience size, not algorithms, is the real driver of transformation, retention, and long-term business growth.

This conversation goes far beyond theory. It’s a masterclass in how communities actually work, why most founders get it wrong, and what it really takes to build something people don’t just follow… but belong to.

Gina shares the exact frameworks behind thriving communities, the psychology of engagement, and the structure that turns passive consumers into active participants.

This is also a raw look at entrepreneurship behind the scenes, from navigating dark moments and doubt, to leading with mission instead of ego, to building something that feels inevitable before it’s proven.

If you’re building a brand, a business, or a movement, this episode will change how you think about growth.

You’ll learn:

  • Why community is the most powerful driver of transformation and results
  • The difference between an audience and a true community (and why it matters)
  • The simple framework behind high-engagement communities that actually last
  • How to structure your community for consistency, growth, and retention
  • Why giving advice kills engagement and what to do instead
  • The role of purpose in attracting and sustaining members
  • How founders can navigate doubt, feedback, and uncertainty
  • Why entrepreneurship is irrational, and how to stay grounded anyway
  • The real skill CEOs need to master, and it’s not what you think
  • How to manage energy, not just time, to lead effectively

We talk about:

  • 00:00 Why community is the foundation of transformation
  • 02:30 The founding vision behind Mighty Networks
  • 05:00 Growing up in community and why it shaped everything
  • 12:30 Founder mental health and why it’s not for everyone
  • 14:00 Using mission to move through doubt and dark moments
  • 16:00 When investors don’t believe in your vision
  • 18:30 How to process feedback without losing your direction
  • 22:30 The core elements of building a powerful community
  • 29:30 The biggest mistake that kills community engagement
  • 31:00 Simple rituals that create deeper connection
  • 33:00 Why energy management matters more than time management
  • 36:00 The hidden cost of poor leadership energy
  • 38:00 Morning routines and protecting creative thinking time
  • 44:00 Agreements vs policies inside a company
  • 47:00 Building a human system, not a mechanical one
  • 50:00 What great leadership actually looks like in practice
  • 58:00 Advice for founders building something meaningful

Follow Gina on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> What if the thing you’ve been told to build… isn’t the thing that actually creates results?

In this encore episode, Gina Bianchini joins Alisa Cohn to break down why community, not content, not audience size, not algorithms, is the real driver of transformation, retention, and long-term business growth.

This conversation goes far beyond theory. It’s a masterclass in how communities actually work, why most founders get it wrong, and what it really takes to build something people don’t just follow… but belong to.

Gina shares the exact frameworks behind thriving communities, the psychology of engagement, and the structure that turns passive consumers into active participants.

This is also a raw look at entrepreneurship behind the scenes, from navigating dark moments and doubt, to leading with mission instead of ego, to building something that feels inevitable before it’s proven.

If you’re building a brand, a business, or a movement, this episode will change how you think about growth.

You’ll learn:

  • Why community is the most powerful driver of transformation and results
  • The difference between an audience and a true community (and why it matters)
  • The simple framework behind high-engagement communities that actually last
  • How to structure your community for consistency, growth, and retention
  • Why giving advice kills engagement and what to do instead
  • The role of purpose in attracting and sustaining members
  • How founders can navigate doubt, feedback, and uncertainty
  • Why entrepreneurship is irrational, and how to stay grounded anyway
  • The real skill CEOs need to master, and it’s not what you think
  • How to manage energy, not just time, to lead effectively

We talk about:

  • 00:00 Why community is the foundation of transformation
  • 02:30 The founding vision behind Mighty Networks
  • 05:00 Growing up in community and why it shaped everything
  • 12:30 Founder mental health and why it’s not for everyone
  • 14:00 Using mission to move through doubt and dark moments
  • 16:00 When investors don’t believe in your vision
  • 18:30 How to process feedback without losing your direction
  • 22:30 The core elements of building a powerful community
  • 29:30 The biggest mistake that kills community engagement
  • 31:00 Simple rituals that create deeper connection
  • 33:00 Why energy management matters more than time management
  • 36:00 The hidden cost of poor leadership energy
  • 38:00 Morning routines and protecting creative thinking time
  • 44:00 Agreements vs policies inside a company
  • 47:00 Building a human system, not a mechanical one
  • 50:00 What great leadership actually looks like in practice
  • 58:00 Advice for founders building something meaningful

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]]> Buzzsprout-19026714 Mon, 20 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0400 3674 full false #115 – Tanay Kothari, Co-Founder & CEO of Wispr Flow: How a 27-Year-Old Founder Is Redefining Leadership, Product, and the AI Revolution #115 – Tanay Kothari, Co-Founder & CEO of Wispr Flow: How a 27-Year-Old Founder Is Redefining Leadership, Product, and the AI Revolution What does it actually take to lead when the stakes are real, the decisions are heavy, and people are counting on you?

In this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, Alisa Cohn sits down with Tanay Kothari, Co-Founder and CEO of Wispr Flow, one of the most talked-about AI companies right now, to explore what it means to build, lead, and grow at a level most founders never reach.

Tanay may be a young founder, but the way he thinks about leadership, people, and decision-making is anything but early-stage. This conversation goes deep into the realities of building a company, not just the strategy, but the responsibility, the trade-offs, and the emotional weight that comes with it.

They unpack what founders often get wrong about vision versus execution, why the hardest decisions are usually the right ones, and how to lead teams through uncertainty without losing trust.

Tanay also shares his approach to managing people more experienced than him, why understanding how each individual wants to be led changes everything, and how aligning on beliefs, not just decisions, can transform how teams operate.

This is a conversation about leadership under pressure, building with intention, and becoming the kind of founder your company actually needs.

You’ll learn:

  • What founders get wrong about vision vs. execution, and how to separate the two
  • How to navigate difficult decisions, including layoffs, without losing your integrity
  • How to lead and influence people who are more experienced than you
  • The power of aligning on beliefs instead of debating decisions
  • How to build faster, more effective teams through shared frameworks
  • What it really means to take responsibility as a founder
  • The trade-offs required to build a company, and how to choose them consciously
  • How emotional maturity becomes a leadership advantage
  • Why great leaders focus on how they show up, not just what they build

We talk about:

  • 00:00 Building from a young age and what drives Tanay
  • 03:00 Early product thinking and what makes great products work
  • 06:00 The difference between vision and execution in startups
  • 09:00 Making hard decisions and leading through uncertainty
  • 12:00 The emotional reality of layoffs and responsibility as a founder
  • 16:00 The weight of leadership and the trade-offs of building a company
  • 23:00 Managing and leading people more experienced than you
  • 26:00 Why personalization matters in leadership (“love languages” for teams)
  • 29:00 Aligning on beliefs vs relying on authority
  • 35:00 Building decision-making frameworks that scale with your team
  • 41:00 How small systems unlock massive team productivity
  • 46:00 Why entry-level roles are disappearing and what replaces them
  • 49:00 Advice for young professionals in an AI-first world
  • 55:00 Creating fast feedback loops to build better products
  • 58:00 Why most companies build too many products too soon
  • 01:01:00 Imposter syndrome and the hidden pressure of leadership
  • 01:04:30 Final lessons on leadership, people, and building something that lasts

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Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> What does it actually take to lead when the stakes are real, the decisions are heavy, and people are counting on you?

In this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, Alisa Cohn sits down with Tanay Kothari, Co-Founder and CEO of Wispr Flow, one of the most talked-about AI companies right now, to explore what it means to build, lead, and grow at a level most founders never reach.

Tanay may be a young founder, but the way he thinks about leadership, people, and decision-making is anything but early-stage. This conversation goes deep into the realities of building a company, not just the strategy, but the responsibility, the trade-offs, and the emotional weight that comes with it.

They unpack what founders often get wrong about vision versus execution, why the hardest decisions are usually the right ones, and how to lead teams through uncertainty without losing trust.

Tanay also shares his approach to managing people more experienced than him, why understanding how each individual wants to be led changes everything, and how aligning on beliefs, not just decisions, can transform how teams operate.

This is a conversation about leadership under pressure, building with intention, and becoming the kind of founder your company actually needs.

You’ll learn:

  • What founders get wrong about vision vs. execution, and how to separate the two
  • How to navigate difficult decisions, including layoffs, without losing your integrity
  • How to lead and influence people who are more experienced than you
  • The power of aligning on beliefs instead of debating decisions
  • How to build faster, more effective teams through shared frameworks
  • What it really means to take responsibility as a founder
  • The trade-offs required to build a company, and how to choose them consciously
  • How emotional maturity becomes a leadership advantage
  • Why great leaders focus on how they show up, not just what they build

We talk about:

  • 00:00 Building from a young age and what drives Tanay
  • 03:00 Early product thinking and what makes great products work
  • 06:00 The difference between vision and execution in startups
  • 09:00 Making hard decisions and leading through uncertainty
  • 12:00 The emotional reality of layoffs and responsibility as a founder
  • 16:00 The weight of leadership and the trade-offs of building a company
  • 23:00 Managing and leading people more experienced than you
  • 26:00 Why personalization matters in leadership (“love languages” for teams)
  • 29:00 Aligning on beliefs vs relying on authority
  • 35:00 Building decision-making frameworks that scale with your team
  • 41:00 How small systems unlock massive team productivity
  • 46:00 Why entry-level roles are disappearing and what replaces them
  • 49:00 Advice for young professionals in an AI-first world
  • 55:00 Creating fast feedback loops to build better products
  • 58:00 Why most companies build too many products too soon
  • 01:01:00 Imposter syndrome and the hidden pressure of leadership
  • 01:04:30 Final lessons on leadership, people, and building something that lasts

Follow Tanay on

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-18951210 Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400 3926 full false #114 - Kim Scott, Radical Respect and Radical Candor: How to Build Teams That Challenge Directly and Care Personally [ENCORE] #114 - Kim Scott, Radical Respect and Radical Candor: How to Build Teams That Challenge Directly and Care Personally [ENCORE] What does it actually mean to care about someone at work?

In this encore episode, Alisa Cohn sits down with Kim Scott, former Apple and Google executive and bestselling author of Radical Candor and Radical Respect, to explore the real cost of silence, bias, and avoidance inside teams.

This episode is not theoretical. It is deeply practical. From how to solicit feedback effectively, to how to “disrupt bias without disrupting the meeting,” to how to move through shame and defensiveness, Kim offers a roadmap for leaders who want high standards without losing humanity.

If you care about building strong teams, giving better feedback, or creating a culture where people can actually do their best work, this conversation will challenge you in the best way.

You’ll learn:

  • Why Radical Candor works and how leaders often misapply it
  • The hidden damage caused by ruinous empathy
  • Why silence at work is more costly than discomfort
  • How to solicit feedback without triggering defensiveness
  • The difference between bias, prejudice, and bullying
  • How to “disrupt bias without disrupting the meeting”
  • How leaders can build psychological safety through vulnerability
  • Why upstanders matter and how to be one

We talk about:

  • 00:00 The painful story behind Radical Candor and why silence cost more than honesty
  • 03:00 The Radical Candor framework explained: care personally + challenge directly
  • 08:00 Ruinous empathy and the real consequences of avoiding feedback
  • 12:00 Why soliciting feedback is the first leadership move
  • 18:00 How to ask for feedback without getting fake reassurance
  • 24:00 From Radical Candor to Radical Respect: what prompted the new book
  • 28:00 The two definitions of respect and why they matter
  • 31:00 Bias, prejudice, and bullying, simple definitions leaders can use
  • 35:00 How to disrupt bias without disrupting the meeting
  • 44:00 Managing shame and defensiveness when your bias is flagged
  • 51:00 The cost of silence and the power of being an upstander
  • 57:00 Why discomfort is the price of real collaboration


Follow Kim on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> What does it actually mean to care about someone at work?

In this encore episode, Alisa Cohn sits down with Kim Scott, former Apple and Google executive and bestselling author of Radical Candor and Radical Respect, to explore the real cost of silence, bias, and avoidance inside teams.

This episode is not theoretical. It is deeply practical. From how to solicit feedback effectively, to how to “disrupt bias without disrupting the meeting,” to how to move through shame and defensiveness, Kim offers a roadmap for leaders who want high standards without losing humanity.

If you care about building strong teams, giving better feedback, or creating a culture where people can actually do their best work, this conversation will challenge you in the best way.

You’ll learn:

  • Why Radical Candor works and how leaders often misapply it
  • The hidden damage caused by ruinous empathy
  • Why silence at work is more costly than discomfort
  • How to solicit feedback without triggering defensiveness
  • The difference between bias, prejudice, and bullying
  • How to “disrupt bias without disrupting the meeting”
  • How leaders can build psychological safety through vulnerability
  • Why upstanders matter and how to be one

We talk about:

  • 00:00 The painful story behind Radical Candor and why silence cost more than honesty
  • 03:00 The Radical Candor framework explained: care personally + challenge directly
  • 08:00 Ruinous empathy and the real consequences of avoiding feedback
  • 12:00 Why soliciting feedback is the first leadership move
  • 18:00 How to ask for feedback without getting fake reassurance
  • 24:00 From Radical Candor to Radical Respect: what prompted the new book
  • 28:00 The two definitions of respect and why they matter
  • 31:00 Bias, prejudice, and bullying, simple definitions leaders can use
  • 35:00 How to disrupt bias without disrupting the meeting
  • 44:00 Managing shame and defensiveness when your bias is flagged
  • 51:00 The cost of silence and the power of being an upstander
  • 57:00 Why discomfort is the price of real collaboration


Follow Kim on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-18822897 Mon, 23 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400 4716 full false #113 – Matt Oppenheimer, from Founder to Public Company CEO of Remitly: Why Falling in Love with the Problem Builds Enduring Companies #113 – Matt Oppenheimer, from Founder to Public Company CEO of Remitly: Why Falling in Love with the Problem Builds Enduring Companies What does it really take to evolve from first-time founder to public company CEO without losing conviction, culture, or clarity?

In this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, Alisa Cohn sits down with Matt Oppenheimer, Co-Founder and CEO of Remitly, the global financial services company serving customers in more than 170 countries.

Matt shares the leadership evolution behind building Remitly from an early-stage startup into a publicly traded company. From spotting the broken experience of international money transfers while living in Kenya, to navigating executive transitions, IPO readiness, board dynamics, and imposter syndrome, Matt reflects on the real work of founder to CEO leadership growth.

This conversation explores how conviction differs from stubbornness, why great founders fall in love with the problem rather than the solution, and how culture must evolve alongside strategy. If you are building, scaling, or leading a growth-stage company, this episode offers a practical and deeply human roadmap.

You’ll learn:

  • Why founders must apply grit to the problem, not the solution
  • How to balance curiosity with decisiveness as a leader
  • The difference between startup execution and public company leadership
  • How to design culture intentionally and evolve it over time
  • Why executive transitions are about stage-fit, not loyalty
  • What IPO readiness really requires behind the scenes
  • How to manage imposter syndrome and board pressure
  • Why psychological safety with investors matters
  • How “towering strengths” create leadership shadows
  • What it means to grow into the CEO your company needs

We talk about:

  • 00:00 The origin of Remitly and identifying a global problem
  • 03:00 Grit, flexibility, and falling in love with the problem
  • 06:00 Growth mindset, curiosity, and listening to feedback
  • 10:00 Global perspective and customer centricity
  • 14:00 Designing culture from day one
  • 18:00 Evolving values as strategy evolves
  • 23:00 Hiring executives for stage, not sentiment
  • 28:00 Managing leadership transitions thoughtfully
  • 33:00 Founder development plans and 360 reviews
  • 36:00 Moving from “doing” to leading at scale
  • 42:00 IPO preparation and avoiding IPO as the sole goal
  • 46:00 Becoming a public company CEO
  • 49:00 Imposter syndrome and board dynamics
  • 53:00 Advice for founders scaling their leadership

Follow Matt on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> What does it really take to evolve from first-time founder to public company CEO without losing conviction, culture, or clarity?

In this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, Alisa Cohn sits down with Matt Oppenheimer, Co-Founder and CEO of Remitly, the global financial services company serving customers in more than 170 countries.

Matt shares the leadership evolution behind building Remitly from an early-stage startup into a publicly traded company. From spotting the broken experience of international money transfers while living in Kenya, to navigating executive transitions, IPO readiness, board dynamics, and imposter syndrome, Matt reflects on the real work of founder to CEO leadership growth.

This conversation explores how conviction differs from stubbornness, why great founders fall in love with the problem rather than the solution, and how culture must evolve alongside strategy. If you are building, scaling, or leading a growth-stage company, this episode offers a practical and deeply human roadmap.

You’ll learn:

  • Why founders must apply grit to the problem, not the solution
  • How to balance curiosity with decisiveness as a leader
  • The difference between startup execution and public company leadership
  • How to design culture intentionally and evolve it over time
  • Why executive transitions are about stage-fit, not loyalty
  • What IPO readiness really requires behind the scenes
  • How to manage imposter syndrome and board pressure
  • Why psychological safety with investors matters
  • How “towering strengths” create leadership shadows
  • What it means to grow into the CEO your company needs

We talk about:

  • 00:00 The origin of Remitly and identifying a global problem
  • 03:00 Grit, flexibility, and falling in love with the problem
  • 06:00 Growth mindset, curiosity, and listening to feedback
  • 10:00 Global perspective and customer centricity
  • 14:00 Designing culture from day one
  • 18:00 Evolving values as strategy evolves
  • 23:00 Hiring executives for stage, not sentiment
  • 28:00 Managing leadership transitions thoughtfully
  • 33:00 Founder development plans and 360 reviews
  • 36:00 Moving from “doing” to leading at scale
  • 42:00 IPO preparation and avoiding IPO as the sole goal
  • 46:00 Becoming a public company CEO
  • 49:00 Imposter syndrome and board dynamics
  • 53:00 Advice for founders scaling their leadership

Follow Matt on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-18782241 Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400 3280 full false #112 - Sal Di Stefano, Co-Founder of Mind Pump Media, How Authenticity, Cofounder Alignment, and Physical Strength Shape Great Leadership [ENCORE] #112 - Sal Di Stefano, Co-Founder of Mind Pump Media, How Authenticity, Cofounder Alignment, and Physical Strength Shape Great Leadership [ENCORE] What actually drives long-term growth, in business, leadership, and life?

In this replay episode, Alisa Cohn sits down with Sal Di Stefano, co-founder of Mind Pump Media, to explore what it really takes to build something that lasts. From turning a podcast into a multi-revenue media company to navigating cofounder relationships, conflict, and personal growth, Sal shares hard-earned lessons from nearly a decade of building Mind Pump without venture capital or shortcuts.

This conversation goes beyond tactics. Sal breaks down why authenticity creates trust at scale, how to know you’ve chosen the right cofounders, and why being “right” is far less important than staying aligned. He also shares how prioritizing physical health and personal boundaries made him a stronger leader, not a weaker one.

If you’re a founder, creator, or leader who wants sustainable growth without burnout, this episode offers a grounded, honest look at what actually works.

You’ll learn:

  • Why authenticity is a growth strategy, not a branding tactic
  • How to recognize cofounder alignment before problems surface
  • Why being right can hurt teams and trust
  • How physical health supports better leadership decisions
  • What Mind Pump did differently to build loyalty and longevity

We talk about:

  • 00:00 Leadership responsibility, health, and personal accountability
  • 01:00 Introducing Sal Di Stefano and Mind Pump Media
  • 03:00 Why long-form podcasting enabled real connection and trust
  • 05:10 Turning Mind Pump into a multi-revenue media business
  • 09:10 Building trust before monetizing and letting the audience lead
  • 13:45 Early revenue growth and turning down misaligned sponsors
  • 18:30 Finding the right cofounders and values alignment
  • 22:15 Conflict, disagreement, and committing as a team
  • 30:45 Navigating growth, the pandemic, and unexpected momentum
  • 36:10 Authenticity, vulnerability, and being recognized in public
  • 40:20 Boundaries, family, and redefining success as a leader
  • 45:00 Focus, leverage, and choosing what actually moves growth
  • 49:20 Serving existing customers before chasing new ones
  • 53:40 Why great leaders and coaches must be great communicators
  • 57:40 Final reflections on leadership, health, and the long game


Follow Sal on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> What actually drives long-term growth, in business, leadership, and life?

In this replay episode, Alisa Cohn sits down with Sal Di Stefano, co-founder of Mind Pump Media, to explore what it really takes to build something that lasts. From turning a podcast into a multi-revenue media company to navigating cofounder relationships, conflict, and personal growth, Sal shares hard-earned lessons from nearly a decade of building Mind Pump without venture capital or shortcuts.

This conversation goes beyond tactics. Sal breaks down why authenticity creates trust at scale, how to know you’ve chosen the right cofounders, and why being “right” is far less important than staying aligned. He also shares how prioritizing physical health and personal boundaries made him a stronger leader, not a weaker one.

If you’re a founder, creator, or leader who wants sustainable growth without burnout, this episode offers a grounded, honest look at what actually works.

You’ll learn:

  • Why authenticity is a growth strategy, not a branding tactic
  • How to recognize cofounder alignment before problems surface
  • Why being right can hurt teams and trust
  • How physical health supports better leadership decisions
  • What Mind Pump did differently to build loyalty and longevity

We talk about:

  • 00:00 Leadership responsibility, health, and personal accountability
  • 01:00 Introducing Sal Di Stefano and Mind Pump Media
  • 03:00 Why long-form podcasting enabled real connection and trust
  • 05:10 Turning Mind Pump into a multi-revenue media business
  • 09:10 Building trust before monetizing and letting the audience lead
  • 13:45 Early revenue growth and turning down misaligned sponsors
  • 18:30 Finding the right cofounders and values alignment
  • 22:15 Conflict, disagreement, and committing as a team
  • 30:45 Navigating growth, the pandemic, and unexpected momentum
  • 36:10 Authenticity, vulnerability, and being recognized in public
  • 40:20 Boundaries, family, and redefining success as a leader
  • 45:00 Focus, leverage, and choosing what actually moves growth
  • 49:20 Serving existing customers before chasing new ones
  • 53:40 Why great leaders and coaches must be great communicators
  • 57:40 Final reflections on leadership, health, and the long game


Follow Sal on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-18695042 Mon, 23 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0500 4971 full false #111 – Dr. Becky Kennedy on Why Great Leaders Stop Managing Feelings and Start Building Trust #111 – Dr. Becky Kennedy on Why Great Leaders Stop Managing Feelings and Start Building Trust What does it actually mean to lead with authority and empathy, without burning out, people-pleasing, or losing yourself in the process?

In this episode, Alisa Cohn sits down with clinical psychologist, parenting expert, and bestselling author Dr. Becky Kennedy to explore why the skills that make great parents also create the strongest leaders.

Dr. Becky introduces the concept of sturdy leadership, a grounded approach that rejects both authoritarian control and emotional over-accommodation. Instead, it teaches leaders how to hold boundaries, stay regulated during conflict, and repair relationships when things go sideways.

This conversation unpacks why leadership is not about managing everyone’s feelings, how guilt often disguises emotional over-responsibility, and why repair after rupture is more powerful than perfection. You’ll learn how to handle defensiveness, set boundaries without shame, navigate imposter syndrome, and build trust through consistency and self-leadership.

You’ll learn:

  • What “sturdy leadership” really means and why authority without aggression builds trust
  • Why setting boundaries often triggers guilt and how to tell guilt apart from emotional over-responsibility
  • How repair strengthens relationships more than getting it right the first time
  • How to handle defensiveness, emotional reactions, and resistance at work
  • Why scripts and practice reps are essential leadership skills, not crutches
  • How predictable conflict shows up at work and how to lead through it calmly
  • Why imposter syndrome never fully disappears and how to lead anyway

We talk about:

  • 00:00 Why parenting is leadership training and why leadership is human work
  • 03:45 What sturdy leadership is and why extremes fail
  • 06:20 The “sturdy pilot” metaphor and how leaders create safety in turbulence
  • 10:30 Authority vs empathy, and why feelings should not dictate decisions
  • 14:40 Boundaries, guilt, and emotional over-responsibility at work
  • 18:50 Why empathy doesn’t mean absorbing other people’s emotions
  • 22:30 Handling defensiveness and emotional reactions in professional settings
  • 31:45 Predictable conflict, patterns, and solving the real issue
  • 36:10 Repair after rupture and why it builds trust faster than perfection
  • 42:30 How unrepaired moments erode connection and performance
  • 45:20 Imposter syndrome, self-leadership, and staying in the driver’s seat
  • 49:00 What Dr. Becky wishes she had known earlier about growth and leadership

Follow Dr. Becky on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> What does it actually mean to lead with authority and empathy, without burning out, people-pleasing, or losing yourself in the process?

In this episode, Alisa Cohn sits down with clinical psychologist, parenting expert, and bestselling author Dr. Becky Kennedy to explore why the skills that make great parents also create the strongest leaders.

Dr. Becky introduces the concept of sturdy leadership, a grounded approach that rejects both authoritarian control and emotional over-accommodation. Instead, it teaches leaders how to hold boundaries, stay regulated during conflict, and repair relationships when things go sideways.

This conversation unpacks why leadership is not about managing everyone’s feelings, how guilt often disguises emotional over-responsibility, and why repair after rupture is more powerful than perfection. You’ll learn how to handle defensiveness, set boundaries without shame, navigate imposter syndrome, and build trust through consistency and self-leadership.

You’ll learn:

  • What “sturdy leadership” really means and why authority without aggression builds trust
  • Why setting boundaries often triggers guilt and how to tell guilt apart from emotional over-responsibility
  • How repair strengthens relationships more than getting it right the first time
  • How to handle defensiveness, emotional reactions, and resistance at work
  • Why scripts and practice reps are essential leadership skills, not crutches
  • How predictable conflict shows up at work and how to lead through it calmly
  • Why imposter syndrome never fully disappears and how to lead anyway

We talk about:

  • 00:00 Why parenting is leadership training and why leadership is human work
  • 03:45 What sturdy leadership is and why extremes fail
  • 06:20 The “sturdy pilot” metaphor and how leaders create safety in turbulence
  • 10:30 Authority vs empathy, and why feelings should not dictate decisions
  • 14:40 Boundaries, guilt, and emotional over-responsibility at work
  • 18:50 Why empathy doesn’t mean absorbing other people’s emotions
  • 22:30 Handling defensiveness and emotional reactions in professional settings
  • 31:45 Predictable conflict, patterns, and solving the real issue
  • 36:10 Repair after rupture and why it builds trust faster than perfection
  • 42:30 How unrepaired moments erode connection and performance
  • 45:20 Imposter syndrome, self-leadership, and staying in the driver’s seat
  • 49:00 What Dr. Becky wishes she had known earlier about growth and leadership

Follow Dr. Becky on

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-18630472 Mon, 09 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0500 3099 full false #110 Jim McKelvey, Cofounder of Square - Innovation When it's Your Only Choice, Overcoming Regulation, and Managing His Intern, Jack Dorsey [ENCORE] #110 Jim McKelvey, Cofounder of Square - Innovation When it's Your Only Choice, Overcoming Regulation, and Managing His Intern, Jack Dorsey [ENCORE] What does it actually take to build something that has never existed before?

In this episode, Jim McKelvey, co-founder of Square (now Block), breaks down the real story behind building Square from scratch, not with a perfect plan, but through necessity, invention, and relentless problem-solving. 

Jim introduces the concept of the Innovation Stack, why innovation is rarely chosen willingly, and why copying “what worked before” fails when you’re solving a problem no one else has solved. He shares the moment Square felt real, the panic of Amazon launching a competing product, and the counterintuitive strategy that helped Square survive.

You’ll learn:

  • What the Innovation Stack is and why it protects companies from copycats
  • How Square started from a single lost sale and grew into a global company
  • What happens emotionally when you’re building something no one understands yet
  • Why copying best practices can fail when you’re solving a brand-new problem
  • Why mission-driven teams outperform money-driven ones over time

We talk about:

  • 00:00 Why timing is everything, and why being “too early” still hurts
  • 05:30 The moment Square was born, one lost sale that changed everything
  • 10:00 Why the payments industry was designed to exclude small businesses
  • 16:30 Mission vs money, and why people joined even when they could leave
  • 20:00 Amazon launches a competing product, and Square’s unexpected response
  • 26:00 The Innovation Stack explained, and why it’s almost impossible to copy
  • 31:00 Panic attacks, pressure, and the nervous system cost of building
  • 35:30 Copying vs innovating, and where founders get trapped
  • 47:00 Imposter syndrome, even after success

Follow Alisa Cohn on

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better): AlisaCohn.com/scripts

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> What does it actually take to build something that has never existed before?

In this episode, Jim McKelvey, co-founder of Square (now Block), breaks down the real story behind building Square from scratch, not with a perfect plan, but through necessity, invention, and relentless problem-solving. 

Jim introduces the concept of the Innovation Stack, why innovation is rarely chosen willingly, and why copying “what worked before” fails when you’re solving a problem no one else has solved. He shares the moment Square felt real, the panic of Amazon launching a competing product, and the counterintuitive strategy that helped Square survive.

You’ll learn:

  • What the Innovation Stack is and why it protects companies from copycats
  • How Square started from a single lost sale and grew into a global company
  • What happens emotionally when you’re building something no one understands yet
  • Why copying best practices can fail when you’re solving a brand-new problem
  • Why mission-driven teams outperform money-driven ones over time

We talk about:

  • 00:00 Why timing is everything, and why being “too early” still hurts
  • 05:30 The moment Square was born, one lost sale that changed everything
  • 10:00 Why the payments industry was designed to exclude small businesses
  • 16:30 Mission vs money, and why people joined even when they could leave
  • 20:00 Amazon launches a competing product, and Square’s unexpected response
  • 26:00 The Innovation Stack explained, and why it’s almost impossible to copy
  • 31:00 Panic attacks, pressure, and the nervous system cost of building
  • 35:30 Copying vs innovating, and where founders get trapped
  • 47:00 Imposter syndrome, even after success

Follow Alisa Cohn on

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better): AlisaCohn.com/scripts

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-18572143 Tue, 27 Jan 2026 04:00:00 -0500 3851 full false #109 Robbie Bent cofounder of Othership— From Rock Bottom to Community Buildering Community #109 Robbie Bent cofounder of Othership— From Rock Bottom to Community Buildering Community In this episode, Robbie Bent,CEO and Co-founder of Othership shares his remarkable journey from addiction recovery to leading one of today’s most innovative wellness brands. Othership combines sauna, ice bath, and guided breathwork to help people regulate their emotions and connect in community. Robbie opens up about the evolution of his leadership, the challenges of scaling a purpose-driven business, and the importance of authenticity as a founder.

From a small Toronto garage gathering during the pandemic to thriving studio locations in Toronto and New York (with more on the way), Robbie’s story is one of resilience, self-awareness, and growth. He and Alisa discuss creating spaces for emotional connection, navigating co-founder dynamics, and learning to lead through imperfection. Robbie’s approach to leadership is a powerful reminder that emotional wellness isn’t just personal, it’s foundational to how we build, lead, and grow.


Where to find Robbie:


Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction to the Conversation

(02:55) The Importance of Emotional Space

(05:59) The Mechanics of OtherShip

(08:56) The Backstory of OtherShip

(12:01) Choosing New York as a Market

(15:02) Building Community and Connection

(18:01) Co-Founder Dynamics and Relationships

(26:08) Navigating Difficult Conversations

(31:40) Challenges of Expansion and Financial Strain

(37:33) The Weight of Responsibility and Fear

(39:42) Self-Awareness and Personal Growth

(48:42) Balancing Excellence with Empathy

(52:12) Creating Accessible Wellness Experiences

(54:44) Building a Brand with Emotional Connection

(57:19) The Evolution of Brand and Personal Experience

(59:35) Learning from Mistakes and Trusting Your Gut

(01:03:12) The Role of a CEO and Leadership Growth

(01:10:07) Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Embracing Authenticity



Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> In this episode, Robbie Bent,CEO and Co-founder of Othership shares his remarkable journey from addiction recovery to leading one of today’s most innovative wellness brands. Othership combines sauna, ice bath, and guided breathwork to help people regulate their emotions and connect in community. Robbie opens up about the evolution of his leadership, the challenges of scaling a purpose-driven business, and the importance of authenticity as a founder.

From a small Toronto garage gathering during the pandemic to thriving studio locations in Toronto and New York (with more on the way), Robbie’s story is one of resilience, self-awareness, and growth. He and Alisa discuss creating spaces for emotional connection, navigating co-founder dynamics, and learning to lead through imperfection. Robbie’s approach to leadership is a powerful reminder that emotional wellness isn’t just personal, it’s foundational to how we build, lead, and grow.


Where to find Robbie:


Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction to the Conversation

(02:55) The Importance of Emotional Space

(05:59) The Mechanics of OtherShip

(08:56) The Backstory of OtherShip

(12:01) Choosing New York as a Market

(15:02) Building Community and Connection

(18:01) Co-Founder Dynamics and Relationships

(26:08) Navigating Difficult Conversations

(31:40) Challenges of Expansion and Financial Strain

(37:33) The Weight of Responsibility and Fear

(39:42) Self-Awareness and Personal Growth

(48:42) Balancing Excellence with Empathy

(52:12) Creating Accessible Wellness Experiences

(54:44) Building a Brand with Emotional Connection

(57:19) The Evolution of Brand and Personal Experience

(59:35) Learning from Mistakes and Trusting Your Gut

(01:03:12) The Role of a CEO and Leadership Growth

(01:10:07) Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Embracing Authenticity



Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-18495124 Mon, 12 Jan 2026 13:00:00 -0500 4736 109 full false #108 Semyon Dukach— MIT Blackjack Team Former Leader, Current VC, Invests Only in Immigrants #108 Semyon Dukach— MIT Blackjack Team Former Leader, Current VC, Invests Only in Immigrants Semyon Dukach, the Founding Partner at One Way Ventures, serial entrepreneur, and former leader of the famed MIT Blackjack team, joins me to share his extraordinary journey from arriving in the U.S. as a Soviet refugee to becoming one of New England’s top venture capitalists. We discuss his path from leading the MIT Blackjack team to startup founder to prolific investor. One Way Ventures invests only in immigrant founders and we discussed how he developed that thesis. 

We also talk about personal growth, overcoming imposter syndrome, and what it really takes to become an exceptional founder and leader.


Where to find Semyon:


Timestamps:

(00:00) From Pacman to Blackjack: A Unique Journey

(02:58) Lessons from the MIT Blackjack Team

(05:54) Transitioning from Operator to Investor

(08:52) The Immigrant Experience and Entrepreneurship

(11:46) Building Trust in High-Stakes Environments

(14:36) The Power of Immigrant Founders

(17:44) Branding and Recognition in Venture Capital

(28:18) Building a Strong Network for Deal Flow

(31:39) Recognizing Undervalued Immigrant Founders

(34:19) Traits of Extraordinary Founders

(37:07) The Importance of Customer Focus

(38:53) Growth Through Partnership and Experience

(42:23) Navigating the Challenges of Venture Capital

(44:56) Turning Disappointments into Opportunities

(46:19) Dealing with Imposter Syndrome

(47:32) Lessons Learned on the Entrepreneurial Journey

(51:03) The Inner Drive of Entrepreneurship


Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Semyon Dukach, the Founding Partner at One Way Ventures, serial entrepreneur, and former leader of the famed MIT Blackjack team, joins me to share his extraordinary journey from arriving in the U.S. as a Soviet refugee to becoming one of New England’s top venture capitalists. We discuss his path from leading the MIT Blackjack team to startup founder to prolific investor. One Way Ventures invests only in immigrant founders and we discussed how he developed that thesis. 

We also talk about personal growth, overcoming imposter syndrome, and what it really takes to become an exceptional founder and leader.


Where to find Semyon:


Timestamps:

(00:00) From Pacman to Blackjack: A Unique Journey

(02:58) Lessons from the MIT Blackjack Team

(05:54) Transitioning from Operator to Investor

(08:52) The Immigrant Experience and Entrepreneurship

(11:46) Building Trust in High-Stakes Environments

(14:36) The Power of Immigrant Founders

(17:44) Branding and Recognition in Venture Capital

(28:18) Building a Strong Network for Deal Flow

(31:39) Recognizing Undervalued Immigrant Founders

(34:19) Traits of Extraordinary Founders

(37:07) The Importance of Customer Focus

(38:53) Growth Through Partnership and Experience

(42:23) Navigating the Challenges of Venture Capital

(44:56) Turning Disappointments into Opportunities

(46:19) Dealing with Imposter Syndrome

(47:32) Lessons Learned on the Entrepreneurial Journey

(51:03) The Inner Drive of Entrepreneurship


Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-18430534 Tue, 30 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0500 2866 108 full false #107 Jonathan Wolf— Co-Founder and CEO of ZOE: The Growth of a Founder, the Most Important Leadership Skills, and How to Raise 7 Million Euros in 3 Weeks (Encore) #107 Jonathan Wolf— Co-Founder and CEO of ZOE: The Growth of a Founder, the Most Important Leadership Skills, and How to Raise 7 Million Euros in 3 Weeks (Encore) Jonathan Wolf is the co-founder and CEO of ZOE, the science-based nutrition company using data to transform how people eat. In this candid conversation, he joins me to explore what it takes to build a mission-driven company, how to lead with more clarity and transparency, and why the way we eat is more broken and more fixable than most people think.

ZOE’s origin story is as unconventional as it is inspiring. After scaling Critéo into a billion-dollar business, Jonathan stepped away with no plan and plenty of questions. That wandering period led him to microbiome researcher Tim Spector, and from there, to the bold idea of using AI and big data to personalize nutrition at scale. Eight years and 250,000 microbiome samples later, ZOE is running the world’s largest nutrition science study and has launched a free app to help people assess their food in real time.

Where to find Jonathan:


Timestamps:

(00:01:30) Jonathan’s Path from Tech Operator to Founder
(04:24) Why Success at a $2B IPO Still Felt Empty
(05:39) Sabbatical, Loss of Structure, and Founder Identity Crisis
(06:58) The Serendipitous Meeting That Sparked ZOE
(09:27) Letting Go of Outcome Obsession and Learning to Value the Process
(11:48) Chasing Achievement vs. Living in Alignment with Values
(14:19) Becoming a Founder Later in Life—and Why That Helped
(17:05) Why Being Naïve About an Industry Can Be a Competitive Advantage
(19:45) Raising €7 Million in Just a Few Weeks
(20:53) Convincing World-Class Scientists to Bet on an Unproven Idea
(24:20) Building a Flywheel: Science, Data, and Community
(29:51) Using Technology and AI for Human Good
(38:47) From Pure Science to a Scalable Business Model
(43:05) Creating the ZOE Membership Flywheel
(48:07) Community Science as a Core Business Strategy
(50:44) Transparency, Trust, and Leading Through Hard Decisions
(54:28) Mission-Driven Culture and Retaining Great Talent
(57:56) Growing from Founder to Leader as the Company Scales

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Jonathan Wolf is the co-founder and CEO of ZOE, the science-based nutrition company using data to transform how people eat. In this candid conversation, he joins me to explore what it takes to build a mission-driven company, how to lead with more clarity and transparency, and why the way we eat is more broken and more fixable than most people think.

ZOE’s origin story is as unconventional as it is inspiring. After scaling Critéo into a billion-dollar business, Jonathan stepped away with no plan and plenty of questions. That wandering period led him to microbiome researcher Tim Spector, and from there, to the bold idea of using AI and big data to personalize nutrition at scale. Eight years and 250,000 microbiome samples later, ZOE is running the world’s largest nutrition science study and has launched a free app to help people assess their food in real time.

Where to find Jonathan:


Timestamps:

(00:01:30) Jonathan’s Path from Tech Operator to Founder
(04:24) Why Success at a $2B IPO Still Felt Empty
(05:39) Sabbatical, Loss of Structure, and Founder Identity Crisis
(06:58) The Serendipitous Meeting That Sparked ZOE
(09:27) Letting Go of Outcome Obsession and Learning to Value the Process
(11:48) Chasing Achievement vs. Living in Alignment with Values
(14:19) Becoming a Founder Later in Life—and Why That Helped
(17:05) Why Being Naïve About an Industry Can Be a Competitive Advantage
(19:45) Raising €7 Million in Just a Few Weeks
(20:53) Convincing World-Class Scientists to Bet on an Unproven Idea
(24:20) Building a Flywheel: Science, Data, and Community
(29:51) Using Technology and AI for Human Good
(38:47) From Pure Science to a Scalable Business Model
(43:05) Creating the ZOE Membership Flywheel
(48:07) Community Science as a Core Business Strategy
(50:44) Transparency, Trust, and Leading Through Hard Decisions
(54:28) Mission-Driven Culture and Retaining Great Talent
(57:56) Growing from Founder to Leader as the Company Scales

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-18356911 Mon, 15 Dec 2025 12:00:00 -0500 2646 107 full false #106 Kass and Mike Lazerow— Serial Married Founders Sold their Company to Salesforce for $750M on Loving the Journey (Encore) #106 Kass and Mike Lazerow— Serial Married Founders Sold their Company to Salesforce for $750M on Loving the Journey (Encore) Kass and Mike Lazerow who are serial entrepreneurs, seasoned investors, and co-authors of Shoveling Sh!t: A Love Story About the Entrepreneur’s Messy Path to Success joined me for one of the most honest conversations I’ve had about what it really takes to build companies and build a life. They share the unvarnished truth about their journey: surviving the dot-com crash, buying Golf.com back from bankruptcy, founding and scaling Buddy Media (eventually acquired by Salesforce for $745 million), and raising three kids while raising capital. They talk about the choices that shaped them, including why they walked away from a bigger offer from Google and how radical transparency kept their team committed during a three-month period when they couldn’t make payroll.

We also dive into the patterns they see in the 100+ startups they’ve backed like how ego, secrecy, and shiny-object syndrome derail founders along with the essential habits that help leaders stay grounded. And because they work together and live together, they open up about how they divide responsibilities, handle stress, and stay connected through exits, pivots, health scares, and everything in between. Their upcoming book distills 50 hard-earned lessons about leadership, resilience, and building a life that actually works. This episode gives you a powerful preview and a reminder that the entrepreneurial path is messy, human, and absolutely worth it.


Where to find Kass and Mike:


Timestamps:

(00:00) The beauty in the struggle: why entrepreneurship is a love story

(01:10) Resilience as identity and getting punched 10 times for one win

(19:19) Creating a workplace people stay in through loyalty and learning

(20:16) Radical transparency: telling the team you might not make payroll

(21:06) Bad news vs. surprises: the leadership rule that protects trust

(22:21) Benevolent dictatorship vs. democracy: choosing decisive leadership

(23:53) Honesty as the most valuable currency in a downturn

(37:30) The pivot mindset: knowing when to throw things away

(52:23) Life after a big exit and leaving ego at the door

(53:45) Why working under others made Mike a stronger leader

(58:26) Founders and the guilt tax: the emotional cost of ambition

(01:08:45) The long-term power of paying it forward

(01:10:01) When cofounding goes wrong: misalignment, fallout, and repair

(01:12:50) Picking the right partner—in life and in business

(01:13:29) Cofounder “prenup” talks: values, work ethic, commitment

(01:14:05) No shortcuts: filtering for grit and willingness to shovel

(01:15:16) Why overlapping founder roles create conflict

(01:21:12) A simple lens for evaluating opportunities without the jargon

(01:22:14) Imposter syndrome and grounding yourself under pressure

(01:24:22) What they wish they’d known: focus, phases, and the myth of balance

(01:26:32) Final advice for founders: transparency, confidence, intentional living

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Kass and Mike Lazerow who are serial entrepreneurs, seasoned investors, and co-authors of Shoveling Sh!t: A Love Story About the Entrepreneur’s Messy Path to Success joined me for one of the most honest conversations I’ve had about what it really takes to build companies and build a life. They share the unvarnished truth about their journey: surviving the dot-com crash, buying Golf.com back from bankruptcy, founding and scaling Buddy Media (eventually acquired by Salesforce for $745 million), and raising three kids while raising capital. They talk about the choices that shaped them, including why they walked away from a bigger offer from Google and how radical transparency kept their team committed during a three-month period when they couldn’t make payroll.

We also dive into the patterns they see in the 100+ startups they’ve backed like how ego, secrecy, and shiny-object syndrome derail founders along with the essential habits that help leaders stay grounded. And because they work together and live together, they open up about how they divide responsibilities, handle stress, and stay connected through exits, pivots, health scares, and everything in between. Their upcoming book distills 50 hard-earned lessons about leadership, resilience, and building a life that actually works. This episode gives you a powerful preview and a reminder that the entrepreneurial path is messy, human, and absolutely worth it.


Where to find Kass and Mike:


Timestamps:

(00:00) The beauty in the struggle: why entrepreneurship is a love story

(01:10) Resilience as identity and getting punched 10 times for one win

(19:19) Creating a workplace people stay in through loyalty and learning

(20:16) Radical transparency: telling the team you might not make payroll

(21:06) Bad news vs. surprises: the leadership rule that protects trust

(22:21) Benevolent dictatorship vs. democracy: choosing decisive leadership

(23:53) Honesty as the most valuable currency in a downturn

(37:30) The pivot mindset: knowing when to throw things away

(52:23) Life after a big exit and leaving ego at the door

(53:45) Why working under others made Mike a stronger leader

(58:26) Founders and the guilt tax: the emotional cost of ambition

(01:08:45) The long-term power of paying it forward

(01:10:01) When cofounding goes wrong: misalignment, fallout, and repair

(01:12:50) Picking the right partner—in life and in business

(01:13:29) Cofounder “prenup” talks: values, work ethic, commitment

(01:14:05) No shortcuts: filtering for grit and willingness to shovel

(01:15:16) Why overlapping founder roles create conflict

(01:21:12) A simple lens for evaluating opportunities without the jargon

(01:22:14) Imposter syndrome and grounding yourself under pressure

(01:24:22) What they wish they’d known: focus, phases, and the myth of balance

(01:26:32) Final advice for founders: transparency, confidence, intentional living

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-18280119 Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:00:00 -0500 5335 106 full false #105 Randy Komisar— Legendary Kleiner Perkins Investor Shares the 3 “Whys” Every Founder Must Answer (Encore) #105 Randy Komisar— Legendary Kleiner Perkins Investor Shares the 3 “Whys” Every Founder Must Answer (Encore) Randy Komisar is an entrepreneur and investor at Kleiner Perkins.

Previously, he was a co-founder of Claris Corp., served as CEO for LucasArts Entertainment and Crystal Dynamics, and acted as “virtual CEO” for such companies as WebTV and GlobalGiving. Randy also served as CFO of GO Corp. and as senior counsel for Apple Computer, following a private practice in technology law.

Randy is a founding director of TiVo and serves on the Roadtrip Nation Advisory Board and Orrick’s Women’s Leadership Board. He is the author of the best-selling book,The Monk and the Riddle, as well as several articles on leadership and entrepreneurship. He is also the co-author of Straight Talk for Startups, the insider best practices for entrepreneurial success, Getting to Plan B, on managing innovation, and I F**king Love that Company, on building consumer brands.

This conversation with Randy Komisar is just spectacular! We dive right into how he turned his interview with Neil Young from disaster to success, why growing up with a professional gambler sharpened his communication skills, the way that luck factors into your career, and the way to maximize your chances of serendipity coming your way.

You’ll learn pearl after pearl of wisdom from Randy in our conversation, including a crucial question he asks as an investor to any entrepreneur to assess what they’re made of.

Randy’s such a great storyteller, and this discussion is not to be missed!


Where to find Randy:



Timestamps:

(00:00) The Neil Young interview disaster—and how Randy saved it

(02:00) Throwing away the script and learning to “follow the spark”

(03:15) Reading people: Randy’s people-sense and street upbringing

(04:00) Growing up with a salesman and professional gambler father

(05:20) Lessons from watching gamblers: losing stories, tells, and ego

(07:00) How his father’s instincts shaped Randy’s BS-detector in VC

(12:35) Self-awareness, delusion, and Buddhism’s core teaching

(13:40) Coaching as holding up a mirror

(14:20) Randy’s winding path: from upstate NY to Brown University

(15:55) Finding paradise at Brown: curiosity and lifelong learning

(21:30) How meaningful small acts of encouragement can be

(23:00) Enter Bill Campbell: how they met at Apple

(34:00) The inner conflict: purpose vs. title

(37:00) Managing through influence, not authority

(39:30) Bringing the virtual-CEO model into venture capital

(40:50) Success, skepticism, and earning trust at Kleiner

(43:10) Why this? Why you? Why now?

(44:30) “Is this worth failing at?”—the most important founder question

(46:00) The gambler’s wisdom: inviting luck

(48:30) How to make yourself luckier (excellence, flexibility, humility)

(50:10) Most great companies succeed with Plan B, not Plan A

(51:30) A painful miss: the Juicero story

(53:00) PR mismatch, press backlash, and the fatal Bloomberg article



Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Randy Komisar is an entrepreneur and investor at Kleiner Perkins.

Previously, he was a co-founder of Claris Corp., served as CEO for LucasArts Entertainment and Crystal Dynamics, and acted as “virtual CEO” for such companies as WebTV and GlobalGiving. Randy also served as CFO of GO Corp. and as senior counsel for Apple Computer, following a private practice in technology law.

Randy is a founding director of TiVo and serves on the Roadtrip Nation Advisory Board and Orrick’s Women’s Leadership Board. He is the author of the best-selling book,The Monk and the Riddle, as well as several articles on leadership and entrepreneurship. He is also the co-author of Straight Talk for Startups, the insider best practices for entrepreneurial success, Getting to Plan B, on managing innovation, and I F**king Love that Company, on building consumer brands.

This conversation with Randy Komisar is just spectacular! We dive right into how he turned his interview with Neil Young from disaster to success, why growing up with a professional gambler sharpened his communication skills, the way that luck factors into your career, and the way to maximize your chances of serendipity coming your way.

You’ll learn pearl after pearl of wisdom from Randy in our conversation, including a crucial question he asks as an investor to any entrepreneur to assess what they’re made of.

Randy’s such a great storyteller, and this discussion is not to be missed!


Where to find Randy:



Timestamps:

(00:00) The Neil Young interview disaster—and how Randy saved it

(02:00) Throwing away the script and learning to “follow the spark”

(03:15) Reading people: Randy’s people-sense and street upbringing

(04:00) Growing up with a salesman and professional gambler father

(05:20) Lessons from watching gamblers: losing stories, tells, and ego

(07:00) How his father’s instincts shaped Randy’s BS-detector in VC

(12:35) Self-awareness, delusion, and Buddhism’s core teaching

(13:40) Coaching as holding up a mirror

(14:20) Randy’s winding path: from upstate NY to Brown University

(15:55) Finding paradise at Brown: curiosity and lifelong learning

(21:30) How meaningful small acts of encouragement can be

(23:00) Enter Bill Campbell: how they met at Apple

(34:00) The inner conflict: purpose vs. title

(37:00) Managing through influence, not authority

(39:30) Bringing the virtual-CEO model into venture capital

(40:50) Success, skepticism, and earning trust at Kleiner

(43:10) Why this? Why you? Why now?

(44:30) “Is this worth failing at?”—the most important founder question

(46:00) The gambler’s wisdom: inviting luck

(48:30) How to make yourself luckier (excellence, flexibility, humility)

(50:10) Most great companies succeed with Plan B, not Plan A

(51:30) A painful miss: the Juicero story

(53:00) PR mismatch, press backlash, and the fatal Bloomberg article



Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-18204963 Tue, 18 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500 4186 105 full false #104 Issac Evans— How a Series D CEO Found Product-Market Fit, Stays Self-Aware, and Survived His Bank Melting Dow #104 Issac Evans— How a Series D CEO Found Product-Market Fit, Stays Self-Aware, and Survived His Bank Melting Dow In this episode, Alisa Cohn interviews Isaac Evans, co-founder and CEO of Semgrep, a startup giving security tools directly to developers. Isaac shares his journey from conducting research at the U.S. Defense Department and MIT Lincoln Laboratory, where he explored binary exploitation bypasses, control-flow integrity, and novel hardware defenses on architectures like RISC-V, to founding and leading a fast-growing company at the forefront of developer security. A graduate of MIT with BS and MS degrees in EECS, Isaac also brings a deep curiosity for next-generation programming languages, secure-by-design frameworks, and the intersection of cryptography and public policy.

Together, Alisa and Isaac dive into the realities of startup leadership, the evolution of Semgrep’s business model, the value of feedback, and the transition from founder to CEO. Isaac offers candid insights on managing a growing team, navigating change, and staying grounded through self-awareness. The conversation also explores how AI is reshaping software development, concluding with advice and reflections for aspiring founders building companies in today’s fast-moving world.


Where to find Isaac:


Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction to Deep Conversations

(01:55) Exploring Love Languages in Relationships

(06:00) The Founding Insight of Semgrep

(10:06) Navigating Early Startup Challenges

(13:45) The Evolution of Semgrep's Business Model

(17:53) Handling Community Feedback and Criticism

(21:54) Crisis Management and Personal Growth

(25:46) The Importance of Feedback Culture

(33:20) Embracing Feedback as a Gift

(35:45) Shifting Leadership Styles

(38:32) The A-Plus Responsibilities of a CEO

(42:34) Navigating the Founder to CEO Transition

(46:46) Learning Through Experience

(50:32) The Challenge of Team Dynamics

(54:31) The Future of AI and Security

(59:28) Imposter Syndrome and Self-Awareness

(01:03) 15 Advice for Aspiring Founders

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> In this episode, Alisa Cohn interviews Isaac Evans, co-founder and CEO of Semgrep, a startup giving security tools directly to developers. Isaac shares his journey from conducting research at the U.S. Defense Department and MIT Lincoln Laboratory, where he explored binary exploitation bypasses, control-flow integrity, and novel hardware defenses on architectures like RISC-V, to founding and leading a fast-growing company at the forefront of developer security. A graduate of MIT with BS and MS degrees in EECS, Isaac also brings a deep curiosity for next-generation programming languages, secure-by-design frameworks, and the intersection of cryptography and public policy.

Together, Alisa and Isaac dive into the realities of startup leadership, the evolution of Semgrep’s business model, the value of feedback, and the transition from founder to CEO. Isaac offers candid insights on managing a growing team, navigating change, and staying grounded through self-awareness. The conversation also explores how AI is reshaping software development, concluding with advice and reflections for aspiring founders building companies in today’s fast-moving world.


Where to find Isaac:


Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction to Deep Conversations

(01:55) Exploring Love Languages in Relationships

(06:00) The Founding Insight of Semgrep

(10:06) Navigating Early Startup Challenges

(13:45) The Evolution of Semgrep's Business Model

(17:53) Handling Community Feedback and Criticism

(21:54) Crisis Management and Personal Growth

(25:46) The Importance of Feedback Culture

(33:20) Embracing Feedback as a Gift

(35:45) Shifting Leadership Styles

(38:32) The A-Plus Responsibilities of a CEO

(42:34) Navigating the Founder to CEO Transition

(46:46) Learning Through Experience

(50:32) The Challenge of Team Dynamics

(54:31) The Future of AI and Security

(59:28) Imposter Syndrome and Self-Awareness

(01:03) 15 Advice for Aspiring Founders

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-18129989 Tue, 04 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0500 4126 104 full false #103 Patrick Lee— Rotten Tomatoes Founder: The Secrets to Building an Enduring Business #103 Patrick Lee— Rotten Tomatoes Founder: The Secrets to Building an Enduring Business Patrick Lee is best known as the co-founder and founding CEO of Rotten Tomatoes, the groundbreaking review platform that reshaped how audiences connect with movies and television. What started as a side project born out of his love for film became a global authority that continues to influence critics, fans, and the entertainment industry.

In this conversation, Patrick shares his journey from running a small web design firm to creating one of the most recognizable brands in pop culture. He opens up about navigating the chaos of the dot-com boom, the lessons learned from selling his company, and how he’s managed imposter syndrome and focus throughout his entrepreneurial career.

Today, Patrick continues to merge storytelling, technology, and fandom through his latest venture, Fanverse, a curated community for passionate fans. His insights reveal what it truly takes to build something people love and to keep evolving long after success.


Where to find Patrick:


Timestamps:

(00:00) Founding Rotten Tomatoes

(02:57) Transitioning to a Business

(07:50) Selling Rotten Tomatoes

(25:29) Entrepreneurial Spirit

(30:58) Other Business Ventures

(37:46) The Importance of Product Focus

(39:04) Dealing with Failure and Self-Doubt

(40:12) The Impact of Company Culture

(41:31) Lessons Learned from Zombie Companies

(42:46) The Importance of Company Growth and Culture

(43:27) Creating a Curated Community at Fanverse

(50:28) Learning from Other Communities

(51:57) Building Community and Bonding

(55:06) Learning from Other Communities and Models

(01:00:58) Dealing with Imposter Syndrome and Self-Doubt

(01:05:01) The Importance of Focus and Network

(01:06:44) Advice for Founders on Growing into Leaders



Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Patrick Lee is best known as the co-founder and founding CEO of Rotten Tomatoes, the groundbreaking review platform that reshaped how audiences connect with movies and television. What started as a side project born out of his love for film became a global authority that continues to influence critics, fans, and the entertainment industry.

In this conversation, Patrick shares his journey from running a small web design firm to creating one of the most recognizable brands in pop culture. He opens up about navigating the chaos of the dot-com boom, the lessons learned from selling his company, and how he’s managed imposter syndrome and focus throughout his entrepreneurial career.

Today, Patrick continues to merge storytelling, technology, and fandom through his latest venture, Fanverse, a curated community for passionate fans. His insights reveal what it truly takes to build something people love and to keep evolving long after success.


Where to find Patrick:


Timestamps:

(00:00) Founding Rotten Tomatoes

(02:57) Transitioning to a Business

(07:50) Selling Rotten Tomatoes

(25:29) Entrepreneurial Spirit

(30:58) Other Business Ventures

(37:46) The Importance of Product Focus

(39:04) Dealing with Failure and Self-Doubt

(40:12) The Impact of Company Culture

(41:31) Lessons Learned from Zombie Companies

(42:46) The Importance of Company Growth and Culture

(43:27) Creating a Curated Community at Fanverse

(50:28) Learning from Other Communities

(51:57) Building Community and Bonding

(55:06) Learning from Other Communities and Models

(01:00:58) Dealing with Imposter Syndrome and Self-Doubt

(01:05:01) The Importance of Focus and Network

(01:06:44) Advice for Founders on Growing into Leaders



Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-18042070 Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0400 4618 103 full false #102 Robert Glazer — Serial Entrepreneur on the Most Important Tool for Success #102 Robert Glazer — Serial Entrepreneur on the Most Important Tool for Success Robert Glazer is the founder of Acceleration Partners, a serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and a leading voice on how values shape leadership. In this episode, Bob shares why stepping down from the company he built triggered a surprising crisis of meaning, how that experience led him to write The Compass Within, and how helping people clarify their core values has become his new personal mission.

Bob opens up about the link between pain and passion, the power of writing and brand-building for impact, and why success often leaves high achievers feeling empty until they redefine what it means. He also discusses parenting through a values-first lens, the danger of protecting kids from disappointment, and what happens when founders skip the inner work.

Whether you're a founder, leader, or someone navigating your next chapter, this episode offers a clear, grounded path toward meaning, alignment, and better decision-making.


Where to find Bob:


Timestamps:

(00:00) Redefining success after stepping down as CEO
 (04:00) Why overachievement never feels like enough
 (05:20) Lessons from Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks
(06:30) Building a life around one core value
(08:18) The ripple effect of leadership
(10:24) Bob’s daily dashboard and time-blocking system
(13:45) How to focus in a world full of distraction
(15:32) Why building a platform matters
(17:00) Imposter syndrome and the long game of brand-building
(19:06) Parenting with purpose and avoiding overprotection
(22:26) A story of failure, transfer, and self-advocacy
(26:52) Bob’s new book, The Compass Within
 (29:37) Making the big three life decisions with values in mind
 (32:45) The power of identifying your values through pain
 (35:35) Trust, self-awareness, and leading from values
 (38:30) The six questions to uncover your personal core values
 (41:34) Why one-word values fall short
 (43:43) Bonus question: tracing childhood roots of values
 (47:23) Company values that are lived, not laminated
 (49:26) Mission to Mars and value DNA extraction
 (52:22) Behavioral interviews that screen for culture fit
 (55:48) Rituals and rewards that reinforce company values
 (57:43) The J&J Tylenol recall and values in hard decisions
 (58:32) What Bob hopes readers take from The Compass Within
 (01:00:22) What Bob wishes he knew earlier
 (01:02:59) Founders need mentors, masterminds, and a few steps ahead

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Robert Glazer is the founder of Acceleration Partners, a serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and a leading voice on how values shape leadership. In this episode, Bob shares why stepping down from the company he built triggered a surprising crisis of meaning, how that experience led him to write The Compass Within, and how helping people clarify their core values has become his new personal mission.

Bob opens up about the link between pain and passion, the power of writing and brand-building for impact, and why success often leaves high achievers feeling empty until they redefine what it means. He also discusses parenting through a values-first lens, the danger of protecting kids from disappointment, and what happens when founders skip the inner work.

Whether you're a founder, leader, or someone navigating your next chapter, this episode offers a clear, grounded path toward meaning, alignment, and better decision-making.


Where to find Bob:


Timestamps:

(00:00) Redefining success after stepping down as CEO
 (04:00) Why overachievement never feels like enough
 (05:20) Lessons from Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks
(06:30) Building a life around one core value
(08:18) The ripple effect of leadership
(10:24) Bob’s daily dashboard and time-blocking system
(13:45) How to focus in a world full of distraction
(15:32) Why building a platform matters
(17:00) Imposter syndrome and the long game of brand-building
(19:06) Parenting with purpose and avoiding overprotection
(22:26) A story of failure, transfer, and self-advocacy
(26:52) Bob’s new book, The Compass Within
 (29:37) Making the big three life decisions with values in mind
 (32:45) The power of identifying your values through pain
 (35:35) Trust, self-awareness, and leading from values
 (38:30) The six questions to uncover your personal core values
 (41:34) Why one-word values fall short
 (43:43) Bonus question: tracing childhood roots of values
 (47:23) Company values that are lived, not laminated
 (49:26) Mission to Mars and value DNA extraction
 (52:22) Behavioral interviews that screen for culture fit
 (55:48) Rituals and rewards that reinforce company values
 (57:43) The J&J Tylenol recall and values in hard decisions
 (58:32) What Bob hopes readers take from The Compass Within
 (01:00:22) What Bob wishes he knew earlier
 (01:02:59) Founders need mentors, masterminds, and a few steps ahead

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-17963951 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400 4041 102 full false #101 Nick Huber — Building Wealth in “Boring” Businesses #101 Nick Huber — Building Wealth in “Boring” Businesses Nick Huber is an entrepreneur and real estate investor who resides in Athens, Georgia, with his wife and three children. He owns Somewhere.com, Bolt Storage, RE Cost Seg, and several other businesses. His real estate portfolio currently includes sixty-eight self-storage properties, covering two million square feet. His portfolio of companies employs over 325 people and makes over $35 million annually. He’s the author of “The Sweaty Startup: How to Get Rich Doing Boring Things.” 


Where to find Nick:

Sweaty Startup

LinkedIn

X

Instagram


Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction to Boring Businesses

(02:46) The Value of Boring Startups

(05:59) The Journey of Entrepreneurship

(08:58) Understanding Stress in Entrepreneurship

(11:53) Sales as a Core Skill

(14:57) Building Resilience in Kids and Employees

(17:57) Effective Delegation and Decision Making

(20:50) The Importance of Self-Awareness in Leadership

23:59) Navigating Employee Dynamics

(26:44) The Role of Mentorship in Growth

(29:37) Sales Strategies for Entrepreneurs

(36:07) Mastering Sales Through Practice

(40:56) Hiring Strategies for Entrepreneurs

(49:20) Understanding Financial Goals

(55:05) Balancing Ambition and Personal Life

(01:00:12) Building Your Brand on Social Media

(01:07:41) Advice for Aspiring Founders


 

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Nick Huber is an entrepreneur and real estate investor who resides in Athens, Georgia, with his wife and three children. He owns Somewhere.com, Bolt Storage, RE Cost Seg, and several other businesses. His real estate portfolio currently includes sixty-eight self-storage properties, covering two million square feet. His portfolio of companies employs over 325 people and makes over $35 million annually. He’s the author of “The Sweaty Startup: How to Get Rich Doing Boring Things.” 


Where to find Nick:

Sweaty Startup

LinkedIn

X

Instagram


Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction to Boring Businesses

(02:46) The Value of Boring Startups

(05:59) The Journey of Entrepreneurship

(08:58) Understanding Stress in Entrepreneurship

(11:53) Sales as a Core Skill

(14:57) Building Resilience in Kids and Employees

(17:57) Effective Delegation and Decision Making

(20:50) The Importance of Self-Awareness in Leadership

23:59) Navigating Employee Dynamics

(26:44) The Role of Mentorship in Growth

(29:37) Sales Strategies for Entrepreneurs

(36:07) Mastering Sales Through Practice

(40:56) Hiring Strategies for Entrepreneurs

(49:20) Understanding Financial Goals

(55:05) Balancing Ambition and Personal Life

(01:00:12) Building Your Brand on Social Media

(01:07:41) Advice for Aspiring Founders


 

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Buzzsprout-17845457 Mon, 22 Sep 2025 11:00:00 -0400 4230 101 full false #100 Arvind Jain, Founder of Glean — From Technical Leader to First-Time CEO, the Business Case for Culture and Selling as a Founder’s Superpower #100 Arvind Jain, Founder of Glean — From Technical Leader to First-Time CEO, the Business Case for Culture and Selling as a Founder’s Superpower Arvind Jain is the founder and CEO of Glean, the Work AI platform that connects to all your company’s data so you can find, create, and automate anything. In this episode, Arvind shares his journey as a second-time founder and first-time CEO, reflecting on the challenges of moving from a deeply technical role into leading an organization.

He talks about why selling is one of the most important skills for founders, the importance of hiring for desire and cultural fit, and how company culture and values shape everything from attracting talent to making tough decisions. Arvind also shares how persistence helps founders push through moments of market indifference, and why self-reflection is one of the most powerful tools for becoming an effective leader.

Whether you’re a first-time founder, a seasoned operator, or simply curious about the human side of leadership, this episode offers a grounded look at what it takes to grow both a company and yourself along the way.


Where to find Naveen:

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • How a CEO needs to adapt 
  • The crucial skill for founders. 
  • The most important traits to look for when hiring. 
  • How company culture leads to attracting talent.
  • Self-reflection is vital for effective leadership.


Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction and Context Setting

(01:32) Transitioning from Founder to CEO

(05:47) Learning to Sell and Collaborate

(10:08) Hiring for Growth and Culture

(18:18) The Vision Behind Glean and AI Integration

(25:19) The Importance of Company Culture

(26:40) The Challenges of the Startup Journey

(31:02) Building a Strong Company Culture

(37:51) Navigating Early Struggles and Market Challenges

(44:43) Self-Reflection and Leadership Growth

(53:26) Lessons Learned and Advice for Founders

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Arvind Jain is the founder and CEO of Glean, the Work AI platform that connects to all your company’s data so you can find, create, and automate anything. In this episode, Arvind shares his journey as a second-time founder and first-time CEO, reflecting on the challenges of moving from a deeply technical role into leading an organization.

He talks about why selling is one of the most important skills for founders, the importance of hiring for desire and cultural fit, and how company culture and values shape everything from attracting talent to making tough decisions. Arvind also shares how persistence helps founders push through moments of market indifference, and why self-reflection is one of the most powerful tools for becoming an effective leader.

Whether you’re a first-time founder, a seasoned operator, or simply curious about the human side of leadership, this episode offers a grounded look at what it takes to grow both a company and yourself along the way.


Where to find Naveen:

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • How a CEO needs to adapt 
  • The crucial skill for founders. 
  • The most important traits to look for when hiring. 
  • How company culture leads to attracting talent.
  • Self-reflection is vital for effective leadership.


Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction and Context Setting

(01:32) Transitioning from Founder to CEO

(05:47) Learning to Sell and Collaborate

(10:08) Hiring for Growth and Culture

(18:18) The Vision Behind Glean and AI Integration

(25:19) The Importance of Company Culture

(26:40) The Challenges of the Startup Journey

(31:02) Building a Strong Company Culture

(37:51) Navigating Early Struggles and Market Challenges

(44:43) Self-Reflection and Leadership Growth

(53:26) Lessons Learned and Advice for Founders

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-17808883 Mon, 08 Sep 2025 11:00:00 -0400 3208 100 full false #99 Naveen Verma — From Princeton Professor to Venture-Backed CEO, Fundraising Without a Network, and Leading Firmly and Empathetically #99 Naveen Verma — From Princeton Professor to Venture-Backed CEO, Fundraising Without a Network, and Leading Firmly and Empathetically Naveen Verma is a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Princeton and the co-founder and CEO of EnCharge AI, a startup building radically energy-efficient computers for artificial intelligence. In this episode, Naveen shares how his academic research into in-memory computing evolved over six years into a venture-backed company that’s rethinking the physical limits of AI computers.

Naveen explains why traditional computing models can’t keep up with the energy demands of AI, how in-memory architectures unlock new efficiency, and what it means to transition from professor to startup CEO. He also opens up about how failure shaped his leadership style, why co-founder alignment is more important than titles, and what academia taught him about being an empathetic manager.

Whether you’re in deep tech, academia, or just curious how foundational innovation becomes a company, this episode offers a grounded and honest look at what it takes to build from the lab up.


Where to find Naveen:

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • How to turn academic research into a real-world company
  • How to find and align with the right co-founders
  • What good conflict looks like in early-stage teams
  • How to fundraise as a professor-turned-founder
  • Why being self-aware matters more than fitting a role
  • How to build culture through actions, not statements
  • What it means to lead with empathy in high-stakes environments


Timestamps:

(00:00) Why Naveen almost quit engineering
 (03:50) From PhD to professor to founder
 (07:04) What EnCharge actually builds
 (10:56) The six-year journey to a spinout
 (13:20) Why incubation matters in deep tech
 (15:53) Inspiration, practicality, and real-world impact
 (17:28) Choosing the right co-founders
 (20:33) Why Naveen became CEO
 (23:00) Conflict as a strength
 (24:21) Vision, perspective, and pushing back
 (25:49) Advice on co-founder relationships
 (27:59) Fundraising lessons from a first-time founder
 (34:19) Growing to 70+ people
 (35:51) Hiring for culture and long-term vision
 (37:01) Talking about culture without naming it
 (38:16) Letting go and empowering the team
 (41:41) Hiring non-technical leaders
 (43:17) What Naveen found easy and hard as a manager
 (45:56) How he learned to give difficult feedback
 (48:56) Managing stress through abstraction and presence
 (51:23) Academic mentors who shaped his thinking
 (53:08) Leadership as enabling others
 (55:08) Impostor syndrome and comfort with failure
 (58:00) Early rejections and how he bounced back
 (01:01:00) What everyone should know about AI
 (01:02:43) What Naveen wishes he knew earlier
 (01:04:27) Final advice to founders: normalize failure

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Naveen Verma is a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Princeton and the co-founder and CEO of EnCharge AI, a startup building radically energy-efficient computers for artificial intelligence. In this episode, Naveen shares how his academic research into in-memory computing evolved over six years into a venture-backed company that’s rethinking the physical limits of AI computers.

Naveen explains why traditional computing models can’t keep up with the energy demands of AI, how in-memory architectures unlock new efficiency, and what it means to transition from professor to startup CEO. He also opens up about how failure shaped his leadership style, why co-founder alignment is more important than titles, and what academia taught him about being an empathetic manager.

Whether you’re in deep tech, academia, or just curious how foundational innovation becomes a company, this episode offers a grounded and honest look at what it takes to build from the lab up.


Where to find Naveen:

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • How to turn academic research into a real-world company
  • How to find and align with the right co-founders
  • What good conflict looks like in early-stage teams
  • How to fundraise as a professor-turned-founder
  • Why being self-aware matters more than fitting a role
  • How to build culture through actions, not statements
  • What it means to lead with empathy in high-stakes environments


Timestamps:

(00:00) Why Naveen almost quit engineering
 (03:50) From PhD to professor to founder
 (07:04) What EnCharge actually builds
 (10:56) The six-year journey to a spinout
 (13:20) Why incubation matters in deep tech
 (15:53) Inspiration, practicality, and real-world impact
 (17:28) Choosing the right co-founders
 (20:33) Why Naveen became CEO
 (23:00) Conflict as a strength
 (24:21) Vision, perspective, and pushing back
 (25:49) Advice on co-founder relationships
 (27:59) Fundraising lessons from a first-time founder
 (34:19) Growing to 70+ people
 (35:51) Hiring for culture and long-term vision
 (37:01) Talking about culture without naming it
 (38:16) Letting go and empowering the team
 (41:41) Hiring non-technical leaders
 (43:17) What Naveen found easy and hard as a manager
 (45:56) How he learned to give difficult feedback
 (48:56) Managing stress through abstraction and presence
 (51:23) Academic mentors who shaped his thinking
 (53:08) Leadership as enabling others
 (55:08) Impostor syndrome and comfort with failure
 (58:00) Early rejections and how he bounced back
 (01:01:00) What everyone should know about AI
 (01:02:43) What Naveen wishes he knew earlier
 (01:04:27) Final advice to founders: normalize failure

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-17730704 Mon, 25 Aug 2025 13:00:00 -0400 4071 99 full false #98 3-time founder Craig Walker — From Selling Door-to-Door to 3-time founder; Building Google Voice; and the Real Trade-offs of Entrepreneurship #98 3-time founder Craig Walker — From Selling Door-to-Door to 3-time founder; Building Google Voice; and the Real Trade-offs of Entrepreneurship Craig Walker is the founder and CEO of Dialpad, a business communications platform powered by AI. A former M&A lawyer turned serial entrepreneur, Craig previously co-founded GrandCentral (acquired by Google and relaunched as Google Voice) and sold his prior company to Yahoo. In this episode, Craig shares how his career unfolded from door-to-door dictation sales to running a 1,500-person company, and how AI became central to Dialpad’s strategy long before the hype cycle.

Craig opens up about the loneliness of leadership, his bet-the-company acquisition of TalkIQ, and the hardest day of his career when four high-stakes deals all hinged on one phone call. He also explains why he still avoids hiring a COO, how he evaluates executive talent, and why long-term trust is his leadership superpower.

Whether you’re building in AI, navigating founder-operator transitions, or learning to scale without burning out, Craig’s story is packed with hard-earned lessons and honest insights.

Where to find Craig:

Timestamps:

(00:00) Starting in door-to-door sales
 (02:54) What Craig learned about grit from early sales jobs
 (04:42) From Apple to law school to M&A at Wilson Sonsini
 (07:22) How Cisco influenced his approach to acquisitions
 (08:32) The founding of GrandCentral and acquisition by Google
 (09:12) Leaving Google to build again
 (13:22) Why Craig couldn’t stay a middle manager
 (14:53) What Dialpad is and how it started
 (17:36) Google Ventures’ support and early Dialpad funding
 (21:03) What startup life looked like in the pool house
 (24:17) Family trade-offs and how Craig stayed connected
 (28:23) Acquiring TalkIQ and the AI unlock
 (33:37) Why Dialpad was years ahead in AI
 (35:09) Lessons from integrating an early-stage acquisition
 (37:43) What tech reveals about culture
 (39:39) How Craig grew from scrappy founder to CEO
 (42:20) Delegating to operators while staying strategic
 (43:30) Why hiring executives is so hard
 (47:23) How he evaluates cultural fit and long-term potential
 (49:26) Loyalty, longevity, and building a trusted leadership team
 (50:57) Craig’s moment of truth and the most stressful day of his career
 (55:48) What he wishes he knew earlier
 (57:46) His advice for founders in the AI era

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • How to evaluate and integrate an early-stage acquisition
  • Why trust and long-term relationships build company resilience
  • What most founders get wrong about hiring senior executives
  • Why naivete is an advantage in fast-changing markets
  • How to stay optimistic in the face of startup volatility
  • Why Craig empowers teams with autonomy, not layers
  • How a founder mindset helps navigate economic shocks
  • What it takes to lead through multiple tech transitions
  • How to pick colleagues  and partners you can grow with for decades

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Craig Walker is the founder and CEO of Dialpad, a business communications platform powered by AI. A former M&A lawyer turned serial entrepreneur, Craig previously co-founded GrandCentral (acquired by Google and relaunched as Google Voice) and sold his prior company to Yahoo. In this episode, Craig shares how his career unfolded from door-to-door dictation sales to running a 1,500-person company, and how AI became central to Dialpad’s strategy long before the hype cycle.

Craig opens up about the loneliness of leadership, his bet-the-company acquisition of TalkIQ, and the hardest day of his career when four high-stakes deals all hinged on one phone call. He also explains why he still avoids hiring a COO, how he evaluates executive talent, and why long-term trust is his leadership superpower.

Whether you’re building in AI, navigating founder-operator transitions, or learning to scale without burning out, Craig’s story is packed with hard-earned lessons and honest insights.

Where to find Craig:

Timestamps:

(00:00) Starting in door-to-door sales
 (02:54) What Craig learned about grit from early sales jobs
 (04:42) From Apple to law school to M&A at Wilson Sonsini
 (07:22) How Cisco influenced his approach to acquisitions
 (08:32) The founding of GrandCentral and acquisition by Google
 (09:12) Leaving Google to build again
 (13:22) Why Craig couldn’t stay a middle manager
 (14:53) What Dialpad is and how it started
 (17:36) Google Ventures’ support and early Dialpad funding
 (21:03) What startup life looked like in the pool house
 (24:17) Family trade-offs and how Craig stayed connected
 (28:23) Acquiring TalkIQ and the AI unlock
 (33:37) Why Dialpad was years ahead in AI
 (35:09) Lessons from integrating an early-stage acquisition
 (37:43) What tech reveals about culture
 (39:39) How Craig grew from scrappy founder to CEO
 (42:20) Delegating to operators while staying strategic
 (43:30) Why hiring executives is so hard
 (47:23) How he evaluates cultural fit and long-term potential
 (49:26) Loyalty, longevity, and building a trusted leadership team
 (50:57) Craig’s moment of truth and the most stressful day of his career
 (55:48) What he wishes he knew earlier
 (57:46) His advice for founders in the AI era

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • How to evaluate and integrate an early-stage acquisition
  • Why trust and long-term relationships build company resilience
  • What most founders get wrong about hiring senior executives
  • Why naivete is an advantage in fast-changing markets
  • How to stay optimistic in the face of startup volatility
  • Why Craig empowers teams with autonomy, not layers
  • How a founder mindset helps navigate economic shocks
  • What it takes to lead through multiple tech transitions
  • How to pick colleagues  and partners you can grow with for decades

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-17652683 Mon, 11 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0400 3729 98 full false #97 Brad Feld, Founder of Techstars - Lessons from Techstars, why you should have “random” meetings, and the value of the “Give First” mentality. #97 Brad Feld, Founder of Techstars - Lessons from Techstars, why you should have “random” meetings, and the value of the “Give First” mentality. Brad Feld has spent over 40 years building companies, mentoring founders, and investing in the startup ecosystem. He’s the co-founder of Techstars, a prolific venture capitalist, and the author of nine books. 

In this episode, Brad opens up about the mental reset that came with turning 60, why he stopped chasing “more,” and what led him to dust off a book draft about mentorship that had been sitting on the shelf. We go deep into his new book Give First, his belief in non-transactional generosity, and why he thinks founders should lead from curiosity, not ego.

Brad also shares what went wrong at Techstars, what it taught him about founder empathy, and how he thinks about legacy in a world where everything is temporary.

Where to find Brad:

Timestamps:
 (00:00) Why Brad chose to go into hibernation
 (03:36) How stepping back gave him a 9-to-5 for the first time
 (06:58) Returning to code and reading 3 books a week
 (08:05) The four things Brad actually loves
 (10:11) Not striving, not optimizing: a new mindset for a new decade
 (13:14) The messy journey of writing Give First
 (15:08) Feedback that reshaped the book
 (17:34) Techstars’ awkward teenage years
 (19:59) Coming out of hibernation, temporarily
 (23:32) Alter egos: Brad the Book Salesman, Vlad, and Spike
 (29:14) The pain of watching Techstars struggle publicly
 (34:30) How founder empathy deepened after Techstars’ turbulence
 (36:28) What Give First really means and what it does not
(38:49) Positive-sum, multi-turn thinking
(41:34) Why tennis is the perfect metaphor for long-term success
(45:00) Give First as the startup community engine
(48:21) Mentorship without expectations
(50:07) Socratic questioning and the five whys
(54:00) Diagnosing startup fundraising problems
(56:32) Being open to randomness
(58:57) The power of short assignments and low-stakes access
(01:04:28) Why Brad keeps writing: to learn
(01:07:14) What he wishes he knew earlier
(01:10:34) Advice for founders stepping into leadership
(01:12:38) Mortality, meaning, and option value

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • How Give First evolved from a Techstars mantra into a movement
  • The difference between mentorship and advice
  • Why and how being a giver pays off 
  • How to set boundaries while still being responsive
  • What makes founder relationships thrive or break
  • Why being open to randomness can change everything
  • How to navigate difficult company phases with empathy
  • What Brad believes really matters in the third act of life

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Brad Feld has spent over 40 years building companies, mentoring founders, and investing in the startup ecosystem. He’s the co-founder of Techstars, a prolific venture capitalist, and the author of nine books. 

In this episode, Brad opens up about the mental reset that came with turning 60, why he stopped chasing “more,” and what led him to dust off a book draft about mentorship that had been sitting on the shelf. We go deep into his new book Give First, his belief in non-transactional generosity, and why he thinks founders should lead from curiosity, not ego.

Brad also shares what went wrong at Techstars, what it taught him about founder empathy, and how he thinks about legacy in a world where everything is temporary.

Where to find Brad:

Timestamps:
 (00:00) Why Brad chose to go into hibernation
 (03:36) How stepping back gave him a 9-to-5 for the first time
 (06:58) Returning to code and reading 3 books a week
 (08:05) The four things Brad actually loves
 (10:11) Not striving, not optimizing: a new mindset for a new decade
 (13:14) The messy journey of writing Give First
 (15:08) Feedback that reshaped the book
 (17:34) Techstars’ awkward teenage years
 (19:59) Coming out of hibernation, temporarily
 (23:32) Alter egos: Brad the Book Salesman, Vlad, and Spike
 (29:14) The pain of watching Techstars struggle publicly
 (34:30) How founder empathy deepened after Techstars’ turbulence
 (36:28) What Give First really means and what it does not
(38:49) Positive-sum, multi-turn thinking
(41:34) Why tennis is the perfect metaphor for long-term success
(45:00) Give First as the startup community engine
(48:21) Mentorship without expectations
(50:07) Socratic questioning and the five whys
(54:00) Diagnosing startup fundraising problems
(56:32) Being open to randomness
(58:57) The power of short assignments and low-stakes access
(01:04:28) Why Brad keeps writing: to learn
(01:07:14) What he wishes he knew earlier
(01:10:34) Advice for founders stepping into leadership
(01:12:38) Mortality, meaning, and option value

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • How Give First evolved from a Techstars mantra into a movement
  • The difference between mentorship and advice
  • Why and how being a giver pays off 
  • How to set boundaries while still being responsive
  • What makes founder relationships thrive or break
  • Why being open to randomness can change everything
  • How to navigate difficult company phases with empathy
  • What Brad believes really matters in the third act of life

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-17580910 Tue, 29 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0400 4081 97 full false #96: David Heinemeier Hansson, Co-Owner of 37signals— Creating with first principles, acting with courage, and working in a world with no managers (Repost) #96: David Heinemeier Hansson, Co-Owner of 37signals— Creating with first principles, acting with courage, and working in a world with no managers (Repost) David is the creator of Ruby on Rails, Co-Owner of 37signals, best-selling author, Le Mans class-winning racing driver, antitrust advocate, investor in Danish startups, frequent podcast guest, and family man.

He writes regularly on HEY World and speaks on The REWORK Podcast. 

Hundreds of thousands of programmers around the world have built amazing applications using Ruby on Rails, an open-source web framework he created in 2003, and continues to develop to this day. Some of the more famous include Github, Shopify, Airbnb, Square, Coinbase, and Zendesk.

For my newest episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, I talk with David Heinemeier Hansson, Co-Founder of 37signals, to explore his journey of innovation, remote work, and unconventional management.

Learn more about DHH | Website
https://dhh.dk/

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> David is the creator of Ruby on Rails, Co-Owner of 37signals, best-selling author, Le Mans class-winning racing driver, antitrust advocate, investor in Danish startups, frequent podcast guest, and family man.

He writes regularly on HEY World and speaks on The REWORK Podcast. 

Hundreds of thousands of programmers around the world have built amazing applications using Ruby on Rails, an open-source web framework he created in 2003, and continues to develop to this day. Some of the more famous include Github, Shopify, Airbnb, Square, Coinbase, and Zendesk.

For my newest episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, I talk with David Heinemeier Hansson, Co-Founder of 37signals, to explore his journey of innovation, remote work, and unconventional management.

Learn more about DHH | Website
https://dhh.dk/

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-17520108 Thu, 17 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400 4828 96 full false #95: From Startup to Grown-Up: Bob Young, co-founder of Red Hat - The origin of Open Source; the key to life and startup success, and how failure can fuel you. #95: From Startup to Grown-Up: Bob Young, co-founder of Red Hat - The origin of Open Source; the key to life and startup success, and how failure can fuel you. Bob Young co-founded Red Hat, the first company to build a successful business around open source software, and helped shape the modern internet in the process. In this episode, Bob shares the story of how Red Hat went from a CD in a Ziploc bag to a billion-dollar business that inspired GitHub, Coinbase, and much of the cloud infrastructure we use today.

But this conversation is about more than just software. Bob opens up about betting his family’s finances on Red Hat, the moment he realized he wasn’t meant to be a public company CEO, and why he believes capitalism, when done right, can be a powerful force for good.

He also shares what he's building now (including a needlepoint company), how he thinks about failure, and the one principle he thinks every founder should live by.


Where to find Bob:

Lulu.com

Needlepoint.com


Timestamps:

(00:00) The challenge of fragmented attention and overbooked schedules

(05:09) Red Hat’s founding story and the philosophy behind open source

(08:56) Why the internet is the world’s largest open source project

(13:34) From newsletter publishing to reinventing Linux

(19:49) Why customers chose Red Hat: control, not cost

(22:12) The business model insight that changed everything

(24:44) How IBM’s services model inspired Red Hat’s structure

(27:36) Scaling Linux for enterprise and dealing with constant updates

(36:24) Proprietary software as a modern feudal system

(43:33) Racking up $50K in credit card debt to keep Red Hat alive

(49:01) Trust, marriage, and startup risk

(55:05) Leaving Red Hat and why Bob stepped down as CEO

(59:23) What sleep taught Bob about optimism and recovery

(01:06:10) Red Hat’s culture of ownership and accountability

(01:14:24) Why Bob still builds: making the world a better place through business

(01:15:02) The importance of discipline and organization

(01:17:08) Founders’ advice: serve customer needs, not just wants


In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • How Red Hat became the first successful open source company
  • Why control—not price—is the real value of open source software
  • What makes transparency a business strategy, not just a virtue
  • How capitalism and idealism can actually align
  • Why understanding customer needs matters more than their wants
  • The difference between proprietary and democratic tech systems
  • How to build culture that owns mistakes and learns out loud
  • What it really means to commit to your co-founder and spouse
  • How to navigate failure, burnout, and your own limitations as a leader
  • What keeps Bob starting new companies in his third and fourth acts


Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Bob Young co-founded Red Hat, the first company to build a successful business around open source software, and helped shape the modern internet in the process. In this episode, Bob shares the story of how Red Hat went from a CD in a Ziploc bag to a billion-dollar business that inspired GitHub, Coinbase, and much of the cloud infrastructure we use today.

But this conversation is about more than just software. Bob opens up about betting his family’s finances on Red Hat, the moment he realized he wasn’t meant to be a public company CEO, and why he believes capitalism, when done right, can be a powerful force for good.

He also shares what he's building now (including a needlepoint company), how he thinks about failure, and the one principle he thinks every founder should live by.


Where to find Bob:

Lulu.com

Needlepoint.com


Timestamps:

(00:00) The challenge of fragmented attention and overbooked schedules

(05:09) Red Hat’s founding story and the philosophy behind open source

(08:56) Why the internet is the world’s largest open source project

(13:34) From newsletter publishing to reinventing Linux

(19:49) Why customers chose Red Hat: control, not cost

(22:12) The business model insight that changed everything

(24:44) How IBM’s services model inspired Red Hat’s structure

(27:36) Scaling Linux for enterprise and dealing with constant updates

(36:24) Proprietary software as a modern feudal system

(43:33) Racking up $50K in credit card debt to keep Red Hat alive

(49:01) Trust, marriage, and startup risk

(55:05) Leaving Red Hat and why Bob stepped down as CEO

(59:23) What sleep taught Bob about optimism and recovery

(01:06:10) Red Hat’s culture of ownership and accountability

(01:14:24) Why Bob still builds: making the world a better place through business

(01:15:02) The importance of discipline and organization

(01:17:08) Founders’ advice: serve customer needs, not just wants


In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • How Red Hat became the first successful open source company
  • Why control—not price—is the real value of open source software
  • What makes transparency a business strategy, not just a virtue
  • How capitalism and idealism can actually align
  • Why understanding customer needs matters more than their wants
  • The difference between proprietary and democratic tech systems
  • How to build culture that owns mistakes and learns out loud
  • What it really means to commit to your co-founder and spouse
  • How to navigate failure, burnout, and your own limitations as a leader
  • What keeps Bob starting new companies in his third and fourth acts


Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-17428968 Tue, 01 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0400 4547 95 full false #94: From Startup to Grown-Up: Jonathan Wolf, co-founder and CEO of ZOE - The growth of a founder, the most important leadership skills, and how to raise 7 million euros in 3 weeks. #94: From Startup to Grown-Up: Jonathan Wolf, co-founder and CEO of ZOE - The growth of a founder, the most important leadership skills, and how to raise 7 million euros in 3 weeks. Jonathan Wolf is the co-founder and CEO of ZOE, the science-based nutrition company using data to transform how people eat. In this candid conversation, he joins Alisa to explore what it takes to build a mission-driven company, how to lead with more clarity and transparency, and why the way we eat is more broken and more fixable than most people think.

ZOE’s origin story is as unconventional as it is inspiring. After scaling Critéo into a billion-dollar business, Jonathan stepped away with no plan and plenty of questions. That wandering period led him to microbiome researcher Tim Spector, and from there, to the bold idea of using AI and big data to personalize nutrition at scale. Eight years and 250,000 microbiome samples later, ZOE is running the world’s largest nutrition science study and has launched a free app to help people assess their food in real time.

In this episode:

  • Why Jonathan left the world of adtech in search of purpose
  • His sabbatical was a challenging period of self-discovery.
  • The importance of relationships over ideas became clear to him.
  • How he navigated the founder’s journey
  • The scientific gaps in mainstream nutrition advice
  • What most people misunderstand about ultra-processed food
  • How ZOE turned a research project into a product that helps millions
  • What coffee can reveal about your gut microbiome
  • Why leadership gets easier when you stop trying to be liked
  • How Jonathan uses one key question to make sure he’s actually being heard
  • Why ZOE launched a free tool to put science into people’s hands
  • How to communicate clearly as a CEO without over-explaining
  • Why repeating your message 100 times is part of the job
  • How to hire people who care more about the mission than the resume
  • What coaching and therapy taught Jonathan about being an effective leader
  • Why ZOE’s shift to a free app was a strategic business decision
  • How to scale without losing sight of your company’s purpose

Jonathan also shares the emotional and psychological journey of leadership: learning to make hard calls without sugarcoating, building teams that stick, and staying grounded while leading a fast-growing company.

ZOE’s new free app is now available in the US. It uses AI to analyze any food item or meal for its processing risk and nutritional quality, helping people make smarter choices instantly. If you care about your energy, mood, and long-term health, this episode will change how you think about food and leadership.



Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Jonathan Wolf is the co-founder and CEO of ZOE, the science-based nutrition company using data to transform how people eat. In this candid conversation, he joins Alisa to explore what it takes to build a mission-driven company, how to lead with more clarity and transparency, and why the way we eat is more broken and more fixable than most people think.

ZOE’s origin story is as unconventional as it is inspiring. After scaling Critéo into a billion-dollar business, Jonathan stepped away with no plan and plenty of questions. That wandering period led him to microbiome researcher Tim Spector, and from there, to the bold idea of using AI and big data to personalize nutrition at scale. Eight years and 250,000 microbiome samples later, ZOE is running the world’s largest nutrition science study and has launched a free app to help people assess their food in real time.

In this episode:

  • Why Jonathan left the world of adtech in search of purpose
  • His sabbatical was a challenging period of self-discovery.
  • The importance of relationships over ideas became clear to him.
  • How he navigated the founder’s journey
  • The scientific gaps in mainstream nutrition advice
  • What most people misunderstand about ultra-processed food
  • How ZOE turned a research project into a product that helps millions
  • What coffee can reveal about your gut microbiome
  • Why leadership gets easier when you stop trying to be liked
  • How Jonathan uses one key question to make sure he’s actually being heard
  • Why ZOE launched a free tool to put science into people’s hands
  • How to communicate clearly as a CEO without over-explaining
  • Why repeating your message 100 times is part of the job
  • How to hire people who care more about the mission than the resume
  • What coaching and therapy taught Jonathan about being an effective leader
  • Why ZOE’s shift to a free app was a strategic business decision
  • How to scale without losing sight of your company’s purpose

Jonathan also shares the emotional and psychological journey of leadership: learning to make hard calls without sugarcoating, building teams that stick, and staying grounded while leading a fast-growing company.

ZOE’s new free app is now available in the US. It uses AI to analyze any food item or meal for its processing risk and nutritional quality, helping people make smarter choices instantly. If you care about your energy, mood, and long-term health, this episode will change how you think about food and leadership.



Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-17350545 Tue, 17 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0400 4537 94 full false #93: From Startup to Grown-Up: Kass and Mike Lazerow, Serial founders; co-founders of Buddy Media (sold to Salesforce for $750M) - How to survive a failed acquisition, stay married to your co-founder, and enjoy the journey of entrepreneurship. #93: From Startup to Grown-Up: Kass and Mike Lazerow, Serial founders; co-founders of Buddy Media (sold to Salesforce for $750M) - How to survive a failed acquisition, stay married to your co-founder, and enjoy the journey of entrepreneurship. Kass and Mike Lazerow are serial entrepreneurs, seasoned investors, and co-authors of the upcoming book Shoveling Sh!t: A Love Story About the Entrepreneur’s Messy Path to Success. They join Alisa to share an unfiltered look at what it really takes to build companies, navigate chaos, and stay married through it all.

Known for founding Golf.com and Buddy Media, which they sold to Salesforce for $745 million, Kass and Mike have also backed more than 100 early-stage startups. Their portfolio includes Scopely, acquired for $5 billion, and Liquid Death. In this conversation, they recount the wild highs and lows of startup life, from raising three kids while raising capital to walking away from a higher offer because it came with too much risk.

You’ll hear about:

  • The dot-com crash that nearly killed Golf.com and how they raised money to buy it back from bankruptcy

  • The early bet they placed on Facebook that became Buddy Media

  • Why did they choose Salesforce over a larger offer from Google

  • How they built a radically transparent culture that kept employees during a 3-month no-pay period

  • What it's really like to sell a company for hundreds of millions, then stay on as an employee

  • How ego, secrecy, and shiny-object syndrome kill founders

  • What it takes to choose the right co-founder and build a business that lasts

They also share what it's like to run companies as a married couple, including how they divide responsibilities, handle stress, and maintain date nights through multiple exits and pivots.

Also in this episode:

  • The story behind Mike’s near-death health crisis and how it changed his entire mindset

  • Why Kass believes in minivans and Mike believes in showing up for everything

  • The advice they give to every founder they backed

  • How their kids learned more from watching than listening

Their new book, Shoveling Sh!t, hits shelves on June 3, 2025. It captures 50 hard-earned lessons that can help any founder become a better leader and build a life that actually works.

About Kass & Mike:
 Kass and Mike Lazerow are entrepreneurs and investors best known for building and selling Buddy Media, a leading social media marketing platform, to Salesforce for $745 million. They co-founded Golf.com early in their careers and have since supported more than 100 startups as investors and advisors. Notable investments include Scopely and Liquid Death. They are also sought-after speakers, writers, and podcast guests. Their book Shoveling Sh!t: A Love Story About the Entrepreneur’s Messy Path to Success is out June 3, 2025.



Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Kass and Mike Lazerow are serial entrepreneurs, seasoned investors, and co-authors of the upcoming book Shoveling Sh!t: A Love Story About the Entrepreneur’s Messy Path to Success. They join Alisa to share an unfiltered look at what it really takes to build companies, navigate chaos, and stay married through it all.

Known for founding Golf.com and Buddy Media, which they sold to Salesforce for $745 million, Kass and Mike have also backed more than 100 early-stage startups. Their portfolio includes Scopely, acquired for $5 billion, and Liquid Death. In this conversation, they recount the wild highs and lows of startup life, from raising three kids while raising capital to walking away from a higher offer because it came with too much risk.

You’ll hear about:

  • The dot-com crash that nearly killed Golf.com and how they raised money to buy it back from bankruptcy

  • The early bet they placed on Facebook that became Buddy Media

  • Why did they choose Salesforce over a larger offer from Google

  • How they built a radically transparent culture that kept employees during a 3-month no-pay period

  • What it's really like to sell a company for hundreds of millions, then stay on as an employee

  • How ego, secrecy, and shiny-object syndrome kill founders

  • What it takes to choose the right co-founder and build a business that lasts

They also share what it's like to run companies as a married couple, including how they divide responsibilities, handle stress, and maintain date nights through multiple exits and pivots.

Also in this episode:

  • The story behind Mike’s near-death health crisis and how it changed his entire mindset

  • Why Kass believes in minivans and Mike believes in showing up for everything

  • The advice they give to every founder they backed

  • How their kids learned more from watching than listening

Their new book, Shoveling Sh!t, hits shelves on June 3, 2025. It captures 50 hard-earned lessons that can help any founder become a better leader and build a life that actually works.

About Kass & Mike:
 Kass and Mike Lazerow are entrepreneurs and investors best known for building and selling Buddy Media, a leading social media marketing platform, to Salesforce for $745 million. They co-founded Golf.com early in their careers and have since supported more than 100 startups as investors and advisors. Notable investments include Scopely and Liquid Death. They are also sought-after speakers, writers, and podcast guests. Their book Shoveling Sh!t: A Love Story About the Entrepreneur’s Messy Path to Success is out June 3, 2025.



Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-17270963 Mon, 02 Jun 2025 21:00:00 -0400 5335 93 full false #92: From Startup to Grown-up: David Ko, CEO of Calm — from gaming to mental health, tools to combat burnout, and the rituals you can use in your own meetings #92: From Startup to Grown-up: David Ko, CEO of Calm — from gaming to mental health, tools to combat burnout, and the rituals you can use in your own meetings David Ko is the CEO and board member of Calm, the #1 app for sleep, meditation, and mindfulness. A former healthcare executive and tech operator, David previously served as COO of Zynga, held senior roles at Yahoo!, and founded a healthtech company acquired by Calm. He is the bestselling author of Recharge, and has been recognized by TIME, LinkedIn, RockHealth, and NYU Stern for his leadership in digital health.

What you’ll learn:

  • How David transitioned from gaming to healthcare through mission-driven insight
  • The real story behind Calm’s evolution from sleep and meditation to global mental health
  • Why David uses “battery level” as a tool for checking in at work
  • How leaders can model vulnerability without sacrificing authority
  • Why burnout stems from poor workload management, not just long hours
  • The power of shared purpose in turbulent times
  • How Calm uses rituals like Jay Shetty meditations and Zoom-free days to reinforce its culture
  • Why sleep, diet, and presence are core to David’s leadership performance
  • How transparency builds trust even when the news isn’t good
  • Why the conversation around mental health needs to start at the top

Some takeaways:

➡️ Stress is not the problem. Unchecked, unacknowledged stress is. Good stress can fuel resilience and performance.
➡️ “How’s your battery?” is a more meaningful check-in than “How are you?”
➡️ Burnout often comes from lack of clarity and excessive task stacking, not too many hours.
➡️ Leaders must explain the why behind priorities and remove as much as they assign.
➡️ Transparency about culture survey results builds psychological safety.
➡️ Rituals like 90-second meditations help reset and re-center teams.
➡️ Leadership can be lonely. Trusted colleagues make a critical difference.
➡️ Presence matters more than hours. Back-to-back meetings are not a badge of honor.
➡️ Sharing your own mental health journey is not weakness. It’s how resilient teams are built.
➡️ “We take better care of our phone batteries than our mental health batteries.” Time to change that.

Where to find David Ko:

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> David Ko is the CEO and board member of Calm, the #1 app for sleep, meditation, and mindfulness. A former healthcare executive and tech operator, David previously served as COO of Zynga, held senior roles at Yahoo!, and founded a healthtech company acquired by Calm. He is the bestselling author of Recharge, and has been recognized by TIME, LinkedIn, RockHealth, and NYU Stern for his leadership in digital health.

What you’ll learn:

  • How David transitioned from gaming to healthcare through mission-driven insight
  • The real story behind Calm’s evolution from sleep and meditation to global mental health
  • Why David uses “battery level” as a tool for checking in at work
  • How leaders can model vulnerability without sacrificing authority
  • Why burnout stems from poor workload management, not just long hours
  • The power of shared purpose in turbulent times
  • How Calm uses rituals like Jay Shetty meditations and Zoom-free days to reinforce its culture
  • Why sleep, diet, and presence are core to David’s leadership performance
  • How transparency builds trust even when the news isn’t good
  • Why the conversation around mental health needs to start at the top

Some takeaways:

➡️ Stress is not the problem. Unchecked, unacknowledged stress is. Good stress can fuel resilience and performance.
➡️ “How’s your battery?” is a more meaningful check-in than “How are you?”
➡️ Burnout often comes from lack of clarity and excessive task stacking, not too many hours.
➡️ Leaders must explain the why behind priorities and remove as much as they assign.
➡️ Transparency about culture survey results builds psychological safety.
➡️ Rituals like 90-second meditations help reset and re-center teams.
➡️ Leadership can be lonely. Trusted colleagues make a critical difference.
➡️ Presence matters more than hours. Back-to-back meetings are not a badge of honor.
➡️ Sharing your own mental health journey is not weakness. It’s how resilient teams are built.
➡️ “We take better care of our phone batteries than our mental health batteries.” Time to change that.

Where to find David Ko:

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-17188262 Mon, 19 May 2025 07:00:00 -0400 3126 92 full false #91: From Startup to Grown-up: Mike Seckler, CEO of Justworks — how to run a great board process, how to avoid self-inflicted wounds, and the value of taking big risks early in your career #91: From Startup to Grown-up: Mike Seckler, CEO of Justworks — how to run a great board process, how to avoid self-inflicted wounds, and the value of taking big risks early in your career Mike Seckler is a two-time entrepreneur and tech startup founder who led a company through the dot-com boom and bust, and now leads the charge as CEO of Justworks, the HR tech company focused on uplifting small businesses. In this conversation, he shares hard-earned lessons from building one of the earliest SaaS HR startups, navigating turbulent markets, and guiding Justworks through major transitions. We dive into founder resilience, building high-functioning boards, scaling culture in a hybrid world, and why mission-driven support for small businesses matters now more than ever.

What You’ll Learn:

  • How Mike evolved from first-time founder to CEO of Justworks
  • The “self-inflicted wound quotient” every founder faces—and how to reduce it
  • How values shape Justworks’ culture and decision-making
  • The impact of structured, intentional board leadership
  • Why Justworks pulled its IPO and why it was the right call
  • Lessons from integrating a remote team post-acquisition
  • How to stay adaptable without losing momentum
  • Why stepping back (even for vacation) makes you a stronger leader
  • Balancing in-person U.S. operations with global remote teams
  • The importance of staying close to your end user

Key Takeaways:

 ➡️ Minimize your “self-inflicted wounds”: Founders often make early decisions—co-founder choices, board composition, capital structure—that can hinder growth. Mike calls this your “self-inflicted wound quotient.” Keep it low. 

➡️ Good governance starts with leadership: Don’t wait for your board to self-organize. Set norms, prep materials early, and lead it the way you’d lead your exec team. 

➡️ Clarity beats comfort: From acquisitions to layoffs, Mike emphasizes over-communicating the why and making decisions that would “look good on the front page of the Wall Street Journal.” 

➡️ Culture isn’t what you say—it’s what you do: Values like “comradery” and “grit” must be defined through behavior and reinforced through recognition, awards, and storytelling. 

➡️ Board building is strategic: Justworks’ board includes domain-specific experts—from healthcare to global payments. Choose members like you’d build your C-suite. 

➡️ Hard decisions made early pay off later: Fix the roof when it’s sunny. The cost of delay is always higher. 

➡️ Remote vs. in-person is not either/or: Justworks combines in-office culture in the U.S. with distributed international teams, intentionally designing for both. 

➡️ Real leadership means managing your energy: Mike learned from parenting that being the calmest person in the room is often your superpower. 

➡️ Mission attracts the right people: Employees at Justworks are deeply motivated by its purpose—to serve small businesses as heroes of the economy. 


Where to find Mike Seckler:

Connect with Alisa!

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]]> Mike Seckler is a two-time entrepreneur and tech startup founder who led a company through the dot-com boom and bust, and now leads the charge as CEO of Justworks, the HR tech company focused on uplifting small businesses. In this conversation, he shares hard-earned lessons from building one of the earliest SaaS HR startups, navigating turbulent markets, and guiding Justworks through major transitions. We dive into founder resilience, building high-functioning boards, scaling culture in a hybrid world, and why mission-driven support for small businesses matters now more than ever.

What You’ll Learn:

  • How Mike evolved from first-time founder to CEO of Justworks
  • The “self-inflicted wound quotient” every founder faces—and how to reduce it
  • How values shape Justworks’ culture and decision-making
  • The impact of structured, intentional board leadership
  • Why Justworks pulled its IPO and why it was the right call
  • Lessons from integrating a remote team post-acquisition
  • How to stay adaptable without losing momentum
  • Why stepping back (even for vacation) makes you a stronger leader
  • Balancing in-person U.S. operations with global remote teams
  • The importance of staying close to your end user

Key Takeaways:

 ➡️ Minimize your “self-inflicted wounds”: Founders often make early decisions—co-founder choices, board composition, capital structure—that can hinder growth. Mike calls this your “self-inflicted wound quotient.” Keep it low. 

➡️ Good governance starts with leadership: Don’t wait for your board to self-organize. Set norms, prep materials early, and lead it the way you’d lead your exec team. 

➡️ Clarity beats comfort: From acquisitions to layoffs, Mike emphasizes over-communicating the why and making decisions that would “look good on the front page of the Wall Street Journal.” 

➡️ Culture isn’t what you say—it’s what you do: Values like “comradery” and “grit” must be defined through behavior and reinforced through recognition, awards, and storytelling. 

➡️ Board building is strategic: Justworks’ board includes domain-specific experts—from healthcare to global payments. Choose members like you’d build your C-suite. 

➡️ Hard decisions made early pay off later: Fix the roof when it’s sunny. The cost of delay is always higher. 

➡️ Remote vs. in-person is not either/or: Justworks combines in-office culture in the U.S. with distributed international teams, intentionally designing for both. 

➡️ Real leadership means managing your energy: Mike learned from parenting that being the calmest person in the room is often your superpower. 

➡️ Mission attracts the right people: Employees at Justworks are deeply motivated by its purpose—to serve small businesses as heroes of the economy. 


Where to find Mike Seckler:

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-17107074 Tue, 06 May 2025 03:00:00 -0400 4918 91 full false #90: From Startup to Grown-Up: Jeff Byers, Co-founder and CEO of Momentous — Transitioning from NFL player to CEO, managing cultural clashes during a merger, and navigating the high-pressure world of growth-stage leadership #90: From Startup to Grown-Up: Jeff Byers, Co-founder and CEO of Momentous — Transitioning from NFL player to CEO, managing cultural clashes during a merger, and navigating the high-pressure world of growth-stage leadership Jeff Byers is the co-founder and CEO of Momentous, a high-performance wellness company delivering science-backed products used by elite athletes, military operators, and high-performers worldwide. A former NFL player and two-time USC football captain, Jeff brings both personal and professional insight to optimizing performance and building values-driven companies.

What you’ll learn:

  • Why Jeff says effort and attitude are the only things you can control—and how they ground him in tough moments
  • The cultural clash behind merging two wellness companies
  • How “speed over consensus” became a core value at Momentous
  • Why returning to in-person work cost talent but aligned culture
  • How EOS helped reset their operating rhythm
  • Building high-integrity partnerships with leaders like Huberman and Starrett
  • Lessons from Pete Carroll on consistency and energy
  • Why growth-stage CEOs must “reset the scoreboard” and stay curious

Takeaways:

  • Control what you can: Effort and attitude define how you show up
  • Merge carefully: “Equals” often clash without clear direction
  • Culture lives in person: Jeff prioritized cohesion over convenience
  • Decide fast on people: Delays around misfits create drag
  • Earn trust: Authenticity attracted elite advisors
  • Balance roles: EOS clarified vision vs. execution
  • You define you: Not your title—your choices

Find Jeff:

In this episode:

 (00:00:00) Expectations in growth-backed companies
 (00:00:23) Intro to Jeff
 (00:02:00) NFL to CEO journey
 (00:03:52) Life as a pro athlete
 (00:05:28) Teamwork, rhythm, winning
 (00:09:10) Athletic mindset in startups
 (00:11:06) Stress rituals, effort & attitude
 (00:14:02) Purpose-driven leadership
 (00:19:15) Founding Momentous
 (00:30:51) Merger lessons
 (00:35:25) Cultural alignment
 (00:42:27) In-person work benefits
 (00:48:38) Standing out in supplements
 (00:54:20) Partnering with leaders
 (00:57:59) Co-founder dynamics
 (01:02:23) Imposter syndrome
 (01:10:22) Curiosity = leadership growth

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Jeff Byers is the co-founder and CEO of Momentous, a high-performance wellness company delivering science-backed products used by elite athletes, military operators, and high-performers worldwide. A former NFL player and two-time USC football captain, Jeff brings both personal and professional insight to optimizing performance and building values-driven companies.

What you’ll learn:

  • Why Jeff says effort and attitude are the only things you can control—and how they ground him in tough moments
  • The cultural clash behind merging two wellness companies
  • How “speed over consensus” became a core value at Momentous
  • Why returning to in-person work cost talent but aligned culture
  • How EOS helped reset their operating rhythm
  • Building high-integrity partnerships with leaders like Huberman and Starrett
  • Lessons from Pete Carroll on consistency and energy
  • Why growth-stage CEOs must “reset the scoreboard” and stay curious

Takeaways:

  • Control what you can: Effort and attitude define how you show up
  • Merge carefully: “Equals” often clash without clear direction
  • Culture lives in person: Jeff prioritized cohesion over convenience
  • Decide fast on people: Delays around misfits create drag
  • Earn trust: Authenticity attracted elite advisors
  • Balance roles: EOS clarified vision vs. execution
  • You define you: Not your title—your choices

Find Jeff:

In this episode:

 (00:00:00) Expectations in growth-backed companies
 (00:00:23) Intro to Jeff
 (00:02:00) NFL to CEO journey
 (00:03:52) Life as a pro athlete
 (00:05:28) Teamwork, rhythm, winning
 (00:09:10) Athletic mindset in startups
 (00:11:06) Stress rituals, effort & attitude
 (00:14:02) Purpose-driven leadership
 (00:19:15) Founding Momentous
 (00:30:51) Merger lessons
 (00:35:25) Cultural alignment
 (00:42:27) In-person work benefits
 (00:48:38) Standing out in supplements
 (00:54:20) Partnering with leaders
 (00:57:59) Co-founder dynamics
 (01:02:23) Imposter syndrome
 (01:10:22) Curiosity = leadership growth

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-17013546 Mon, 21 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0400 4300 90 full false #89: From Startup to Grown-Up: Kevin Evers, author of There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift — unpacking Taylor Swift’s rise to the top; when to take big risks; and how to build a rabid fan base #89: From Startup to Grown-Up: Kevin Evers, author of There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift — unpacking Taylor Swift’s rise to the top; when to take big risks; and how to build a rabid fan base Kevin Evers is a Senior Editor at Harvard Business Review, where he shapes groundbreaking research and develops award-winning and bestselling books on high performance, creativity, innovation, marketing, and digital disruption. He’s also written popular essays on brain science, persuasion, unpredictability, and the power of storytelling.

Kevin holds degrees in English and Film Studies, and his forthcoming book with HBR Press, There’s Nothing Like This, offers a strategic analysis of Taylor Swift’s unmatched ability to evolve her brand without losing her audience.

Episode Highlights & Timestamps

  • 00:00 - Introduction
    • Alyssa Cohn introduces Kevin Evers and the topic of Taylor Swift's strategic genius.
  • 00:01:55 - Building Intimacy with Fans
    • Discussion on how Taylor Swift creates a close relationship with her fans.
  • 00:02:04 - Controversies and Success
    • Overview of Taylor's famous fights and controversies and their impact on her career.
  • 00:03:04 - The Idea Behind the Book
    • Kevin explains the inspiration for his book on Taylor Swift.
  • 00:13:05 - Inner Compass and Drive
    • Exploration of Taylor's determination and her "killer instinct."
  • 00:20:25 - The Kanye West Incident
    • Analysis of the infamous VMA moment with Kanye West and its implications.
  • 00:34:14 - Collaboration and Growth
    • Discussion on Taylor's collaborations with producers and her evolution as an artist.
  • 00:39:34 - The Importance of Risk
    • Kevin shares insights on the importance of taking calculated risks in business.
  • 00:44:37 - Re-recording Old Music
    • Discussion on Taylor's strategy to re-record her old albums and its significance.
  • 00:48:34 - Antifragility Concept
    • Kevin explains the concept of antifragility and how it applies to Taylor's career.
  • 00:53:25 - Advice for Founders
    • Kevin offers advice to startup founders based on insights from Taylor's career.
  • 00:54:10 - Conclusion


Resources & References

📖 There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift (Preorder)
 Amazon Link

Connect with Kevin Evers

Instagram: @there_is_nothing_like_this
 LinkedIn: Kevin Evers

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Kevin Evers is a Senior Editor at Harvard Business Review, where he shapes groundbreaking research and develops award-winning and bestselling books on high performance, creativity, innovation, marketing, and digital disruption. He’s also written popular essays on brain science, persuasion, unpredictability, and the power of storytelling.

Kevin holds degrees in English and Film Studies, and his forthcoming book with HBR Press, There’s Nothing Like This, offers a strategic analysis of Taylor Swift’s unmatched ability to evolve her brand without losing her audience.

Episode Highlights & Timestamps

  • 00:00 - Introduction
    • Alyssa Cohn introduces Kevin Evers and the topic of Taylor Swift's strategic genius.
  • 00:01:55 - Building Intimacy with Fans
    • Discussion on how Taylor Swift creates a close relationship with her fans.
  • 00:02:04 - Controversies and Success
    • Overview of Taylor's famous fights and controversies and their impact on her career.
  • 00:03:04 - The Idea Behind the Book
    • Kevin explains the inspiration for his book on Taylor Swift.
  • 00:13:05 - Inner Compass and Drive
    • Exploration of Taylor's determination and her "killer instinct."
  • 00:20:25 - The Kanye West Incident
    • Analysis of the infamous VMA moment with Kanye West and its implications.
  • 00:34:14 - Collaboration and Growth
    • Discussion on Taylor's collaborations with producers and her evolution as an artist.
  • 00:39:34 - The Importance of Risk
    • Kevin shares insights on the importance of taking calculated risks in business.
  • 00:44:37 - Re-recording Old Music
    • Discussion on Taylor's strategy to re-record her old albums and its significance.
  • 00:48:34 - Antifragility Concept
    • Kevin explains the concept of antifragility and how it applies to Taylor's career.
  • 00:53:25 - Advice for Founders
    • Kevin offers advice to startup founders based on insights from Taylor's career.
  • 00:54:10 - Conclusion


Resources & References

📖 There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift (Preorder)
 Amazon Link

Connect with Kevin Evers

Instagram: @there_is_nothing_like_this
 LinkedIn: Kevin Evers

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-16936711 Tue, 08 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0400 3286 1 89 full false #88: From Startup to Grown-Up: Eddie Kim, Co-founder and CTO of Gusto - Wearing different “hats” as a leader; learning to get his hands off the keyboard and enable others instead; and how to build a growth mindset #88: From Startup to Grown-Up: Eddie Kim, Co-founder and CTO of Gusto - Wearing different “hats” as a leader; learning to get his hands off the keyboard and enable others instead; and how to build a growth mindset Eddie Kim is the CTO and cofounder of Gusto, which serves 400,000+ small and medium-sized businesses nationwide by helping them onboard, pay, insure, engage, and provide benefits for their teams, in one integrated, friendly, and easy-to-use platform. Eddie’s career has been shaped by chance encounters, a passion for software, and a deep commitment to growth. Before Gusto, he launched his first company—an experience that ultimately led him to reconnect with his future co-founder, Josh Reeves.

In this episode, Eddie opens up about co-founder dynamics, leadership struggles, scaling a company, and the surprising tools he uses to stay aligned with his team.

Episode Highlights & Timestamps

🔹 [00:00] - The Decision-Making Process of a Leader
🔹 [02:00] - The Origin Story of Gusto: A Half Marathon That Changed Everything
🔹 [06:00] - Co-Founder Dynamics: How Eddie, Josh, and Tomer Divided Leadership Roles
🔹 [10:00] - Managing Ego: Accepting the CTO Role Instead of CEO
🔹 [12:00] - Hands Off the Keyboard: How Eddie Transitioned from Engineer to Leader
🔹 [15:00] - The Role of Mentors: Lessons from Jeremy Stoppelman (Yelp) & Drew Houston (Dropbox)
🔹 [17:00] - Breaking Stereotypes: Being an Asian Founder of a Unicorn Startup
🔹 [20:00] - The Role of Company Values in Decision-Making & Hiring
🔹 [24:00] - Encouraging Debate in an Organization & Aligning the Team
🔹 [32:00] - Wearing Multiple Hats: The Skill Every Leader Must Master
🔹 [38:00] - The Highs and Lows of Hiring Executives
🔹 [40:00] - Gusto’s AI Initiatives: How AI is Revolutionizing Payroll & HR for Small Businesses
🔹 [45:00] - Eddie’s #1 Advice for Founders: The Power of a Growth Mindset

Resources & References

📖 Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol Dweck

🎙️ Listen to my previous conversation with Gusto Co-Founder & CEO Josh Reeves (Episode 58)

Where to Find Eddie Kim

🌍 Website: www.gusto.com
🐦 Twitter: @edawerd
💼 LinkedIn: Edward Kim

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Eddie Kim is the CTO and cofounder of Gusto, which serves 400,000+ small and medium-sized businesses nationwide by helping them onboard, pay, insure, engage, and provide benefits for their teams, in one integrated, friendly, and easy-to-use platform. Eddie’s career has been shaped by chance encounters, a passion for software, and a deep commitment to growth. Before Gusto, he launched his first company—an experience that ultimately led him to reconnect with his future co-founder, Josh Reeves.

In this episode, Eddie opens up about co-founder dynamics, leadership struggles, scaling a company, and the surprising tools he uses to stay aligned with his team.

Episode Highlights & Timestamps

🔹 [00:00] - The Decision-Making Process of a Leader
🔹 [02:00] - The Origin Story of Gusto: A Half Marathon That Changed Everything
🔹 [06:00] - Co-Founder Dynamics: How Eddie, Josh, and Tomer Divided Leadership Roles
🔹 [10:00] - Managing Ego: Accepting the CTO Role Instead of CEO
🔹 [12:00] - Hands Off the Keyboard: How Eddie Transitioned from Engineer to Leader
🔹 [15:00] - The Role of Mentors: Lessons from Jeremy Stoppelman (Yelp) & Drew Houston (Dropbox)
🔹 [17:00] - Breaking Stereotypes: Being an Asian Founder of a Unicorn Startup
🔹 [20:00] - The Role of Company Values in Decision-Making & Hiring
🔹 [24:00] - Encouraging Debate in an Organization & Aligning the Team
🔹 [32:00] - Wearing Multiple Hats: The Skill Every Leader Must Master
🔹 [38:00] - The Highs and Lows of Hiring Executives
🔹 [40:00] - Gusto’s AI Initiatives: How AI is Revolutionizing Payroll & HR for Small Businesses
🔹 [45:00] - Eddie’s #1 Advice for Founders: The Power of a Growth Mindset

Resources & References

📖 Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol Dweck

🎙️ Listen to my previous conversation with Gusto Co-Founder & CEO Josh Reeves (Episode 58)

Where to Find Eddie Kim

🌍 Website: www.gusto.com
🐦 Twitter: @edawerd
💼 LinkedIn: Edward Kim

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-16855592 Tue, 25 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0400 2588 88 full false #87: How Daniel Yanisse Scaled Checkr to $700M+ and Overcame the Post-Hypergrowth Crisis #87: How Daniel Yanisse Scaled Checkr to $700M+ and Overcame the Post-Hypergrowth Crisis In this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, host Alisa Cohn sits down with Daniel Yanisse, co-founder and CEO of Checkr, to discuss the exhilarating rise and the challenges of sustaining a high-growth company. Checkr revolutionized the background check industry, scaling from a $1M revenue run rate in just three months to processing millions of background checks annually. But with hypergrowth came intense operational, cultural, and leadership challenges.

Daniel shares how he navigated:

  • Hiring at hyperspeed—and why some employees quit on day one.
  • The "hangover" after hypergrowth—losing key executives and investor pressure.
  • How to hire and retain top executives—and avoid common leadership hiring mistakes.
  • Revising a company mission to balance fairness and safety while scaling.
  • The "Fly High, Fly Low" leadership approach—balancing strategy and deep operational insights.

This episode is packed with real-world lessons for founders, CEOs, and startup leaders facing the challenges of rapid growth, leadership transitions, and market shifts.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to build and sustain a high-growth company.


 Timestamps & Key Topics

00:00 – Introduction

02:30 – The Early Days of Checkr

06:20 – The Downside of Hypergrowth

08:45 – Facing Leadership Challenges & Executive Turnover

15:30 – Hiring and Managing Executives

21:00 – Redefining Checkr’s Mission: Fairness vs. Safety

28:00 – Leadership Lessons & Overcoming Challenges

39:00 – Confidence, Imposter Syndrome & Founder Loneliness

45:00 – Final Advice for Founders

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> In this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, host Alisa Cohn sits down with Daniel Yanisse, co-founder and CEO of Checkr, to discuss the exhilarating rise and the challenges of sustaining a high-growth company. Checkr revolutionized the background check industry, scaling from a $1M revenue run rate in just three months to processing millions of background checks annually. But with hypergrowth came intense operational, cultural, and leadership challenges.

Daniel shares how he navigated:

  • Hiring at hyperspeed—and why some employees quit on day one.
  • The "hangover" after hypergrowth—losing key executives and investor pressure.
  • How to hire and retain top executives—and avoid common leadership hiring mistakes.
  • Revising a company mission to balance fairness and safety while scaling.
  • The "Fly High, Fly Low" leadership approach—balancing strategy and deep operational insights.

This episode is packed with real-world lessons for founders, CEOs, and startup leaders facing the challenges of rapid growth, leadership transitions, and market shifts.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to build and sustain a high-growth company.


 Timestamps & Key Topics

00:00 – Introduction

02:30 – The Early Days of Checkr

06:20 – The Downside of Hypergrowth

08:45 – Facing Leadership Challenges & Executive Turnover

15:30 – Hiring and Managing Executives

21:00 – Redefining Checkr’s Mission: Fairness vs. Safety

28:00 – Leadership Lessons & Overcoming Challenges

39:00 – Confidence, Imposter Syndrome & Founder Loneliness

45:00 – Final Advice for Founders

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-16771539 Tue, 11 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0400 2531 87 full false #86: Peter Attia, MD, Founder of Early Medical — improving your lifespan and healthspan, the centenarian decathlon, and the process of making major life changes (Repost) #86: Peter Attia, MD, Founder of Early Medical — improving your lifespan and healthspan, the centenarian decathlon, and the process of making major life changes (Repost) Peter Attia, MD, is the founder of Early Medical, a medical practice that applies the principles of Medicine 3.0 to patients with the goal of lengthening their lifespan and simultaneously improving their healthspan. He is the host of The Drive, one of the most popular podcasts covering the topics of health and medicine. Dr. Attia received his medical degree from the Stanford University School of Medicine and trained for five years at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in general surgery, where he was the recipient of several prestigious awards, including resident of the year. He spent two years at the National Institutes of Health as a surgical oncology fellow at the National Cancer Institute, where his research focused on immune-based therapies for melanoma.

Learn more about Peter here | Website

https://www.peterattiamd.com/

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Peter Attia, MD, is the founder of Early Medical, a medical practice that applies the principles of Medicine 3.0 to patients with the goal of lengthening their lifespan and simultaneously improving their healthspan. He is the host of The Drive, one of the most popular podcasts covering the topics of health and medicine. Dr. Attia received his medical degree from the Stanford University School of Medicine and trained for five years at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in general surgery, where he was the recipient of several prestigious awards, including resident of the year. He spent two years at the National Institutes of Health as a surgical oncology fellow at the National Cancer Institute, where his research focused on immune-based therapies for melanoma.

Learn more about Peter here | Website

https://www.peterattiamd.com/

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-16688179 Tue, 25 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500 2669 alisa cohn, peter attia, health, early medical, healthspan, health, personal development, personal growth full false #85: Isabelle Freidheim, Founder of Athena Capital — The benefits of being an only child, creating opportunities for women in finance, and unlocking hidden talent #85: Isabelle Freidheim, Founder of Athena Capital — The benefits of being an only child, creating opportunities for women in finance, and unlocking hidden talent Isabelle Freidheim is the founder and managing partner of Athena Capital. She is the youngest chairman of a publicly traded company in the U.S. In her role as managing partner of Athena Capital, Freidheim oversees the company's strategic direction and leads its efforts in identifying and investing in technology companies.

Freidheim is an entrepreneur and investor with more than 15 years of experience in venture capital, private equity, SPACs and IPOs. She founded Athena in 2020. Athena Capital invests at the intersection of private companies preparing to go public or considering M&A exits. Athena’s platform includes board members of Fortune 100 companies and CEOs, Fortune 500 companies, company founders and investors. Freidheim is one of Inc's 250 Female Founders in 2024, a member of The Council on Foreign Relations and an alumna of Fortune's Most Powerful Women.

Find out more about Athena Capital | Website

https://www.athenacap.com/

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Isabelle Freidheim is the founder and managing partner of Athena Capital. She is the youngest chairman of a publicly traded company in the U.S. In her role as managing partner of Athena Capital, Freidheim oversees the company's strategic direction and leads its efforts in identifying and investing in technology companies.

Freidheim is an entrepreneur and investor with more than 15 years of experience in venture capital, private equity, SPACs and IPOs. She founded Athena in 2020. Athena Capital invests at the intersection of private companies preparing to go public or considering M&A exits. Athena’s platform includes board members of Fortune 100 companies and CEOs, Fortune 500 companies, company founders and investors. Freidheim is one of Inc's 250 Female Founders in 2024, a member of The Council on Foreign Relations and an alumna of Fortune's Most Powerful Women.

Find out more about Athena Capital | Website

https://www.athenacap.com/

Connect with Alisa!

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-16600778 Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500 4173 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, isabelle freidheim, athena capital full false #84: Ethan Evans, Executive Mentor and Former Amazon VP — Managerial myths debunked, how to create a safety net for your career, and why everyone should write online #84: Ethan Evans, Executive Mentor and Former Amazon VP — Managerial myths debunked, how to create a safety net for your career, and why everyone should write online During his 15+ years at Amazon, Ethan Evans helped invent Prime Video, Amazon Video, Amazon Appstore, Merch by Amazon, Prime Gaming (formerly Twitch Prime), and Twitch Commerce. He led global teams of over 800 and holds more than 70 patents. Ethan has reviewed 10,000+ resumes, conducted 2,500+ interviews, made 1,000+ hires, and was an Amazon Bar Raiser and Bar Raiser Core Leader, responsible for training and maintaining Amazon's group of interview outcome facilitators.

Ethan helped advocate for and draft the Amazon Leadership Principle (LP) “Ownership” — the words, “They never say ‘that’s not my job.’” are Ethan’s (read the story).

At Amazon, Ethan promoted 8 reports from Senior Manager (Amazon L7) to Director (Amazon L8), contributed to 25+ Director promotions, hired 10+ Directors internally and externally, and drove the promotion of 3 engineers to Principal. Of his former reports, 2 are current Amazon VPs (L10) and 5 are C-Suite outside Amazon.

Ethan retired from Amazon as a Vice President in September 2020 to pay forward his good fortune.

Prior to Amazon, Ethan spent 12 years at 3 startups.

Ethan now teaches leaders to become true executives. Subscribe to Ethan’s newsletter, Level Up, for ongoing career advice, and consider joining the Level Up Career Community. Ethan also offers a range of Leadership Development Courses (live online and on-demand) that go in-depth on topics like “Breaking Through to Executive,” “Managing Up Successfully,” “Leadership Networking,” and more. If you’d like to connect, you can find Ethan on LinkedIn.

Contact Ethan on his website for inquiries about corporate training, speaking requests, and podcast appearances. | Website
https://www.ethanevans.com/

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]]> During his 15+ years at Amazon, Ethan Evans helped invent Prime Video, Amazon Video, Amazon Appstore, Merch by Amazon, Prime Gaming (formerly Twitch Prime), and Twitch Commerce. He led global teams of over 800 and holds more than 70 patents. Ethan has reviewed 10,000+ resumes, conducted 2,500+ interviews, made 1,000+ hires, and was an Amazon Bar Raiser and Bar Raiser Core Leader, responsible for training and maintaining Amazon's group of interview outcome facilitators.

Ethan helped advocate for and draft the Amazon Leadership Principle (LP) “Ownership” — the words, “They never say ‘that’s not my job.’” are Ethan’s (read the story).

At Amazon, Ethan promoted 8 reports from Senior Manager (Amazon L7) to Director (Amazon L8), contributed to 25+ Director promotions, hired 10+ Directors internally and externally, and drove the promotion of 3 engineers to Principal. Of his former reports, 2 are current Amazon VPs (L10) and 5 are C-Suite outside Amazon.

Ethan retired from Amazon as a Vice President in September 2020 to pay forward his good fortune.

Prior to Amazon, Ethan spent 12 years at 3 startups.

Ethan now teaches leaders to become true executives. Subscribe to Ethan’s newsletter, Level Up, for ongoing career advice, and consider joining the Level Up Career Community. Ethan also offers a range of Leadership Development Courses (live online and on-demand) that go in-depth on topics like “Breaking Through to Executive,” “Managing Up Successfully,” “Leadership Networking,” and more. If you’d like to connect, you can find Ethan on LinkedIn.

Contact Ethan on his website for inquiries about corporate training, speaking requests, and podcast appearances. | Website
https://www.ethanevans.com/

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-16516918 Tue, 28 Jan 2025 01:00:00 -0500 3066 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Ethan Evans, Amazon, careers full false #83: Chip Conley, Founder at Modern Elder Academy — Using regret as fuel; how and why founders need to shift their identities; how to manage people older than you; and his favorite interview question (Repost) #83: Chip Conley, Founder at Modern Elder Academy — Using regret as fuel; how and why founders need to shift their identities; how to manage people older than you; and his favorite interview question (Repost) Chip is the founder of the Modern Elder Academy (MEA), where a new roadmap for midlife is offered at a beautiful oceanfront campus in Baja California Sur, Mexico, and forthcoming campuses in Santa Fe, NM. His five books have made him a leading authority at the intersection of psychology and business. 

Chip had tons of wisdom to share in this talk, including how to use regret as fuel for the future, what founders can learn when they shift their identities, how to manage people older than you, what Chip learned from the people that he mentored, and his favorite interview question. 

Love the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!

 Resources Mentioned

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]]> Chip is the founder of the Modern Elder Academy (MEA), where a new roadmap for midlife is offered at a beautiful oceanfront campus in Baja California Sur, Mexico, and forthcoming campuses in Santa Fe, NM. His five books have made him a leading authority at the intersection of psychology and business. 

Chip had tons of wisdom to share in this talk, including how to use regret as fuel for the future, what founders can learn when they shift their identities, how to manage people older than you, what Chip learned from the people that he mentored, and his favorite interview question. 

Love the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!

 Resources Mentioned

Follow Chip Conley on:

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-16361009 Tue, 31 Dec 2024 02:00:00 -0500 4472 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, chip conley, joie de vivre, airbnb full false #82, Gary Vaynerchuk, Serial Entrepreneur and Chairman of VaynerX — The importance of kind candor, how to get over your insecurity, and why you need to embrace social media (Repost) #82, Gary Vaynerchuk, Serial Entrepreneur and Chairman of VaynerX — The importance of kind candor, how to get over your insecurity, and why you need to embrace social media (Repost) Gary Vaynerchuk, also known as "GaryVee," is a serial entrepreneur, the Chairman of VaynerX, and 5x New York Times Best Selling Author. He is a leading global mind on what's next in culture, relevance, and the internet. Gary possesses an uncanny ability to recognize trends and patterns early to help others understand how these shifts impact consumer behavior. He is one of the most forward-thinkers in business. Gary's approach sits at the intersection of business and culture. He keenly understands how to bring brand relevance to the forefront.

“It's not a hokey thing to say you have to enjoy the journey. It's the only sustainable thing.” 

That’s one of the wisdom bombs from my latest guest on From Start-up to Grown-up, the legendary  Gary Vaynerchuk- Chairman of Vayner X and the author of his brand new book, Day Trading Attention.

Here are a few more of the many great takeaways Gary offered during our discussion:

“Chasing the short-term is the number one strategy that makes people fail.”

“Entrepreneurship is a constant game of losing with occasional wins.”

“There’s nothing that happens on earth that doesn’t start with attention.”

Learn more about his book, Day Trading Attention | Website
garyvaynerchuk.com

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]]> Gary Vaynerchuk, also known as "GaryVee," is a serial entrepreneur, the Chairman of VaynerX, and 5x New York Times Best Selling Author. He is a leading global mind on what's next in culture, relevance, and the internet. Gary possesses an uncanny ability to recognize trends and patterns early to help others understand how these shifts impact consumer behavior. He is one of the most forward-thinkers in business. Gary's approach sits at the intersection of business and culture. He keenly understands how to bring brand relevance to the forefront.

“It's not a hokey thing to say you have to enjoy the journey. It's the only sustainable thing.” 

That’s one of the wisdom bombs from my latest guest on From Start-up to Grown-up, the legendary  Gary Vaynerchuk- Chairman of Vayner X and the author of his brand new book, Day Trading Attention.

Here are a few more of the many great takeaways Gary offered during our discussion:

“Chasing the short-term is the number one strategy that makes people fail.”

“Entrepreneurship is a constant game of losing with occasional wins.”

“There’s nothing that happens on earth that doesn’t start with attention.”

Learn more about his book, Day Trading Attention | Website
garyvaynerchuk.com

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-16292627 Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500 1827 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, gary vaynerchuk, vaynermedia full false #81: Colin Bryar, Co-Author of "Working Backwards;" former Chief of Staff to Jeff Bezos — How Amazon built its processes, the birth of the 6-page memo, and how to instill psychological safety in a competitive culture #81: Colin Bryar, Co-Author of "Working Backwards;" former Chief of Staff to Jeff Bezos — How Amazon built its processes, the birth of the 6-page memo, and how to instill psychological safety in a competitive culture Colin Bryar is a business advisor and technology leader whose career has focused on optimizing business strategy, technology, and operations. He is a former top-level executive at Amazon, where he spent more than 12 years – much of it in the early aughts during the company’s period of unmatched innovation – serving as a tech VP, leading the operations for IMDb.com, as well as shadowing and working directly with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to help with all aspects of Amazon's business including strategy, technology, and operations.

Bryar is also the co-founder of Working Backwards, LLC where he coaches and advises executives at both early stages and established companies around the globe, helping them to implement the management practices developed at Amazon. He also serves as an advisor for Singapore-based online marketplace, Carousell.

Learn more about Colin | Website

https://www.workingbackwards.com

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]]> Colin Bryar is a business advisor and technology leader whose career has focused on optimizing business strategy, technology, and operations. He is a former top-level executive at Amazon, where he spent more than 12 years – much of it in the early aughts during the company’s period of unmatched innovation – serving as a tech VP, leading the operations for IMDb.com, as well as shadowing and working directly with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to help with all aspects of Amazon's business including strategy, technology, and operations.

Bryar is also the co-founder of Working Backwards, LLC where he coaches and advises executives at both early stages and established companies around the globe, helping them to implement the management practices developed at Amazon. He also serves as an advisor for Singapore-based online marketplace, Carousell.

Learn more about Colin | Website

https://www.workingbackwards.com

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Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-16212564 Tue, 03 Dec 2024 01:00:00 -0500 4944 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, colin bryar, amazon, working backwards full false #80: David Heinemeier Hansson, Co-Owner of 37signals— Creating with first principles, acting with courage, and working in a world with no managers #80: David Heinemeier Hansson, Co-Owner of 37signals— Creating with first principles, acting with courage, and working in a world with no managers David is the creator of Ruby on Rails, Co-Owner of 37signals, best-selling author, Le Mans class-winning racing driver, antitrust advocate, investor in Danish startups, frequent podcast guest, and family man.

He writes regularly on HEY World and speaks on The REWORK Podcast. 

Hundreds of thousands of programmers around the world have built amazing applications using Ruby on Rails, an open-source web framework he created in 2003, and continues to develop to this day. Some of the more famous include Github, Shopify, Airbnb, Square, Coinbase, and Zendesk.

For my newest episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, I talk with David Heinemeier Hansson, Co-Founder of 37signals, to explore his journey of innovation, remote work, and unconventional management.

Learn more about DHH | Website
https://dhh.dk/


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]]> David is the creator of Ruby on Rails, Co-Owner of 37signals, best-selling author, Le Mans class-winning racing driver, antitrust advocate, investor in Danish startups, frequent podcast guest, and family man.

He writes regularly on HEY World and speaks on The REWORK Podcast. 

Hundreds of thousands of programmers around the world have built amazing applications using Ruby on Rails, an open-source web framework he created in 2003, and continues to develop to this day. Some of the more famous include Github, Shopify, Airbnb, Square, Coinbase, and Zendesk.

For my newest episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, I talk with David Heinemeier Hansson, Co-Founder of 37signals, to explore his journey of innovation, remote work, and unconventional management.

Learn more about DHH | Website
https://dhh.dk/


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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-16131199 Tue, 19 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500 4828 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, david heinemeier hansson, 37signals full false #79, Shegun Otulana, Founder and CEO of Harmony Venture Labs—From Nigeria to unicorn founder; bootstrapping a profitable business; learning to embrace feedback #79, Shegun Otulana, Founder and CEO of Harmony Venture Labs—From Nigeria to unicorn founder; bootstrapping a profitable business; learning to embrace feedback Shegun Otulana is a seasoned entrepreneur, advisor, mentor and investor. Drawing from his experience as a bootstrapped startup founder who found incredible success, his mission is to empower the next generation of builders by sharing his lessons learned to guide their entrepreneurial journeys. In addition to mentoring founders in his community – many of whom have gone on to launch successful companies – he also enjoys sharing his insight with startup leaders, business associations, academic institutions and other growth-minded groups.

In 2013, Shegun founded TheraNest and its parent company, Therapy Brands, a software platform for mental, behavioral, substance and physical rehab providers and organizations. In 2021, he exited the business for $1.25 billion, the largest software exit on record in the state of Alabama.

Prior to establishing Therapy Brands, Shegun founded Zertis Technologies, a computer software consultancy company. Today, he continues his “idea lab” approach as the Founder of Harmony Venture Labs (HVL), an idea and growth studio that owns and operates a family of technology companies.

In this powerful episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, I sit down with Shegun Otulana, who bootstrapped his way from Nigeria to building a $1.25B healthcare tech company in Birmingham, Alabama.

What struck me most about Shegun's journey?

➡️ The power of constraints as blessings - limited funding forced profitable growth from day one

➡️ Culture needs rituals - it's not enough to have values, you must memorialize and celebrate them

➡️ Leadership growth requires vulnerability - others see you differently than you see yourself

One of my favorite insights: "Your nature is your nature, but you need to find people who complement what you don't bring to the table." 

Shegun openly shared how he learned to build strong remote teams by finding cultural champions when that wasn't his natural strength.

When Shegun could only raise $250,000 in 10 months for his healthcare SaaS company, he turned that constraint into motivation. 

Without the luxury of burning cash, he had to build profitably from day one. 

Rather than seeing limited capital as a barrier, he viewed it as a blessing that forced disciplined growth - a mindset that ultimately led to a billion-dollar exit.

It's about intentionally designing incentive structures that make your team feel safe to experiment and learn.

Learn more about Shegun | Website
https://shegunotulana.com/

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]]> Shegun Otulana is a seasoned entrepreneur, advisor, mentor and investor. Drawing from his experience as a bootstrapped startup founder who found incredible success, his mission is to empower the next generation of builders by sharing his lessons learned to guide their entrepreneurial journeys. In addition to mentoring founders in his community – many of whom have gone on to launch successful companies – he also enjoys sharing his insight with startup leaders, business associations, academic institutions and other growth-minded groups.

In 2013, Shegun founded TheraNest and its parent company, Therapy Brands, a software platform for mental, behavioral, substance and physical rehab providers and organizations. In 2021, he exited the business for $1.25 billion, the largest software exit on record in the state of Alabama.

Prior to establishing Therapy Brands, Shegun founded Zertis Technologies, a computer software consultancy company. Today, he continues his “idea lab” approach as the Founder of Harmony Venture Labs (HVL), an idea and growth studio that owns and operates a family of technology companies.

In this powerful episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, I sit down with Shegun Otulana, who bootstrapped his way from Nigeria to building a $1.25B healthcare tech company in Birmingham, Alabama.

What struck me most about Shegun's journey?

➡️ The power of constraints as blessings - limited funding forced profitable growth from day one

➡️ Culture needs rituals - it's not enough to have values, you must memorialize and celebrate them

➡️ Leadership growth requires vulnerability - others see you differently than you see yourself

One of my favorite insights: "Your nature is your nature, but you need to find people who complement what you don't bring to the table." 

Shegun openly shared how he learned to build strong remote teams by finding cultural champions when that wasn't his natural strength.

When Shegun could only raise $250,000 in 10 months for his healthcare SaaS company, he turned that constraint into motivation. 

Without the luxury of burning cash, he had to build profitably from day one. 

Rather than seeing limited capital as a barrier, he viewed it as a blessing that forced disciplined growth - a mindset that ultimately led to a billion-dollar exit.

It's about intentionally designing incentive structures that make your team feel safe to experiment and learn.

Learn more about Shegun | Website
https://shegunotulana.com/

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-16050214 Tue, 05 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500 4274 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, shegun otulana, harmony venture labs full false #78: Jake Schwartz, Co-Founder and former CEO of General Assembly—Navigating startup chaos, what a startup and the Beatles have in common, and the wisdom of looking back on the journey #78: Jake Schwartz, Co-Founder and former CEO of General Assembly—Navigating startup chaos, what a startup and the Beatles have in common, and the wisdom of looking back on the journey Jake Schwartz is a serial entrepreneur, investor and advisor. Until 2020, Jake Schwartz served at CEO of General Assembly (GA), the global leader in education and career transformation, which he co-founded in 2011. He grew GA to over 1,000 employees on five continents. In 2018, GA was acquired by The Adecco Group. Jake Schwartz co-founded and serves as Chair of Brave Health, a mission-driven company focused on expanding access to high-quality, affordable care for mental health and addiction. Jake Schwartz was named E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014 and one of Crain’s “40 under 40” in 2015. Jake holds a BA from Yale and an MBA from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a former CFA Charterholder.

When you hear the founding story of any startup, it can often feel like it was destined.

That the end was clear at the beginning and the founders held an unwavering gaze.

We often think launching a successful company requires:

  • Defining roles from day one
  • Holding to an unchanging vision
  • Work through a clear path to get there.

That's one way to do it!

But what if there's another approach?

What if building a successful startup isn't about following a strict formula, but about embracing serendipity and intuition?

Jake Schwartz, Co-Founder and former CEO of General Assembly, didn't have a conventional playbook. 

Looking back a decade later, he felt like they were forming a band.

Just get together, start creating, figuring things out as you go.

What I took away from this discussion:

Passion > perfect plan. 

Flexibility > rigidity early on. 

Evolution > clear vision.

By following their intuition and leaning into serendipity, Jake and his co-founders discovered a unique formula for success.

Learn more about Jake and Brave Health | Website
https://bebravehealth.com/

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]]> Jake Schwartz is a serial entrepreneur, investor and advisor. Until 2020, Jake Schwartz served at CEO of General Assembly (GA), the global leader in education and career transformation, which he co-founded in 2011. He grew GA to over 1,000 employees on five continents. In 2018, GA was acquired by The Adecco Group. Jake Schwartz co-founded and serves as Chair of Brave Health, a mission-driven company focused on expanding access to high-quality, affordable care for mental health and addiction. Jake Schwartz was named E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014 and one of Crain’s “40 under 40” in 2015. Jake holds a BA from Yale and an MBA from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a former CFA Charterholder.

When you hear the founding story of any startup, it can often feel like it was destined.

That the end was clear at the beginning and the founders held an unwavering gaze.

We often think launching a successful company requires:

  • Defining roles from day one
  • Holding to an unchanging vision
  • Work through a clear path to get there.

That's one way to do it!

But what if there's another approach?

What if building a successful startup isn't about following a strict formula, but about embracing serendipity and intuition?

Jake Schwartz, Co-Founder and former CEO of General Assembly, didn't have a conventional playbook. 

Looking back a decade later, he felt like they were forming a band.

Just get together, start creating, figuring things out as you go.

What I took away from this discussion:

Passion > perfect plan. 

Flexibility > rigidity early on. 

Evolution > clear vision.

By following their intuition and leaning into serendipity, Jake and his co-founders discovered a unique formula for success.

Learn more about Jake and Brave Health | Website
https://bebravehealth.com/

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-15967062 Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400 4393 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Jake Schwartz, General Assembly, the beatles full false #77: Jake Kloberdanz, One Hope Winery Co-founder — Building “Girl Scout Cookies” for adults, building community, and scaling philanthropy #77: Jake Kloberdanz, One Hope Winery Co-founder — Building “Girl Scout Cookies” for adults, building community, and scaling philanthropy Jake Kloberdanz is the founder of ONEHOPE, a pioneering wine brand with a mission to create a positive social impact. Under his leadership, ONEHOPE has donated tens of millions of dollars to over 40,000 non-profits and grown from zero to producing over one million bottles per year. The company boasts a world-class vineyard in Napa Valley and has garnered more than 30 wines with 90+ point ratings. Recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies by Inc. Magazine, ONEHOPE has raised over $100 million in funding. Jake has been honored as a "Top 40 Under 40" by Wine Enthusiast and a "Top 30 Under 30" by Forbes. He serves on the boards of 8VC and After the Fire, and is a sought-after speaker, having presented at the UN Global Summit, TED, and leading universities like Stanford and MIT. A graduate of UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business and a two-time national rugby champion, Jake is an advocate for "Cause-centric Commerce," integrating purpose into business models.

This new episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up features an in-depth conversation with Jake Kloberdanz, the Co-Founder and CEO of One Hope Winery, who’s reshaping how business and philanthropy intersect. 

From selling wines out of a U-Haul to building a company that’s donated over $10 million to meaningful causes, Jake's story is nothing short of inspiring.

Jake talks about his original idea to create “Girl Scout Cookies for adults” and how that evolved over time. He also talks about his evolution as a leader as the company overcame turbulence, how he learned the importance of clarity and how he developed his frameworks for communication. 

Learn more about One Hope Winery | Website
https://www.onehopewine.com/

Connect with Alisa!

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Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Jake Kloberdanz is the founder of ONEHOPE, a pioneering wine brand with a mission to create a positive social impact. Under his leadership, ONEHOPE has donated tens of millions of dollars to over 40,000 non-profits and grown from zero to producing over one million bottles per year. The company boasts a world-class vineyard in Napa Valley and has garnered more than 30 wines with 90+ point ratings. Recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies by Inc. Magazine, ONEHOPE has raised over $100 million in funding. Jake has been honored as a "Top 40 Under 40" by Wine Enthusiast and a "Top 30 Under 30" by Forbes. He serves on the boards of 8VC and After the Fire, and is a sought-after speaker, having presented at the UN Global Summit, TED, and leading universities like Stanford and MIT. A graduate of UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business and a two-time national rugby champion, Jake is an advocate for "Cause-centric Commerce," integrating purpose into business models.

This new episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up features an in-depth conversation with Jake Kloberdanz, the Co-Founder and CEO of One Hope Winery, who’s reshaping how business and philanthropy intersect. 

From selling wines out of a U-Haul to building a company that’s donated over $10 million to meaningful causes, Jake's story is nothing short of inspiring.

Jake talks about his original idea to create “Girl Scout Cookies for adults” and how that evolved over time. He also talks about his evolution as a leader as the company overcame turbulence, how he learned the importance of clarity and how he developed his frameworks for communication. 

Learn more about One Hope Winery | Website
https://www.onehopewine.com/

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

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Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-15852997 Tue, 08 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0400 4920 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Jake Kloberdanz, One Hope Winery full false #76: Susan McPherson, Founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies — Investing in dormant ties, networking superpowers, and converting nerves into strength #76: Susan McPherson, Founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies — Investing in dormant ties, networking superpowers, and converting nerves into strength Susan McPherson is a serial connector, angel investor, and corporate responsibility expert. As the founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy focused on brands and social impact, she brings over 30 years of experience in marketing, PR, and sustainability communications. Susan is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting and a sought-after speaker at major events like the Massachusetts Conference for Women and Techonomy. She has contributed to outlets like Harvard Business Review and Fast Company and has appeared in NPR, CNN, and USA Today. Susan invests in and advises women-led startups and is involved in several boards and advisory groups, including The 19th News and Just Capital. 

This episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up dives into the world of networking and relationship-building with Susan McPherson – a “super connector” who leverages her extensive network to help others and grow her own business, McPherson Strategies!

Susan shares her insights on the significance of rekindling dormant ties, the benefits of dormant connections, and the importance of proactive outreach in networking.

Susan started her company at the bold age of 48, reaching out to a staggering 500 people in her network, demonstrating the power of asking for help and the value in promoting others. She's full of practical tips - including hosting your own events collaboratively and keeping the conversation focused on what others need. We'll also hear about her smart approach to follow-up after events, employing the "ten touches rule" to keep her contacts engaged.

Prepare to be inspired as Susan discusses her entrepreneurial journey, overcoming personal and professional low points, and the joy she finds in team growth and recognition. 

Stay tuned as we learn that it's never too late to start, it’s okay to be afraid of failure, and that, at times, success is serendipitous – often resulting from seeds we plant long before they bear fruit.

Learn more about Susan | Website
https://www.susanmcp.com/ 

Connect with Alisa!

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]]> Susan McPherson is a serial connector, angel investor, and corporate responsibility expert. As the founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy focused on brands and social impact, she brings over 30 years of experience in marketing, PR, and sustainability communications. Susan is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting and a sought-after speaker at major events like the Massachusetts Conference for Women and Techonomy. She has contributed to outlets like Harvard Business Review and Fast Company and has appeared in NPR, CNN, and USA Today. Susan invests in and advises women-led startups and is involved in several boards and advisory groups, including The 19th News and Just Capital. 

This episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up dives into the world of networking and relationship-building with Susan McPherson – a “super connector” who leverages her extensive network to help others and grow her own business, McPherson Strategies!

Susan shares her insights on the significance of rekindling dormant ties, the benefits of dormant connections, and the importance of proactive outreach in networking.

Susan started her company at the bold age of 48, reaching out to a staggering 500 people in her network, demonstrating the power of asking for help and the value in promoting others. She's full of practical tips - including hosting your own events collaboratively and keeping the conversation focused on what others need. We'll also hear about her smart approach to follow-up after events, employing the "ten touches rule" to keep her contacts engaged.

Prepare to be inspired as Susan discusses her entrepreneurial journey, overcoming personal and professional low points, and the joy she finds in team growth and recognition. 

Stay tuned as we learn that it's never too late to start, it’s okay to be afraid of failure, and that, at times, success is serendipitous – often resulting from seeds we plant long before they bear fruit.

Learn more about Susan | Website
https://www.susanmcp.com/ 

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-15805561 Tue, 24 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400 2479 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, susan mcpherson, connecting full false #75: Jeff Shiner, CEO of 1Password — Earning the right to lead, how to thrive while bootstrapping your company, and how to hire senior executives #75: Jeff Shiner, CEO of 1Password — Earning the right to lead, how to thrive while bootstrapping your company, and how to hire senior executives Jeff Shiner is the CEO of 1Password, a leader in human centric security and privacy. Since joining in 2012, Jeff has grown the company from 20 people to a 900-employee global organization with a $6.8 billion valuation. Today, 1Password enables over 100,000 businesses and millions of individuals to navigate the digital world without fear or friction when logging in – and in less time. The company has been recognized on the Forbes Cloud 100 list and Quartz’s Best Companies for Remote Workers. Prior to joining 1Password, Jeff held leadership roles at IBM Canada and Rosetta and has a demonstrated history of growing technology companies. Jeff also currently serves on the Board of Directors of GenomOncology, a company that provides the healthcare community with data-driven insights to improve cancer care. 

Jeff is a noted speaker at events like Web Summit, Collision, and the C100. He also provides regular commentary to top-tier publications like Fast Company, Forbes, ZDNet, and VentureBeat, among others. When he’s not busy being a CEO, Jeff enjoys watching the 49ers, spending time on his tractor, and adding to his LEGO collection with his son – he’s the proud owner of more than 1,000 pounds of bricks!

This episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up features Jeff Shiner, CEO of 1Password, who offered an unguarded look into his journey scaling a company from 20 people to 1200 employees.

This episode is particularly valuable for first-time founders, as Jeff covers how to mitigate the lonely job as a founder by making  smart hires, what you can do to cultivate a strong team through reflective hiring practices, and the activities that can ground you and give perspective.

This is such a powerful and practical episode that will bolster all founders and leaders with resolve!  

Learn more about 1Password | Website
https://www.1Password.com

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]]> Jeff Shiner is the CEO of 1Password, a leader in human centric security and privacy. Since joining in 2012, Jeff has grown the company from 20 people to a 900-employee global organization with a $6.8 billion valuation. Today, 1Password enables over 100,000 businesses and millions of individuals to navigate the digital world without fear or friction when logging in – and in less time. The company has been recognized on the Forbes Cloud 100 list and Quartz’s Best Companies for Remote Workers. Prior to joining 1Password, Jeff held leadership roles at IBM Canada and Rosetta and has a demonstrated history of growing technology companies. Jeff also currently serves on the Board of Directors of GenomOncology, a company that provides the healthcare community with data-driven insights to improve cancer care. 

Jeff is a noted speaker at events like Web Summit, Collision, and the C100. He also provides regular commentary to top-tier publications like Fast Company, Forbes, ZDNet, and VentureBeat, among others. When he’s not busy being a CEO, Jeff enjoys watching the 49ers, spending time on his tractor, and adding to his LEGO collection with his son – he’s the proud owner of more than 1,000 pounds of bricks!

This episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up features Jeff Shiner, CEO of 1Password, who offered an unguarded look into his journey scaling a company from 20 people to 1200 employees.

This episode is particularly valuable for first-time founders, as Jeff covers how to mitigate the lonely job as a founder by making  smart hires, what you can do to cultivate a strong team through reflective hiring practices, and the activities that can ground you and give perspective.

This is such a powerful and practical episode that will bolster all founders and leaders with resolve!  

Learn more about 1Password | Website
https://www.1Password.com

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-15726149 Tue, 10 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400 4188 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Jeff shiner, 1password, hiring full false #74: Seth Godin, Author and Marketing Strategist — showing up for yourself, creating conditions for your best work, and how to deal with massive rejection (Repost) #74: Seth Godin, Author and Marketing Strategist — showing up for yourself, creating conditions for your best work, and how to deal with massive rejection (Repost) Seth is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and speaker. In addition to launching one of the most popular blogs in the world, he has written 20 best-selling books, including The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, and What To Do When It's Your Turn (And It's Always Your Turn). His book, This is Marketing, was an instant bestseller in countries around the world. Though renowned for his writing and speaking, Seth also founded two companies, Squidoo and Yoyodyne (acquired by Yahoo!).

By focusing on everything from effective marketing and leadership, to the spread of ideas and changing everything, Seth has been able to motivate and inspire countless people around the world.

In 2013, Seth was one of just three professionals inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. In an astonishing turn of events, in May 2018, he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame as well. He might be the only person in both.

Imagine a world where people work where they are respected, where the work - not the employee - is thoughtfully criticized, and where managers create the conditions for employees to do the best work of their lives. 

Seth Godin does a deep dive on all of these and so much more in our conversation, sharing concepts from his brand new book The Song of Significance that reimagines what work and leadership can be.

Find out more about Seth | Website

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]]> Seth is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and speaker. In addition to launching one of the most popular blogs in the world, he has written 20 best-selling books, including The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, and What To Do When It's Your Turn (And It's Always Your Turn). His book, This is Marketing, was an instant bestseller in countries around the world. Though renowned for his writing and speaking, Seth also founded two companies, Squidoo and Yoyodyne (acquired by Yahoo!).

By focusing on everything from effective marketing and leadership, to the spread of ideas and changing everything, Seth has been able to motivate and inspire countless people around the world.

In 2013, Seth was one of just three professionals inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. In an astonishing turn of events, in May 2018, he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame as well. He might be the only person in both.

Imagine a world where people work where they are respected, where the work - not the employee - is thoughtfully criticized, and where managers create the conditions for employees to do the best work of their lives. 

Seth Godin does a deep dive on all of these and so much more in our conversation, sharing concepts from his brand new book The Song of Significance that reimagines what work and leadership can be.

Find out more about Seth | Website

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-15648602 Tue, 27 Aug 2024 13:00:00 -0400 2937 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, seth godin full false #73: David Savage, Group Technology Evangelist at Nash Squared and host of TechTalks podcast — How to become an "intrapreneur," the importance of consistent behavior over vanity metrics, and how to learn to trust yourself #73: David Savage, Group Technology Evangelist at Nash Squared and host of TechTalks podcast — How to become an "intrapreneur," the importance of consistent behavior over vanity metrics, and how to learn to trust yourself David is Nash Squared's Group Technology Evangelist. He crafts podcasts, hosts video debates, speaks, moderates conferences, and chairs keynote stages. He's a passionate advocate for technology, dissecting its challenges and opportunities. 

David has worked at Nash Squared since 2007, where he has developed a deep understanding of the technology and talent markets. Recognised as Computing's Digital Ambassador of the Year (2018), he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to every conversation. Since 2015 he has been editor and host of Tech Talks, a show about leadership and technology currently ranked as one of the most popular podcasts in the world.

David Savage is this episode's guest, who reinforces why it’s so important to realize that trusting ourselves is a skill. And like all skills it can be developed! 

In addition to learning about trusting yourself, you’ll also hear from David how to become an “intrapreneur,” the importance of establishing consistent behavior, and how that applies to strengthening our personal branding.

Learn more about David and Tech Talks | Website 
https://www.nashsquared.com/techtalks

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]]> David is Nash Squared's Group Technology Evangelist. He crafts podcasts, hosts video debates, speaks, moderates conferences, and chairs keynote stages. He's a passionate advocate for technology, dissecting its challenges and opportunities. 

David has worked at Nash Squared since 2007, where he has developed a deep understanding of the technology and talent markets. Recognised as Computing's Digital Ambassador of the Year (2018), he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to every conversation. Since 2015 he has been editor and host of Tech Talks, a show about leadership and technology currently ranked as one of the most popular podcasts in the world.

David Savage is this episode's guest, who reinforces why it’s so important to realize that trusting ourselves is a skill. And like all skills it can be developed! 

In addition to learning about trusting yourself, you’ll also hear from David how to become an “intrapreneur,” the importance of establishing consistent behavior, and how that applies to strengthening our personal branding.

Learn more about David and Tech Talks | Website 
https://www.nashsquared.com/techtalks

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-15574232 Tue, 13 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0400 3680 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, david savage, nash squared, tech talks full false #72: Kim Scott, Author of Radical Respect and Radical Candor — Building your team’s muscles to address discomfort, cutting through workplace politics, and why you need a purple flag #72: Kim Scott, Author of Radical Respect and Radical Candor — Building your team’s muscles to address discomfort, cutting through workplace politics, and why you need a purple flag Kim Scott is the author of Radical Respect and Radical Candor. Kim was a CEO coach at Dropbox, Qualtrics, Twitter, and other tech companies. She was a member of the faculty at Apple University and before that led AdSense, YouTube, and DoubleClick teams at Google.

Being able to hold a candid and caring conversation with someone is an essential part of leadership.  

My next guest on From Start-Up to Grown-Up is Kim Scott, bestselling author of Radical Candor and her new book, Radical Respect.

Kim delivers a masterclass in building respect and kindness as the foundation of a company’s DNA with several strategies you’re going to want to use immediately.

You’ll learn how to create an environment where employees feel safe. You’ll also learn that empowering yourself and your employees to challenge openly and diplomatically can lead to building a successful company.

Learn more about Kim | Website
kimmalonescott.com

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]]> Kim Scott is the author of Radical Respect and Radical Candor. Kim was a CEO coach at Dropbox, Qualtrics, Twitter, and other tech companies. She was a member of the faculty at Apple University and before that led AdSense, YouTube, and DoubleClick teams at Google.

Being able to hold a candid and caring conversation with someone is an essential part of leadership.  

My next guest on From Start-Up to Grown-Up is Kim Scott, bestselling author of Radical Candor and her new book, Radical Respect.

Kim delivers a masterclass in building respect and kindness as the foundation of a company’s DNA with several strategies you’re going to want to use immediately.

You’ll learn how to create an environment where employees feel safe. You’ll also learn that empowering yourself and your employees to challenge openly and diplomatically can lead to building a successful company.

Learn more about Kim | Website
kimmalonescott.com

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-15498616 Tue, 30 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400 4967 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, kim scott, radical candor full false #71: Matt Reustle, CEO of Colossus — Lessons from a first-time CEO, how to analyze a career pivot, and the art of a great question #71: Matt Reustle, CEO of Colossus — Lessons from a first-time CEO, how to analyze a career pivot, and the art of a great question Matt Reustle is currently the CEO of Colossus, a business that creates, curates, and distributes top-quality content for investors and entrepreneurs. He is the primary host of the Business Breakdowns podcast. Prior to Colossus, Matt worked in institutional investing. Most recently on the investment team at Raven Capital Management. Matt spent the first decade of his career at Goldman Sachs splitting his time between the Sales & Trading and Research divisions.

If you’re thinking about a career pivot, if you’re trying to be a great leader in your company, or if you’re interested in podcasting, check out this great episode of From Start-up to Grown-up with Matt Reustle. 

Matt is the CEO of Colossus Media and host of the  podcast Business Breakdowns.

Matt shares so honestly why leadership isn’t just about wins but about creating sustainable systems of growth and communication, how empathy is foundational for meaningful connections, and why there is an unlimited amount of friction running a company and how to find balance.

Learn more about Colossus | Website

www.joincolossus.com

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]]> Matt Reustle is currently the CEO of Colossus, a business that creates, curates, and distributes top-quality content for investors and entrepreneurs. He is the primary host of the Business Breakdowns podcast. Prior to Colossus, Matt worked in institutional investing. Most recently on the investment team at Raven Capital Management. Matt spent the first decade of his career at Goldman Sachs splitting his time between the Sales & Trading and Research divisions.

If you’re thinking about a career pivot, if you’re trying to be a great leader in your company, or if you’re interested in podcasting, check out this great episode of From Start-up to Grown-up with Matt Reustle. 

Matt is the CEO of Colossus Media and host of the  podcast Business Breakdowns.

Matt shares so honestly why leadership isn’t just about wins but about creating sustainable systems of growth and communication, how empathy is foundational for meaningful connections, and why there is an unlimited amount of friction running a company and how to find balance.

Learn more about Colossus | Website

www.joincolossus.com

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-15421055 Tue, 16 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400 4598 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, matt reustle, colossus, careers full false #70: Mike Michalowicz, Author and Entrepreneur — The right way to hire; practical exercises for team retention; and how to come back from rock bottom #70: Mike Michalowicz, Author and Entrepreneur — The right way to hire; practical exercises for team retention; and how to come back from rock bottom Mike Michalowicz is the entrepreneur behind three multimillion-dollar companies and is the author of several business books, including Profit First, Clockwork, The Pumpkin Plan and his newest book, All In.
Mike is a former small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal and business makeover expert for MSNBC. He regularly travels the globe as an entrepreneurial advocate.

We are going all in on the newest episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up with author and entrepreneur Mike Michalowicz!

Mike is a great story-teller and you’ll laugh out loud and come away with some great wisdom. Mike shares  practical exercises for team retention, how to come back from rock bottom, and the right way to hire people - interviews are over rated!

You’ll also learn from his personal stories about the value and power of having an array of mentors, why companies thrive when leadership focuses on the human experience for both clients and employees, and how to build stamina to succeed as an entrepreneur.

Learn more about Mike at Website | mikemichalowicz.com
https://www.mikemichalowicz.com

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]]> Mike Michalowicz is the entrepreneur behind three multimillion-dollar companies and is the author of several business books, including Profit First, Clockwork, The Pumpkin Plan and his newest book, All In.
Mike is a former small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal and business makeover expert for MSNBC. He regularly travels the globe as an entrepreneurial advocate.

We are going all in on the newest episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up with author and entrepreneur Mike Michalowicz!

Mike is a great story-teller and you’ll laugh out loud and come away with some great wisdom. Mike shares  practical exercises for team retention, how to come back from rock bottom, and the right way to hire people - interviews are over rated!

You’ll also learn from his personal stories about the value and power of having an array of mentors, why companies thrive when leadership focuses on the human experience for both clients and employees, and how to build stamina to succeed as an entrepreneur.

Learn more about Mike at Website | mikemichalowicz.com
https://www.mikemichalowicz.com

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-15346665 Tue, 02 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400 4264 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, mike michalowicz, all in full false #69, Rahul Vohra, Co-Founder and CEO of Superhuman — How to craft core values, tactics for implementing culture to help you achieve company goals, and the importance of moving quickly #69, Rahul Vohra, Co-Founder and CEO of Superhuman — How to craft core values, tactics for implementing culture to help you achieve company goals, and the importance of moving quickly Rahul Vohra is the Co-Founder and CEO of Superhuman. He is also a Technical Advisor at Boldstart Ventures, an investor and advisor at Partender, and an investor of sendwithus and Easy Post. He received his bachelor of arts in Computer Science at the University of Cambridge. Rahul shares the lessons he learned from being a serial entrepreneur, how and why he learned to meditate, what he does to build trust with his team, and the pros and cons of being a celebrity founder. 

Rahul shared so many great insights the first time he was on the show I had to have him back!

This time we’re taking a deep dive on instilling powerful values and culture within a rapidly growing company. We talked about: 

✅ How and why to create values in your company at the start: A step by step practical process you can use immediately.

✅ The need to evolve your leadership: As a founder and CEO  you should always be identifying your highest and best use and using that as your guide.

✅ The importance of asking hard questions: It can be awkward, but it’s essential to be rigorous with yourself and your team as your company grows. 

Learn more about Superhuman | Website
https://www.superhuman.com

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]]> Rahul Vohra is the Co-Founder and CEO of Superhuman. He is also a Technical Advisor at Boldstart Ventures, an investor and advisor at Partender, and an investor of sendwithus and Easy Post. He received his bachelor of arts in Computer Science at the University of Cambridge. Rahul shares the lessons he learned from being a serial entrepreneur, how and why he learned to meditate, what he does to build trust with his team, and the pros and cons of being a celebrity founder. 

Rahul shared so many great insights the first time he was on the show I had to have him back!

This time we’re taking a deep dive on instilling powerful values and culture within a rapidly growing company. We talked about: 

✅ How and why to create values in your company at the start: A step by step practical process you can use immediately.

✅ The need to evolve your leadership: As a founder and CEO  you should always be identifying your highest and best use and using that as your guide.

✅ The importance of asking hard questions: It can be awkward, but it’s essential to be rigorous with yourself and your team as your company grows. 

Learn more about Superhuman | Website
https://www.superhuman.com

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Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-15268145 Tue, 18 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400 3101 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, rahul vohra, superhuman full false #68, Gina Bianchini, Co-Founder and CEO of Mighty Networks — The secret to building communities, managing self-worth as a CEO, and why humor is a leadership superpower #68, Gina Bianchini, Co-Founder and CEO of Mighty Networks — The secret to building communities, managing self-worth as a CEO, and why humor is a leadership superpower Gina Bianchini is the CEO & founder of Mighty Networks, a digital business platform that powers what it calls people magic. People magic is advanced technology and AI that connects the most relevant and interesting people to each other in the context of community, courses, events, and paid memberships.She’s also the author of the 2022 Wall Street Journal best selling book, Purpose: Design a Community & Change Your Life. Mighty is trusted by brands from TED to Tony Robbins, Mindbody, LAUNCH by Mel Robbins, Esther Perel, Matthew Hussey, Jim Kwik, BODi, Gym Launch, and Fortune.

Meet the next guest of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, Gina Bianchini!

Gina Bianchini is the visionary Co-Founder and CEO of Mighty Networks, and my latest guest on From Start-up to Grown-up.

Gina’s life has been devoted to building communities, and in this episode she describes the important nuances you can use to build your own communities as well as simply improve your relationships. 

Gina also shares what she’s learned on her journey as an entrepreneur and a leader. 

Learn more about Mighty Networks | Website
https://www.mightynetworks.com/

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]]> Gina Bianchini is the CEO & founder of Mighty Networks, a digital business platform that powers what it calls people magic. People magic is advanced technology and AI that connects the most relevant and interesting people to each other in the context of community, courses, events, and paid memberships.She’s also the author of the 2022 Wall Street Journal best selling book, Purpose: Design a Community & Change Your Life. Mighty is trusted by brands from TED to Tony Robbins, Mindbody, LAUNCH by Mel Robbins, Esther Perel, Matthew Hussey, Jim Kwik, BODi, Gym Launch, and Fortune.

Meet the next guest of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, Gina Bianchini!

Gina Bianchini is the visionary Co-Founder and CEO of Mighty Networks, and my latest guest on From Start-up to Grown-up.

Gina’s life has been devoted to building communities, and in this episode she describes the important nuances you can use to build your own communities as well as simply improve your relationships. 

Gina also shares what she’s learned on her journey as an entrepreneur and a leader. 

Learn more about Mighty Networks | Website
https://www.mightynetworks.com/

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-15189228 Tue, 04 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400 3990 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Gina Bianchini, mighty networks full false #67, Gary Vaynerchuk, Serial Entrepreneur and Chairman of VaynerX — The importance of kind candor, how to get over your insecurity, and why you need to embrace social media #67, Gary Vaynerchuk, Serial Entrepreneur and Chairman of VaynerX — The importance of kind candor, how to get over your insecurity, and why you need to embrace social media Gary Vaynerchuk, also known as "GaryVee," is a serial entrepreneur, the Chairman of VaynerX, and 5x New York Times Best Selling Author. He is a leading global mind on what's next in culture, relevance, and the internet. Gary possesses an uncanny ability to recognize trends and patterns early to help others understand how these shifts impact consumer behavior. He is one of the most forward-thinkers in business. Gary's approach sits at the intersection of business and culture. He keenly understands how to bring brand relevance to the forefront.

“It's not a hokey thing to say you have to enjoy the journey. It's the only sustainable thing.” 

That’s one of the wisdom bombs from my latest guest on From Start-up to Grown-up, the legendary  Gary Vaynerchuk- Chairman of Vayner X and the author of his brand new book, Day Trading Attention.

Here are a few more of the many great takeaways Gary offered during our discussion:

“Chasing the short-term is the number one strategy that makes people fail.”

“Entrepreneurship is a constant game of losing with occasional wins.”

“There’s nothing that happens on earth that doesn’t start with attention.”

Learn more about his new book, Day Trading Attention | Website
garyvaynerchuk.com

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]]> Gary Vaynerchuk, also known as "GaryVee," is a serial entrepreneur, the Chairman of VaynerX, and 5x New York Times Best Selling Author. He is a leading global mind on what's next in culture, relevance, and the internet. Gary possesses an uncanny ability to recognize trends and patterns early to help others understand how these shifts impact consumer behavior. He is one of the most forward-thinkers in business. Gary's approach sits at the intersection of business and culture. He keenly understands how to bring brand relevance to the forefront.

“It's not a hokey thing to say you have to enjoy the journey. It's the only sustainable thing.” 

That’s one of the wisdom bombs from my latest guest on From Start-up to Grown-up, the legendary  Gary Vaynerchuk- Chairman of Vayner X and the author of his brand new book, Day Trading Attention.

Here are a few more of the many great takeaways Gary offered during our discussion:

“Chasing the short-term is the number one strategy that makes people fail.”

“Entrepreneurship is a constant game of losing with occasional wins.”

“There’s nothing that happens on earth that doesn’t start with attention.”

Learn more about his new book, Day Trading Attention | Website
garyvaynerchuk.com

Connect with Alisa!

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Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-15106460 Tue, 21 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400 1776 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, gary vaynerchuk, day trading attention, social media full false #66, Mary-Catherine Lader, COO of Uniswap Labs — How you know you're ready to take on more risk, why you should create anti-values, and the importance of community #66, Mary-Catherine Lader, COO of Uniswap Labs — How you know you're ready to take on more risk, why you should create anti-values, and the importance of community Mary-Catherine Lader is the Chief Operating Officer of Uniswap Labs.  She previously was a Managing Director at BlackRock, and Chief Operating Officer of the firm’s Digital Wealth business and head of its climate tech business, Aladdin Sustainability.  She began her career as an investment analyst with Goldman Sachs’ Special Situations Group and served on the staff of the World Economic Forum’s Davos gatherings for a decade. 

In our talk, you'll hear about:

➡️ Decentralized Leadership: How Uniswap's unique autonomous governance structure influences their products and corporate journey.

➡️ The Uniswap Approach: How they balance the drive for building public infrastructure with the demands of running an equity-focused business, all while maintaining a hands-off approach to the governance community.

➡️ Cultivating Company Culture: Rituals, Transparency, and Empowerment. Learn how Uniswap Labs is fostering a learning-rich environment and driving employee engagement through university sessions and regular updates.

Learn more about Uniswap | Website
https://www.uniswap.org

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]]> Mary-Catherine Lader is the Chief Operating Officer of Uniswap Labs.  She previously was a Managing Director at BlackRock, and Chief Operating Officer of the firm’s Digital Wealth business and head of its climate tech business, Aladdin Sustainability.  She began her career as an investment analyst with Goldman Sachs’ Special Situations Group and served on the staff of the World Economic Forum’s Davos gatherings for a decade. 

In our talk, you'll hear about:

➡️ Decentralized Leadership: How Uniswap's unique autonomous governance structure influences their products and corporate journey.

➡️ The Uniswap Approach: How they balance the drive for building public infrastructure with the demands of running an equity-focused business, all while maintaining a hands-off approach to the governance community.

➡️ Cultivating Company Culture: Rituals, Transparency, and Empowerment. Learn how Uniswap Labs is fostering a learning-rich environment and driving employee engagement through university sessions and regular updates.

Learn more about Uniswap | Website
https://www.uniswap.org

Connect with Alisa!

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Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-15022872 Tue, 07 May 2024 08:00:00 -0400 3914 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, mary catherine lader, uniswap, blockchain, dao, decentralization full false #65, Gregory Galant, Co-Founder and CEO of Muck Rack — Pros and cons of bootstrapping, building a scrappy culture, the importance of building a network #65, Gregory Galant, Co-Founder and CEO of Muck Rack — Pros and cons of bootstrapping, building a scrappy culture, the importance of building a network Gregory Galant is the co-founder and CEO of Muck Rack, a platform enabling PR teams to work together to find the right journalists for their stories, send customized pitches, build meaningful relationships with the media, monitor news and quantify their impact. It’s used by thousands of organizations, including Taco Bell, Pfizer, Golin, International Committee of the Red Cross, Knight Foundation, Kauffman Foundation and Penguin Random House. Muck Rack is also the solution of choice for journalists, who use Muck Rack’s free, automatically updated portfolios to showcase their work and provide information about what stories they’re looking for. Greg is also the co-creator and executive producer of The Shorty Awards, which honor the best of social media.  After being rejected by countless secret societies, Greg secured membership in Twitter and Instagram's exclusive first name club -- follow him at @gregory on both platforms.

In this discussion Greg and I go deep on his experiences. 

Listen to our conversation to learn all about:

➡️ Co-founder dynamics: The power of complementary skills and the dangers of too much similarity.

➡️ Hiring: How to know when it’s time to hire someone and what to look for when you’re running lean. 

➡️ Managing challenges: How to handle the stress that comes with building a startup - or doing anything challenging.

Learn more about Greg's company Muck Rack | Website 
https://www.muckrack.com

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]]> Gregory Galant is the co-founder and CEO of Muck Rack, a platform enabling PR teams to work together to find the right journalists for their stories, send customized pitches, build meaningful relationships with the media, monitor news and quantify their impact. It’s used by thousands of organizations, including Taco Bell, Pfizer, Golin, International Committee of the Red Cross, Knight Foundation, Kauffman Foundation and Penguin Random House. Muck Rack is also the solution of choice for journalists, who use Muck Rack’s free, automatically updated portfolios to showcase their work and provide information about what stories they’re looking for. Greg is also the co-creator and executive producer of The Shorty Awards, which honor the best of social media.  After being rejected by countless secret societies, Greg secured membership in Twitter and Instagram's exclusive first name club -- follow him at @gregory on both platforms.

In this discussion Greg and I go deep on his experiences. 

Listen to our conversation to learn all about:

➡️ Co-founder dynamics: The power of complementary skills and the dangers of too much similarity.

➡️ Hiring: How to know when it’s time to hire someone and what to look for when you’re running lean. 

➡️ Managing challenges: How to handle the stress that comes with building a startup - or doing anything challenging.

Learn more about Greg's company Muck Rack | Website 
https://www.muckrack.com

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-14938972 Tue, 23 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400 4823 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, bootstrapping, greg galant, muck rack full false #64, Kristi Herold, Founder and CEO of JAM — Pivoting during a crisis, leading through playfulness, and creating joy in the workplace #64, Kristi Herold, Founder and CEO of JAM — Pivoting during a crisis, leading through playfulness, and creating joy in the workplace Kristi Herold is the CEO of JAM, a global business connecting people through play, and one of the largest recreational sports leagues in the world. Since 2020, JAM has produced 3,500+ corporate team-building events in over 30 countries. Kristi consults and speaks on how to move a culture from surviving to thriving. Her bestselling book, "It Pays to PLAY," is a rich resource to help organizations playfully connect with their teams and improve retention, engagement, and overall workplace culture.

Here are three takeaways from our talk:

- Pivot with Purpose 

When faced with adversity, like the 18-month revenue hit from the pandemic, Jam Group's shift to virtual events and culture consulting didn't just salvage the business. It highlighted how play can create bridges and bolster morale even in the toughest times.

- Create Joy at Work

Kristi’s entrepreneurial wisdom reminds us that injecting playfulness into the workplace—be it through music sessions, sports teams, or creative meetings—can significantly uplift employee engagement and translate into happier customers and improved profitability.

- Lessons in Leadership 

Embracing vulnerability, from owning up to mistakes to combating imposter syndrome, Kristi's approach underscores the power of radical candor and the significance of building social connections within teams for a stronger and more resilient organization.

Learn more about Kristi | Website
https://www.kristiherold.com

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]]> Kristi Herold is the CEO of JAM, a global business connecting people through play, and one of the largest recreational sports leagues in the world. Since 2020, JAM has produced 3,500+ corporate team-building events in over 30 countries. Kristi consults and speaks on how to move a culture from surviving to thriving. Her bestselling book, "It Pays to PLAY," is a rich resource to help organizations playfully connect with their teams and improve retention, engagement, and overall workplace culture.

Here are three takeaways from our talk:

- Pivot with Purpose 

When faced with adversity, like the 18-month revenue hit from the pandemic, Jam Group's shift to virtual events and culture consulting didn't just salvage the business. It highlighted how play can create bridges and bolster morale even in the toughest times.

- Create Joy at Work

Kristi’s entrepreneurial wisdom reminds us that injecting playfulness into the workplace—be it through music sessions, sports teams, or creative meetings—can significantly uplift employee engagement and translate into happier customers and improved profitability.

- Lessons in Leadership 

Embracing vulnerability, from owning up to mistakes to combating imposter syndrome, Kristi's approach underscores the power of radical candor and the significance of building social connections within teams for a stronger and more resilient organization.

Learn more about Kristi | Website
https://www.kristiherold.com

Connect with Alisa!

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Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-14854768 Tue, 09 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400 3414 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, kristi herold, JAM full false #63, Matt Abrahams, Author and Lecturer at Stanford University — Embracing vulnerability in leadership, the art of feedback, and how to personalize your pitch #63, Matt Abrahams, Author and Lecturer at Stanford University — Embracing vulnerability in leadership, the art of feedback, and how to personalize your pitch If you've ever found yourself stumbling over words in a high-stakes presentation or wondering how to turn a dinner party into a deeper connection, this is the conversation you need to hear. Plus, for all the leaders out there, we have expert insights on managing emotional reactions to feedback and fostering a culture of open dialogue for transformative organizational growth.

Prepare to enrich your entrepreneurial toolkit and communicate with confidence, empathy, and a little bit of small talk finesse. 

Matt Abrahams is a leading expert in communication with decades of experience as an educator, author, podcast host, and coach. As a Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, he teaches popular classes in strategic communication and effective virtual presenting. He received Stanford GSB’s Alumni Teaching Award in recognition of his teaching students around the world.

Outside of the classroom, Matt is a sought-after keynote speaker and communication consultant. He has helped countless presenters improve and hone their communication, including some who have delivered IPO road shows as well as Nobel Prize, TED, and World Economic Forum presentations. He also consults for the United Nations’ Secretary General’s Strategic Planning and Communication Office. His online talks garner millions of views and he hosts the popular, award-winning podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart The Podcast.

His new book Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You’re Put on the Spot provides tangible, actionable skills to help even the most anxious of speakers succeed when speaking spontaneously, such as navigating Q&A sessions, shining in job interviews, providing effective feedback, making small talk, fixing faux pas, persuading others.

Learn more about Matt | Website
http://mattabrahams.com 

Connect with Alisa!

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Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> If you've ever found yourself stumbling over words in a high-stakes presentation or wondering how to turn a dinner party into a deeper connection, this is the conversation you need to hear. Plus, for all the leaders out there, we have expert insights on managing emotional reactions to feedback and fostering a culture of open dialogue for transformative organizational growth.

Prepare to enrich your entrepreneurial toolkit and communicate with confidence, empathy, and a little bit of small talk finesse. 

Matt Abrahams is a leading expert in communication with decades of experience as an educator, author, podcast host, and coach. As a Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, he teaches popular classes in strategic communication and effective virtual presenting. He received Stanford GSB’s Alumni Teaching Award in recognition of his teaching students around the world.

Outside of the classroom, Matt is a sought-after keynote speaker and communication consultant. He has helped countless presenters improve and hone their communication, including some who have delivered IPO road shows as well as Nobel Prize, TED, and World Economic Forum presentations. He also consults for the United Nations’ Secretary General’s Strategic Planning and Communication Office. His online talks garner millions of views and he hosts the popular, award-winning podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart The Podcast.

His new book Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You’re Put on the Spot provides tangible, actionable skills to help even the most anxious of speakers succeed when speaking spontaneously, such as navigating Q&A sessions, shining in job interviews, providing effective feedback, making small talk, fixing faux pas, persuading others.

Learn more about Matt | Website
http://mattabrahams.com 

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-14768375 Tue, 26 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400 3946 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Matt Abrahams, communication full false #62, Sal Di Stefano, Co-Founder of Mind Pump Media — How authenticity drives growth, how you know you have the right cofounders, why being right is not the goal, and how physical strength drives your leadership #62, Sal Di Stefano, Co-Founder of Mind Pump Media — How authenticity drives growth, how you know you have the right cofounders, why being right is not the goal, and how physical strength drives your leadership Get pumped for this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up!

I sat down with Sal Di Stefano, the co-founder of Mind Pump Media. You’ll learn how he and his co-founders propelled a fitness podcast into a multifaceted business empire.

I loved his perspective on embracing  the journey, how authenticity drives growth, and the importance of NOT being right.

This is a health-conscious conversation for your body and your mind, you’re going to gain so much from it!

Sal Di Stefano is a personal trainer and co-founder of Mind Pump Media and co-host of Mind Pump, an online radio show/podcast that is dedicated to providing truthful fitness and health information. He is also the designer of the Muscular Adaptation Programming System (MAPS Fitness Products).
Sal is dedicated to prioritizing health over appearance, and he aims to shift the direction of the fitness industry from aesthetic- and insecurity-based to one based in self-love and self-care.

Learn more about Sal | Website
www.mindpumpmedia.com

Connect with Alisa!

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Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Get pumped for this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up!

I sat down with Sal Di Stefano, the co-founder of Mind Pump Media. You’ll learn how he and his co-founders propelled a fitness podcast into a multifaceted business empire.

I loved his perspective on embracing  the journey, how authenticity drives growth, and the importance of NOT being right.

This is a health-conscious conversation for your body and your mind, you’re going to gain so much from it!

Sal Di Stefano is a personal trainer and co-founder of Mind Pump Media and co-host of Mind Pump, an online radio show/podcast that is dedicated to providing truthful fitness and health information. He is also the designer of the Muscular Adaptation Programming System (MAPS Fitness Products).
Sal is dedicated to prioritizing health over appearance, and he aims to shift the direction of the fitness industry from aesthetic- and insecurity-based to one based in self-love and self-care.

Learn more about Sal | Website
www.mindpumpmedia.com

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-14674062 Tue, 12 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0400 5189 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, sal di stefano, mind pump media, fitness full false #61, Rob Ryan, Co-Founder of Ascend Communications — Embracing a bootstrap mentality, picking the right spouse, and handling the mental and physical toll of entrepreneurship #61, Rob Ryan, Co-Founder of Ascend Communications — Embracing a bootstrap mentality, picking the right spouse, and handling the mental and physical toll of entrepreneurship My guest for the latest episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up is Rob Ryan, Co-Founder of Ascend Communication. Ascend was acquired by Lucent Technologies in 1999 by Lucent Technologies.

Rob is a fount of knowledge about entrepreneurship and courageous leadership. He’s also a great story teller and a hoot! Check out this clip for a sneak peek into our talk where Rob talks about something important for your company’s long term success: profits. 

As an early internet pioneer, Rob Ryan served as principal architect in developing the V.32 Modem. He also developed the ethernet blue book standards for the first ethernet chips used in server farms as well as establishing the first decentralized network while working at DECNET.

Ryan is the founder, past chairman and CEO of Ascend Communications. Ryan earned national attention when he grew his 1989 start-up company, Ascend Communications, to more than $2 billion in sales. Lucent Technologies acquired Ascend in 1999 for approximately $22 billion in what was termed at the time the "largest technology merger ever."

Effectively, Ascend helped create the modern Internet by building all of the infrastructure equipment that powered the Internet worldwide. At the end of 1995, Rob won the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for Northern California (including Silicon Valley). Rob also was selected as the Cornell University Entrepreneur of the Year for 2002. Following Ascend’s success, Rob has helped build several start-up and early-stage ventures into multi-billion dollar companies, including Right Now Technologies and Silicon Spice, among others. His entrepreneurial successes have transformed businesses using his Sunflower Model®.

In 2020 Rob co-founded SunVia, a metaverse infrastructure management company helping to usher in the new age of the internet. Rob also is the co-founder of Sunflower Academy, a non-traditional mentorship platform that utilizes the Sunflower Model® to help startup companies and entrepreneurs realize their full potential.

Follow Rob on LinkedIn | Website

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]]> My guest for the latest episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up is Rob Ryan, Co-Founder of Ascend Communication. Ascend was acquired by Lucent Technologies in 1999 by Lucent Technologies.

Rob is a fount of knowledge about entrepreneurship and courageous leadership. He’s also a great story teller and a hoot! Check out this clip for a sneak peek into our talk where Rob talks about something important for your company’s long term success: profits. 

As an early internet pioneer, Rob Ryan served as principal architect in developing the V.32 Modem. He also developed the ethernet blue book standards for the first ethernet chips used in server farms as well as establishing the first decentralized network while working at DECNET.

Ryan is the founder, past chairman and CEO of Ascend Communications. Ryan earned national attention when he grew his 1989 start-up company, Ascend Communications, to more than $2 billion in sales. Lucent Technologies acquired Ascend in 1999 for approximately $22 billion in what was termed at the time the "largest technology merger ever."

Effectively, Ascend helped create the modern Internet by building all of the infrastructure equipment that powered the Internet worldwide. At the end of 1995, Rob won the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for Northern California (including Silicon Valley). Rob also was selected as the Cornell University Entrepreneur of the Year for 2002. Following Ascend’s success, Rob has helped build several start-up and early-stage ventures into multi-billion dollar companies, including Right Now Technologies and Silicon Spice, among others. His entrepreneurial successes have transformed businesses using his Sunflower Model®.

In 2020 Rob co-founded SunVia, a metaverse infrastructure management company helping to usher in the new age of the internet. Rob also is the co-founder of Sunflower Academy, a non-traditional mentorship platform that utilizes the Sunflower Model® to help startup companies and entrepreneurs realize their full potential.

Follow Rob on LinkedIn | Website

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Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-14566695 Sat, 24 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0500 4295 full false #60, David Meltzer, Co-Founder of Sports 1 Marketing, and Peter Goldstein, Entrepreneur and author of The Entrepreneur's IPO — The surprising way money impacts your life, the three forms of ignorant arrogance, and how to prepare to take your company publi #60, David Meltzer, Co-Founder of Sports 1 Marketing, and Peter Goldstein, Entrepreneur and author of The Entrepreneur's IPO — The surprising way money impacts your life, the three forms of ignorant arrogance, and how to prepare to take your company publi This new episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up features a dynamic tag team of David Meltzer, the Co-Founder of Sports 1 Marketing, and Peter Goldstein, entrepreneur and the author of “The Entrepreneur’s IPO”!

You’ll hear about David’s complete rebirth in his life and career journey as he shares the surprising ways that money impacts your life, and Peter shares solid gold advice about how you can prepare to take your company public.

David Meltzer is the Co-Founder of Sports 1 Marketing, and a legendary sports executive. He formerly served as CEO of the renowned Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment agency, which was the inspiration for the movie Jerry Maguire. He is one of the world's top Entrepreneurs, Investors and Business coaches. David has been recognized by Variety Magazine as their Sports Humanitarian of the Year and awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Learn more about David | Website
https://dmeltzer.com/

Peter Goldstein is a seasoned entrepreneur and capital market expert with over 30 years of experience. His diverse background in international business has equipped
him with valuable insights across various markets and industries.
Peter began his entrepreneurial journey as the Founder and CEO of a specialty food distributor, pioneering the farm-to-table organic produce industry in renowned New
York City restaurants. He is also the author of The Entrepreneur's IPO: The Insider's Roadmap to Taking Your Company Public.

Learn more about Peter | Website
https://pgoldstein.co/

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]]> This new episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up features a dynamic tag team of David Meltzer, the Co-Founder of Sports 1 Marketing, and Peter Goldstein, entrepreneur and the author of “The Entrepreneur’s IPO”!

You’ll hear about David’s complete rebirth in his life and career journey as he shares the surprising ways that money impacts your life, and Peter shares solid gold advice about how you can prepare to take your company public.

David Meltzer is the Co-Founder of Sports 1 Marketing, and a legendary sports executive. He formerly served as CEO of the renowned Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment agency, which was the inspiration for the movie Jerry Maguire. He is one of the world's top Entrepreneurs, Investors and Business coaches. David has been recognized by Variety Magazine as their Sports Humanitarian of the Year and awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Learn more about David | Website
https://dmeltzer.com/

Peter Goldstein is a seasoned entrepreneur and capital market expert with over 30 years of experience. His diverse background in international business has equipped
him with valuable insights across various markets and industries.
Peter began his entrepreneurial journey as the Founder and CEO of a specialty food distributor, pioneering the farm-to-table organic produce industry in renowned New
York City restaurants. He is also the author of The Entrepreneur's IPO: The Insider's Roadmap to Taking Your Company Public.

Learn more about Peter | Website
https://pgoldstein.co/

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-14492933 Tue, 13 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0500 1978 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, David Meltzer, Peter Goldstein, entrepreneurship, ignorance full false #59, Jim McKelvey, Co-Founder of Block (formerly Square)— Building a team of missionaries, what true innovation takes, and the importance of timing #59, Jim McKelvey, Co-Founder of Block (formerly Square)— Building a team of missionaries, what true innovation takes, and the importance of timing How do you find your new idea?

What does it take to attract a team of true believers?

And what does glass-blowing have to do with entrepreneurship? Hint: the key is timing.

All of these questions are answered in my newest episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up with Jim McKelvey, the Co-Founder of Block (previously known as Square)!

Jim McKelvey is best known for co-founding Square, now called Block.  He also founded LaunchCode.org, which has provided free training and jobs for thousands of aspiring programmers.  He is the former Chair of the St. Louis Federal Reserve and a trustee of Washington University. Jim is also an artist/designer. Art of Fire is the world’s top textbook on glassblowing and his industrial designs are in both the Smithsonian and Museum of Modern Art. He co-founded Third Degree Glass Factory, one of the top centers for glass artwork.   He is currently working on a plastic-free diaper. Jim’s book, The Innovation Stack, explains how industry-creating innovations actually happen.

Learn more about Block | Website
https://block.xyz/

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Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> How do you find your new idea?

What does it take to attract a team of true believers?

And what does glass-blowing have to do with entrepreneurship? Hint: the key is timing.

All of these questions are answered in my newest episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up with Jim McKelvey, the Co-Founder of Block (previously known as Square)!

Jim McKelvey is best known for co-founding Square, now called Block.  He also founded LaunchCode.org, which has provided free training and jobs for thousands of aspiring programmers.  He is the former Chair of the St. Louis Federal Reserve and a trustee of Washington University. Jim is also an artist/designer. Art of Fire is the world’s top textbook on glassblowing and his industrial designs are in both the Smithsonian and Museum of Modern Art. He co-founded Third Degree Glass Factory, one of the top centers for glass artwork.   He is currently working on a plastic-free diaper. Jim’s book, The Innovation Stack, explains how industry-creating innovations actually happen.

Learn more about Block | Website
https://block.xyz/

Connect with Alisa!

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Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-14406233 Tue, 30 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0500 4131 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Jim Mckelvey, Block, square, glassblowing full false #58, Josh Reeves, CEO and Co-Founder of Gusto — Upholding the platinum rule, taking control of your attention, and a framework for hiring people who are in love with your problem #58, Josh Reeves, CEO and Co-Founder of Gusto — Upholding the platinum rule, taking control of your attention, and a framework for hiring people who are in love with your problem If you’re looking for inspiration to upgrade your leadership for 2024, you’ll want to listen to my conversation with Josh Reeves, CEO and Co-Founder of Gusto on the newest episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up.

These are just three topics from our talk that are fantastic guides to follow into the new year:


➡️ The key to hire the right people for your company 


➡️ The one rule that will help you manage everyone. 


➡️ The most important meeting to add to your calendar (hint: it’s with yourself.) 


Josh Reeves is the CEO and co-founder of Gusto, a startup on a mission to create a world where work empowers a better life. By making the most complicated business tasks simple and personal, Gusto is reimagining payroll, benefits and HR for modern companies. Gusto has offices in San Francisco and Denver, and its investors include Google Capital, General Catalyst, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and the founders of Instagram, Stripe, Nest, PayPal, Yelp, Box and Eventbrite, among others.

Learn more about Gusto | Website
https://www.gusto.com

Connect with Alisa!

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Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> If you’re looking for inspiration to upgrade your leadership for 2024, you’ll want to listen to my conversation with Josh Reeves, CEO and Co-Founder of Gusto on the newest episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up.

These are just three topics from our talk that are fantastic guides to follow into the new year:


➡️ The key to hire the right people for your company 


➡️ The one rule that will help you manage everyone. 


➡️ The most important meeting to add to your calendar (hint: it’s with yourself.) 


Josh Reeves is the CEO and co-founder of Gusto, a startup on a mission to create a world where work empowers a better life. By making the most complicated business tasks simple and personal, Gusto is reimagining payroll, benefits and HR for modern companies. Gusto has offices in San Francisco and Denver, and its investors include Google Capital, General Catalyst, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and the founders of Instagram, Stripe, Nest, PayPal, Yelp, Box and Eventbrite, among others.

Learn more about Gusto | Website
https://www.gusto.com

Connect with Alisa!

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Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-14233388 Tue, 02 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0500 4277 Josh Reeves, leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Gusto full false #57, Jon Beckstrand, CEO of MasterControl — Developing a leadership code, how to look forward to hard conversations, and ways to repurpose stress #57, Jon Beckstrand, CEO of MasterControl — Developing a leadership code, how to look forward to hard conversations, and ways to repurpose stress Does your company have an employee bill of rights?

Jon Beckstrand put one together for his team as CEO of MasterControl.

That’s just one of the strategies that Jon has used at MasterControl to grow the company and successfully execute a pivot. We talked about his leadership philosophy, his tools for learning, and how he’s come to embrace having difficult conversations. 

Listen to the rest of it for helpful strategies you can use right now to become a better leader. 

Jon Beckstrand is responsible for the overall direction and vision of MasterControl. Since his leadership began in 2002, MasterControl has enjoyed robust growth, introduced an array of new solutions, continued the company's push for innovation, and advanced its position as a leading provider of quality management software and services for regulated companies.

Over the course of his 20 years in the software industry, Beckstrand has served on the executive team of a midmarket financial services-focused software provider and advised software and IT companies on company strategy and mergers and acquisitions as part of a team at KPMG in Chicago and Silicon Valley.

Learn more about MasterControl | Website
https://www.mastercontrol.com

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]]> Does your company have an employee bill of rights?

Jon Beckstrand put one together for his team as CEO of MasterControl.

That’s just one of the strategies that Jon has used at MasterControl to grow the company and successfully execute a pivot. We talked about his leadership philosophy, his tools for learning, and how he’s come to embrace having difficult conversations. 

Listen to the rest of it for helpful strategies you can use right now to become a better leader. 

Jon Beckstrand is responsible for the overall direction and vision of MasterControl. Since his leadership began in 2002, MasterControl has enjoyed robust growth, introduced an array of new solutions, continued the company's push for innovation, and advanced its position as a leading provider of quality management software and services for regulated companies.

Over the course of his 20 years in the software industry, Beckstrand has served on the executive team of a midmarket financial services-focused software provider and advised software and IT companies on company strategy and mergers and acquisitions as part of a team at KPMG in Chicago and Silicon Valley.

Learn more about MasterControl | Website
https://www.mastercontrol.com

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-14172084 Tue, 19 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0500 4527 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Jon Beckstrand, MasterControl full false #56, Bob Muglia, Former CEO of Snowflake — Having a values-based vs. performance-based company, rooting out dysfunction, and getting fired by Steve Balmer twice #56, Bob Muglia, Former CEO of Snowflake — Having a values-based vs. performance-based company, rooting out dysfunction, and getting fired by Steve Balmer twice What is the real impact of one bad apple on your team?

What’s it like to work directly with Bill Gates? What’s your playbook for coming in as CEO of a promising company - like Snowflake - and taking them from 0 revenue to $100M in 5 years? 

On this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, Bob Muglia, the former CEO of Snowflake and author of The Datapreneurs: The Promise of AI and the Creators Building Our Future, answers all of these and more. 

You’ll learn about his time at Microsoft, including getting fired by Steve Ballmer not just once, but twice, the good and bad lessons he learned from Microsoft in how to lead people. You’ll hear his exact playbook when he came into Snowflake, a company with 0 revenue. And you’ll learn key leadership lessons like how he builds a values-based company and how he holds people accountable without making them feel bad.

Bob Muglia is a data technology investor and business executive, former CEO of Snowflake and past President of Microsoft's Server and Tools Division. As a leader, Bob focuses on how innovation and ethical values can merge to shape the Data Economy's future in the era of AI. He serves as a board director for emerging companies that seek to maximize the power of data to help solve some of the world's most challenging problems.

Learn more about his book, The Datapreneurs | Website
thedatapreneurs.com

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]]> What is the real impact of one bad apple on your team?

What’s it like to work directly with Bill Gates? What’s your playbook for coming in as CEO of a promising company - like Snowflake - and taking them from 0 revenue to $100M in 5 years? 

On this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, Bob Muglia, the former CEO of Snowflake and author of The Datapreneurs: The Promise of AI and the Creators Building Our Future, answers all of these and more. 

You’ll learn about his time at Microsoft, including getting fired by Steve Ballmer not just once, but twice, the good and bad lessons he learned from Microsoft in how to lead people. You’ll hear his exact playbook when he came into Snowflake, a company with 0 revenue. And you’ll learn key leadership lessons like how he builds a values-based company and how he holds people accountable without making them feel bad.

Bob Muglia is a data technology investor and business executive, former CEO of Snowflake and past President of Microsoft's Server and Tools Division. As a leader, Bob focuses on how innovation and ethical values can merge to shape the Data Economy's future in the era of AI. He serves as a board director for emerging companies that seek to maximize the power of data to help solve some of the world's most challenging problems.

Learn more about his book, The Datapreneurs | Website
thedatapreneurs.com

Connect with Alisa!

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-14093150 Tue, 05 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0500 4115 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, bob muglia, datapreneurs, steve ballmer, microsoft full false #55, Jerry Colonna, Author and Executive Coach — the distinction between vulnerability and honesty, the power of radical self-inquiry, and why you need to heal core wounds to be a great leader #55, Jerry Colonna, Author and Executive Coach — the distinction between vulnerability and honesty, the power of radical self-inquiry, and why you need to heal core wounds to be a great leader Not all feedback is created equal. 

Giving positive feedback offers far more benefits than simply showing gratitude for someone’s work. 

It also helps as a vital step to personal self-discovery and self-inquiry. This is a central theme of Jerry Colonna’s brand new book, Reunion: Leadership and the Longing to Belong.

Jerry joins me on the newest episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up to discuss the process of radical self-inquiry, why it’s essential for you to do if you want to grow, and the difference between honesty and vulnerability.

Jerry helps people lead with humanity and equanimity. His unique blend of Buddhism, Jungian therapy, and entrepreneurial know-how has made him a sought-after coach and leader, working with some of the largest firms in the country.

In his work as a coach, he draws on his experience in Venture Capital (VC) as Co-founder of Flatiron Partners, one of the most successful, early-stage investment programs. Later, he was a partner with J.P. Morgan Partners (JPMP), the private equity arm of J.P. Morgan Chase.

As a partner with J.P. Morgan Chase, Jerry launched the Financial Recovery Fund with The Partnership for the City of New York, a $10 million-plus program aimed at creating grants for small businesses impacted by the attacks on the World Trade Center.

Along with a strong commitment to the nonprofit sector, Jerry is the author of two books: REBOOT: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up and REUNION: Leadership and the Longing to Belong.

Reboot was met with critical acclaim, stirring up a big question in the hearts and minds of people: “How have I been complicit in creating the conditions I say I don’t want?” Jerry’s second book, Reunion, builds on this question, asking us what benefit we get from the conditions we say we don’t want.

Learn more about Jerry at reboot.io | Website

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]]> Not all feedback is created equal. 

Giving positive feedback offers far more benefits than simply showing gratitude for someone’s work. 

It also helps as a vital step to personal self-discovery and self-inquiry. This is a central theme of Jerry Colonna’s brand new book, Reunion: Leadership and the Longing to Belong.

Jerry joins me on the newest episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up to discuss the process of radical self-inquiry, why it’s essential for you to do if you want to grow, and the difference between honesty and vulnerability.

Jerry helps people lead with humanity and equanimity. His unique blend of Buddhism, Jungian therapy, and entrepreneurial know-how has made him a sought-after coach and leader, working with some of the largest firms in the country.

In his work as a coach, he draws on his experience in Venture Capital (VC) as Co-founder of Flatiron Partners, one of the most successful, early-stage investment programs. Later, he was a partner with J.P. Morgan Partners (JPMP), the private equity arm of J.P. Morgan Chase.

As a partner with J.P. Morgan Chase, Jerry launched the Financial Recovery Fund with The Partnership for the City of New York, a $10 million-plus program aimed at creating grants for small businesses impacted by the attacks on the World Trade Center.

Along with a strong commitment to the nonprofit sector, Jerry is the author of two books: REBOOT: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up and REUNION: Leadership and the Longing to Belong.

Reboot was met with critical acclaim, stirring up a big question in the hearts and minds of people: “How have I been complicit in creating the conditions I say I don’t want?” Jerry’s second book, Reunion, builds on this question, asking us what benefit we get from the conditions we say we don’t want.

Learn more about Jerry at reboot.io | Website

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-14011570 Tue, 21 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0500 4035 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, jerry colonna, reunion full false #54, Jim Kwik, Brain Coach and Author — How to find your dominant question, what we can learn from trauma, and the framework to move your vision forward #54, Jim Kwik, Brain Coach and Author — How to find your dominant question, what we can learn from trauma, and the framework to move your vision forward We often ask each other “What’s your why?”

Go a step deeper and ask: “What’s your dominant question?”

Jim Kwik is a brain coach and the author of the #1 WSJ bestseller, “Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life.” One of the many fascinating things we discuss is the idea of the dominant question - why it’s so important and useful if you want to do big things in this world.

Listen to this brand new episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up to hear all about the most important question to ask yourself, a process to make sure you move your vision forward, the simple methodology you can use to move your vision forward.

Jim Kwik is an internationally acclaimed authority in the realm of brain optimization, memory improvement and accelerated learning. With over 30 years of experience, Jim has dedicated his life to helping people tap into their brain’s full potential. From overcoming learning challenges after a childhood brain injury, Jim embarked on a journey with the mission to leave no brain behind. Through his teachings, Jim inspires others to unlock their inner genius, empowering them to live a life of greater power, productivity, and purpose.

This November, Jim is unveiling an expanded edition of his New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, "Limitless - Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, Unlock Your Exceptional Life."  Since its debut in 2020, "Limitless" has emerged as a touchstone in the field, garnering praise from global thought leaders and luminaries. The book has equipped countless readers with tools for unparalleled productivity, personal transformation, and professional triumph – including the future of work, brain nutrition, brain types, and how AI will impact our daily lives. This new edition is tailored for those keen on staying ahead in our fast-changing world.

Recognized globally for his expertise in brain empowerment and renowned as the world's #1 brain coach, Jim’s influence is vast. Through Kwik Learning, present in 195 countries, he's revolutionizing global learning methods.  From students and tech mavens to CEOs, from Hollywood celebrities to professional athletes, Jim's teachings resonate with a diverse audience. Industry giants like Google, Virgin, Nike, SpaceX and 20th Century Fox, along with institutions like Harvard and the United Nations, have embraced his methodologies. His collaborations with entities such as the U.S. Air Force and the Cleveland Clinic further highlight the extensive scope of his influence.

Jim is also behind the phenomenal success of the podcast "Kwik Brain with Jim Kwik." His podcast boasts millions of listeners and more than 60 million downloads, and is a testament to his ability to connect and inspire.  

Learn more about Jim here — Website
https://www.jimkwik.com 

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]]> We often ask each other “What’s your why?”

Go a step deeper and ask: “What’s your dominant question?”

Jim Kwik is a brain coach and the author of the #1 WSJ bestseller, “Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life.” One of the many fascinating things we discuss is the idea of the dominant question - why it’s so important and useful if you want to do big things in this world.

Listen to this brand new episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up to hear all about the most important question to ask yourself, a process to make sure you move your vision forward, the simple methodology you can use to move your vision forward.

Jim Kwik is an internationally acclaimed authority in the realm of brain optimization, memory improvement and accelerated learning. With over 30 years of experience, Jim has dedicated his life to helping people tap into their brain’s full potential. From overcoming learning challenges after a childhood brain injury, Jim embarked on a journey with the mission to leave no brain behind. Through his teachings, Jim inspires others to unlock their inner genius, empowering them to live a life of greater power, productivity, and purpose.

This November, Jim is unveiling an expanded edition of his New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, "Limitless - Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, Unlock Your Exceptional Life."  Since its debut in 2020, "Limitless" has emerged as a touchstone in the field, garnering praise from global thought leaders and luminaries. The book has equipped countless readers with tools for unparalleled productivity, personal transformation, and professional triumph – including the future of work, brain nutrition, brain types, and how AI will impact our daily lives. This new edition is tailored for those keen on staying ahead in our fast-changing world.

Recognized globally for his expertise in brain empowerment and renowned as the world's #1 brain coach, Jim’s influence is vast. Through Kwik Learning, present in 195 countries, he's revolutionizing global learning methods.  From students and tech mavens to CEOs, from Hollywood celebrities to professional athletes, Jim's teachings resonate with a diverse audience. Industry giants like Google, Virgin, Nike, SpaceX and 20th Century Fox, along with institutions like Harvard and the United Nations, have embraced his methodologies. His collaborations with entities such as the U.S. Air Force and the Cleveland Clinic further highlight the extensive scope of his influence.

Jim is also behind the phenomenal success of the podcast "Kwik Brain with Jim Kwik." His podcast boasts millions of listeners and more than 60 million downloads, and is a testament to his ability to connect and inspire.  

Learn more about Jim here — Website
https://www.jimkwik.com 

Connect with Alisa!

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-13926788 Tue, 07 Nov 2023 12:00:00 -0500 3132 full false #53, Gareb Shamus, Founder of ACE Comic Con— Going from passion to product, how to keep yourself in the game, and why inclusion fosters new businesses #53, Gareb Shamus, Founder of ACE Comic Con— Going from passion to product, how to keep yourself in the game, and why inclusion fosters new businesses Gareb Shamus is a visionary in the Superhero and character-based franchise worlds. Throughout the last 30 years, he’s made a tremendous impact on geek and nerd culture and formed relationships with an unrivaled collection of artists, writers, toy developers, game designers, and celebrities. Gareb founded Comic Con as we know it today, producing 180 events with millions of tickets sold, reaching billions of people worldwide. He is also the founder of Wizard, ToyFare, and Anime Insider magazines with over 100 million issues sold in 75 countries His most recent endeavor, ACE Universe, achieved instant success having produced seven events over two years with the most popular Superhero celebrities that were live-streamed to massive global audiences. 

Comic Con, the largest comic, sci-fi, and fantasy event in the world, almost never happened. That’s because as a young founder, Gareb Shamus, the founder of ACE Comic Con, was on the brink of shutting down his upstart comic magazine, Wizard. Gareb turned to his father and got some surprising, life-changing advice. 

This episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up is a highlight reel of Gareb Shamus, a superhero visionary, who championed inclusion in his business by focusing on a niche market. You will learn about perseverance, how to take the fuel of your passions and harness it into a product, and how inclusion drives profits. 

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]]> Gareb Shamus is a visionary in the Superhero and character-based franchise worlds. Throughout the last 30 years, he’s made a tremendous impact on geek and nerd culture and formed relationships with an unrivaled collection of artists, writers, toy developers, game designers, and celebrities. Gareb founded Comic Con as we know it today, producing 180 events with millions of tickets sold, reaching billions of people worldwide. He is also the founder of Wizard, ToyFare, and Anime Insider magazines with over 100 million issues sold in 75 countries His most recent endeavor, ACE Universe, achieved instant success having produced seven events over two years with the most popular Superhero celebrities that were live-streamed to massive global audiences. 

Comic Con, the largest comic, sci-fi, and fantasy event in the world, almost never happened. That’s because as a young founder, Gareb Shamus, the founder of ACE Comic Con, was on the brink of shutting down his upstart comic magazine, Wizard. Gareb turned to his father and got some surprising, life-changing advice. 

This episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up is a highlight reel of Gareb Shamus, a superhero visionary, who championed inclusion in his business by focusing on a niche market. You will learn about perseverance, how to take the fuel of your passions and harness it into a product, and how inclusion drives profits. 

Connect with Alisa!

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Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-13836834 Tue, 24 Oct 2023 11:00:00 -0400 4716 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, gareb shamus, comic con full false #52, Joe Landolina, Co-Founder and CEO of Cresilon— Starting a company in his dorm room, finding the right investors; and the importance of transparent communication #52, Joe Landolina, Co-Founder and CEO of Cresilon— Starting a company in his dorm room, finding the right investors; and the importance of transparent communication At 17 years old, inventor and entrepreneur Joe Landolina invented a medical breakthrough that is transforming at-home and in-patient wound care. Landolina conceived an adhesive hemostatic gel composed of plant-based polymers that could adhere to a wound site and simultaneously support the natural clotting process. 

To refine and manufacture the gel technology he invented, Landolina with his partner Isaac Miller founded Cresilon (formerly Suneris), which has since grown into a medical device company headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. As Chief Executive Officer, Landolina is now gearing up to take the company's proprietary product VETIGEL to the veterinary market-offering a faster, more reliable solution in hemostasis for veterinarians performing both routine treatments and complex operations in clinics every day. As the face of Cresilon, Landolina meets with investors, clinicians, and industry key opinion leaders, alike, to keep a pulse on the market, meanwhile leading all strategic initiatives internally.

Landolina's research background is in biocompatible polymers; in 2013, he was selected as a Barry M. Goldwater Scholar in recognition of his outstanding potential in scientific research. In 2014, Landolina was named a TED Global Fellow and has since traveled around the world representing Cresilon. Landolina is also a former Innovation Consultant at his alma mater, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, and on the board of eLab NYC, which supports the development of NYC as the new world leader in life sciences entrepreneurship.

Joe Landolina is a force of nature! He was doing chemistry experiments as a teenager, and ended up starting his company, Cresilon, at 17-years old.  

We talked about his back story and how he learned management and leadership skills, as well as plenty of ups and downs along the way. We also talk about where he got his first clean room (hint: you can buy one too) and what happened when he tried an experiment on his cousin.

Learn more about Cresilon | Website

https://www.cresilon.com/


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]]> At 17 years old, inventor and entrepreneur Joe Landolina invented a medical breakthrough that is transforming at-home and in-patient wound care. Landolina conceived an adhesive hemostatic gel composed of plant-based polymers that could adhere to a wound site and simultaneously support the natural clotting process. 

To refine and manufacture the gel technology he invented, Landolina with his partner Isaac Miller founded Cresilon (formerly Suneris), which has since grown into a medical device company headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. As Chief Executive Officer, Landolina is now gearing up to take the company's proprietary product VETIGEL to the veterinary market-offering a faster, more reliable solution in hemostasis for veterinarians performing both routine treatments and complex operations in clinics every day. As the face of Cresilon, Landolina meets with investors, clinicians, and industry key opinion leaders, alike, to keep a pulse on the market, meanwhile leading all strategic initiatives internally.

Landolina's research background is in biocompatible polymers; in 2013, he was selected as a Barry M. Goldwater Scholar in recognition of his outstanding potential in scientific research. In 2014, Landolina was named a TED Global Fellow and has since traveled around the world representing Cresilon. Landolina is also a former Innovation Consultant at his alma mater, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, and on the board of eLab NYC, which supports the development of NYC as the new world leader in life sciences entrepreneurship.

Joe Landolina is a force of nature! He was doing chemistry experiments as a teenager, and ended up starting his company, Cresilon, at 17-years old.  

We talked about his back story and how he learned management and leadership skills, as well as plenty of ups and downs along the way. We also talk about where he got his first clean room (hint: you can buy one too) and what happened when he tried an experiment on his cousin.

Learn more about Cresilon | Website

https://www.cresilon.com/


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Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-13750855 Tue, 10 Oct 2023 11:00:00 -0400 4396 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Joe Landolina, Cresilon full false #51, Joel Jackson, Co-Founder and President of Lifeforce — Working with celebrity founders, taking in feedback without getting defensive, and frameworks for learning from experience #51, Joel Jackson, Co-Founder and President of Lifeforce — Working with celebrity founders, taking in feedback without getting defensive, and frameworks for learning from experience Joel Jackson is co-founder and President of Lifeforce, the first clinically integrated health optimization platform. He is a Canadian entrepreneur and executive who has led technology organizations across healthcare, consumer goods, and wellness. Most recently, Joel was CTO of Upgrade Labs, a personal optimization and recovery company based in Santa Monica, California. Prior to Upgrade Labs, Joel led the engineering team for The Honest Company, a direct-to-consumer company focused on improving the health and sustainability of baby products.

How do you manage working with someone who has a larger-than-life personality?

Joel Jackson, Co-Founder and President of Lifeforce, has worked with figures like Jessica Alba, Dave Asprey, the biohacker and founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and his new venture Lifeforce was co-founded with self-help guru, Tony Robbins.

Joel shared so many valuable insights in this conversation, including what it was like to have to shut down his first startup, how he’s able to handle big personalities, and his process to deliver blame-free debriefs on projects. We also talk about how he’s learned to take in feedback without getting defensive - a valuable skill for all of us.

Learn more about Lifeforce | Website

https://www.mylifeforce.com/

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]]> Joel Jackson is co-founder and President of Lifeforce, the first clinically integrated health optimization platform. He is a Canadian entrepreneur and executive who has led technology organizations across healthcare, consumer goods, and wellness. Most recently, Joel was CTO of Upgrade Labs, a personal optimization and recovery company based in Santa Monica, California. Prior to Upgrade Labs, Joel led the engineering team for The Honest Company, a direct-to-consumer company focused on improving the health and sustainability of baby products.

How do you manage working with someone who has a larger-than-life personality?

Joel Jackson, Co-Founder and President of Lifeforce, has worked with figures like Jessica Alba, Dave Asprey, the biohacker and founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and his new venture Lifeforce was co-founded with self-help guru, Tony Robbins.

Joel shared so many valuable insights in this conversation, including what it was like to have to shut down his first startup, how he’s able to handle big personalities, and his process to deliver blame-free debriefs on projects. We also talk about how he’s learned to take in feedback without getting defensive - a valuable skill for all of us.

Learn more about Lifeforce | Website

https://www.mylifeforce.com/

Connect with Alisa!

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Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-13657144 Mon, 25 Sep 2023 13:00:00 -0400 4451 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Joel Jackson, lifeforce full false #50, Jerry Neumann and Elizabeth Zalman, Authors of Founder Vs. Investor — Learn to love fundraising, handle board dynamics, and how to speak VC #50, Jerry Neumann and Elizabeth Zalman, Authors of Founder Vs. Investor — Learn to love fundraising, handle board dynamics, and how to speak VC Liz is an infrastructure and information security expert. She is a two-time founder / CEO of venture-backed companies, building the first to a successful exit and the second to a multi-hundred-million-dollar business. Elizabeth has raised more than $100 million in venture capital from the most renowned investors in the world, and is a frequent speaker and guest at industry events and tech podcasts.

Jerry Neumann has been an investor and early-stage advisor to groundbreaking technology companies for more than 25 years. He has been called one of New York’s “50 Most Important VCs” by Business Insider. Jerry also teaches innovation and entrepreneurship at Columbia University.

This episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up has lots to celebrate, as my guests Jerry Neumann and Elizabeth Zalman launch their brand new book, Founder Vs. Investor, and this is also the 50th episode of the show!!

I couldn’t have asked for better guests for this milestone, who shared a wealth of knowledge for startups and founders about how to actually love fundraising, what you can do to better manage the dynamics of a mercurial board room, and get a walkthrough from Jerry about how to speak VC!

Find out more about Jerry and Elizabeth | Website

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]]> Liz is an infrastructure and information security expert. She is a two-time founder / CEO of venture-backed companies, building the first to a successful exit and the second to a multi-hundred-million-dollar business. Elizabeth has raised more than $100 million in venture capital from the most renowned investors in the world, and is a frequent speaker and guest at industry events and tech podcasts.

Jerry Neumann has been an investor and early-stage advisor to groundbreaking technology companies for more than 25 years. He has been called one of New York’s “50 Most Important VCs” by Business Insider. Jerry also teaches innovation and entrepreneurship at Columbia University.

This episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up has lots to celebrate, as my guests Jerry Neumann and Elizabeth Zalman launch their brand new book, Founder Vs. Investor, and this is also the 50th episode of the show!!

I couldn’t have asked for better guests for this milestone, who shared a wealth of knowledge for startups and founders about how to actually love fundraising, what you can do to better manage the dynamics of a mercurial board room, and get a walkthrough from Jerry about how to speak VC!

Find out more about Jerry and Elizabeth | Website

Connect with Alisa!

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Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-13570057 Mon, 11 Sep 2023 11:00:00 -0400 4507 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Jerry Neumann, Elizabeth Zalman, investors, founders full false #49, Joe Thomas, Co-Founder and CEO of Loom — Why it’s essential to track your time; how to get better at fundraising; getting your head right to make good decisions; and how to decide to keep building your company, even if it means sleeping on a mattress #49, Joe Thomas, Co-Founder and CEO of Loom — Why it’s essential to track your time; how to get better at fundraising; getting your head right to make good decisions; and how to decide to keep building your company, even if it means sleeping on a mattress Joe Thomas is the CEO and co-founder of Loom, the video communication platform for async work. Joe leads Loom in its mission to empower effective communication, wherever work happens. Prior to Loom, Joe served as Director of Product at MyLife.com and Director of Operations at MediaPass. He also co-founded Redesign Agency while in college at Indiana University.

While leading Loom, Thomas has been recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30, Forbes Cloud 100, and America's Best Startup Employers.

When Joe Thomas started working on Loom, he and the team pivoted 3 times in 9 months. But they finally got the idea right, and now “Loom” is a noun, meaning “send me a video.” 

In this great discussion, Joe and I go deep in what it’s like to tinker with a concept over and over until you finally get it right. We discuss what he learned in his many “at bats” at fundraising, how and why he tracks his time, and the value that his meditation practice has brought to him as a CEO and as a human.

This new episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up has so many pearls of wisdom from Joe - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!


Find out more about Joe and Loom | Website

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]]> Joe Thomas is the CEO and co-founder of Loom, the video communication platform for async work. Joe leads Loom in its mission to empower effective communication, wherever work happens. Prior to Loom, Joe served as Director of Product at MyLife.com and Director of Operations at MediaPass. He also co-founded Redesign Agency while in college at Indiana University.

While leading Loom, Thomas has been recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30, Forbes Cloud 100, and America's Best Startup Employers.

When Joe Thomas started working on Loom, he and the team pivoted 3 times in 9 months. But they finally got the idea right, and now “Loom” is a noun, meaning “send me a video.” 

In this great discussion, Joe and I go deep in what it’s like to tinker with a concept over and over until you finally get it right. We discuss what he learned in his many “at bats” at fundraising, how and why he tracks his time, and the value that his meditation practice has brought to him as a CEO and as a human.

This new episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up has so many pearls of wisdom from Joe - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!


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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-13484261 Mon, 28 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0400 4388 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, joe thomas, loom full false #48, Vishal Sunak, Founder and CEO of LinkSquares — Decision-making frameworks, the most potent management technique, how to build a fierce network from scratch #48, Vishal Sunak, Founder and CEO of LinkSquares — Decision-making frameworks, the most potent management technique, how to build a fierce network from scratch Vishal Sunak is the founder and CEO of LinkSquares, the trusted legal technology partner for over 1,000 in-house teams, including Wayfair, ProPharma, TIME, The Boston Celtics, and Commvault. LinkSquares’ market-leading, AI-powered contract lifecycle management and legal task management solutions surface business intelligence with speed, accuracy, and scale. Vishal is widely recognized as a thought leader in the legal technology space, where he has worked tirelessly to improve outcomes for legal teams, while elevating their visibility within the enterprise.

In 2021, Vishal was named an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year, one of the most competitive business awards for ambitious leaders who are building and sustaining successful, dynamic companies. Vishal was honored as one of Boston Business Journal’s 2022 40 Under 40, celebrating the Boston area’s young professionals who are achieving the most in their careers and giving back to the community. LinkSquares’ rapid growth ranks No. 10 in Massachusetts and No. 379 overall on the 2022 Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing companies, landing a top spot for the second year in a row. The company also ranked No. 100 on the 2022 Deloitte Technology Fast 500™ awards, recognizing the most innovative, fastest-growing technology companies in North America. Internationally, LinkSquares placed among the top ten percent on Financial Times’ 2023 ranking of The Americas’ Fastest Growing Companies. LinkSquares is recognized as a best place to work locally and nationally by Inc., Boston Business Journal, and more.

Outside of LinkSquares, Vishal mentors local Boston-based startup founders, plays covers and the blues on his guitar, and spends time adventuring with his wife and two young daughters.

Vishal Sunak, the Founder and CEO of LinkSquares, is a shining example of how you can succeed by doing the work and consistently building. 

He talks me through his process for decision-making, how he learned about his business he knew nothing about at the beginning, and why and how you can rely on your network to thrive if you build it the right way.

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]]> Vishal Sunak is the founder and CEO of LinkSquares, the trusted legal technology partner for over 1,000 in-house teams, including Wayfair, ProPharma, TIME, The Boston Celtics, and Commvault. LinkSquares’ market-leading, AI-powered contract lifecycle management and legal task management solutions surface business intelligence with speed, accuracy, and scale. Vishal is widely recognized as a thought leader in the legal technology space, where he has worked tirelessly to improve outcomes for legal teams, while elevating their visibility within the enterprise.

In 2021, Vishal was named an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year, one of the most competitive business awards for ambitious leaders who are building and sustaining successful, dynamic companies. Vishal was honored as one of Boston Business Journal’s 2022 40 Under 40, celebrating the Boston area’s young professionals who are achieving the most in their careers and giving back to the community. LinkSquares’ rapid growth ranks No. 10 in Massachusetts and No. 379 overall on the 2022 Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing companies, landing a top spot for the second year in a row. The company also ranked No. 100 on the 2022 Deloitte Technology Fast 500™ awards, recognizing the most innovative, fastest-growing technology companies in North America. Internationally, LinkSquares placed among the top ten percent on Financial Times’ 2023 ranking of The Americas’ Fastest Growing Companies. LinkSquares is recognized as a best place to work locally and nationally by Inc., Boston Business Journal, and more.

Outside of LinkSquares, Vishal mentors local Boston-based startup founders, plays covers and the blues on his guitar, and spends time adventuring with his wife and two young daughters.

Vishal Sunak, the Founder and CEO of LinkSquares, is a shining example of how you can succeed by doing the work and consistently building. 

He talks me through his process for decision-making, how he learned about his business he knew nothing about at the beginning, and why and how you can rely on your network to thrive if you build it the right way.

Find out more about Vishal and LinkSquares | Website

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-13403622 Mon, 14 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0400 2770 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Vishal Sunak, LinkSquares full false #47, Randy Komisar, Entrepreneur and Investor — Lessons learned from a professional gambler, the role of luck your career, and the key decisions that drive the quality of your life #47, Randy Komisar, Entrepreneur and Investor — Lessons learned from a professional gambler, the role of luck your career, and the key decisions that drive the quality of your life Randy Komisar is an entrepreneur and investor at Kleiner Perkins.
Previously, he was a co-founder of Claris Corp., served as CEO for LucasArts Entertainment and Crystal Dynamics, and acted as “virtual CEO” for such companies as WebTV and GlobalGiving. Randy also served as CFO of GO Corp. and as senior counsel for Apple Computer, following a private practice in technology law.

Randy is a founding director of TiVo and serves on the Roadtrip Nation Advisory Board and Orrick’s Women’s Leadership Board. He is the author of the best-selling book,The Monk and the Riddle, as well as several articles on leadership and entrepreneurship. He is also the co-author of Straight Talk for Startups, the insider best practices for entrepreneurial success, Getting to Plan B, on managing innovation, and I F**king Love that Company, on building consumer brands.

This conversation with Randy Komisar is just spectacular! We dive right into how he turned his interview with Neil Young from disaster to success, why growing up with a professional gambler sharpened his communication skills, the way that luck factors into your career, and the way to maximize your chances of serendipity coming your way.

You’ll learn pearl after pearl of wisdom from Randy in our conversation, including a crucial question he asks as an investor to any entrepreneur to assess what they’re made of.

Randy’s such a great storyteller, and this discussion is not to be missed!

Find out more about Randy and Kleiner Perkins | Website

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]]> Randy Komisar is an entrepreneur and investor at Kleiner Perkins.
Previously, he was a co-founder of Claris Corp., served as CEO for LucasArts Entertainment and Crystal Dynamics, and acted as “virtual CEO” for such companies as WebTV and GlobalGiving. Randy also served as CFO of GO Corp. and as senior counsel for Apple Computer, following a private practice in technology law.

Randy is a founding director of TiVo and serves on the Roadtrip Nation Advisory Board and Orrick’s Women’s Leadership Board. He is the author of the best-selling book,The Monk and the Riddle, as well as several articles on leadership and entrepreneurship. He is also the co-author of Straight Talk for Startups, the insider best practices for entrepreneurial success, Getting to Plan B, on managing innovation, and I F**king Love that Company, on building consumer brands.

This conversation with Randy Komisar is just spectacular! We dive right into how he turned his interview with Neil Young from disaster to success, why growing up with a professional gambler sharpened his communication skills, the way that luck factors into your career, and the way to maximize your chances of serendipity coming your way.

You’ll learn pearl after pearl of wisdom from Randy in our conversation, including a crucial question he asks as an investor to any entrepreneur to assess what they’re made of.

Randy’s such a great storyteller, and this discussion is not to be missed!

Find out more about Randy and Kleiner Perkins | Website

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-13322572 Mon, 31 Jul 2023 13:00:00 -0400 4186 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Randy Komisar, investing full false #46: Anouck Gotlib, Cofounder and CEO of Belgian Boys — Building a company when you’re a creative, dealing with your cofounder when he’s also your spouse, and the power of a walk out song #46: Anouck Gotlib, Cofounder and CEO of Belgian Boys — Building a company when you’re a creative, dealing with your cofounder when he’s also your spouse, and the power of a walk out song Anouck Gotlib, the Cofounder and CEO of Belgian Boys - a sweet snack company out of Brooklyn, NY, - started her career in fashion. With no business background, she ended up cofounding  Belgian Boys with her husband and did a whole bunch of learning by doing. 

In this episode of From Start-up to Grown-up, hear about her fascinating journey, her very fresh approach on mundane things like the company handbook, and how her mission to spark moments of happiness gets brought to life. Anouck also talks about how her work with her coach has helped her, and why she has a walk on song.  

Find out more about Belgian Boys | Website

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]]> Anouck Gotlib, the Cofounder and CEO of Belgian Boys - a sweet snack company out of Brooklyn, NY, - started her career in fashion. With no business background, she ended up cofounding  Belgian Boys with her husband and did a whole bunch of learning by doing. 

In this episode of From Start-up to Grown-up, hear about her fascinating journey, her very fresh approach on mundane things like the company handbook, and how her mission to spark moments of happiness gets brought to life. Anouck also talks about how her work with her coach has helped her, and why she has a walk on song.  

Find out more about Belgian Boys | Website

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-13238264 Mon, 17 Jul 2023 11:00:00 -0400 3445 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Anouck Gotlib, Belgian Boys full false #45: Carolyn Rodz, Cofounder and CEO of Hello Alice — How to transform setbacks into learning, the best question to ask future employees, and how to build a strong cofounder relationship #45: Carolyn Rodz, Cofounder and CEO of Hello Alice — How to transform setbacks into learning, the best question to ask future employees, and how to build a strong cofounder relationship An investment banker turned three-time award-winning Latina entrepreneur from Bolivia, Carolyn serves as the Cofounder and CEO of Hello Alice (helloalice.com), a smart technology that helps business owners find the right path to start and grow their companies. Carolyn is a long-time advocate for underestimated founders and believes technology-driven data will prove the business case for inclusion. During her time at Hello Alice, Carolyn was recognized as a "17 Women to Watch," by Inc. Magazine, and selected by Mayor Turner of Houston to co-chair the Women and Minority Small Business Task Force in 2019.

This episode is a masterclass on entrepreneurship!

Learn why it’s not a good idea to compare yourself to others, who you need to look for to bring on your team, how to handle being on the ropes financially, and the questions you should be asking as a founder.

 Find out more about Hello Alice | Website

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]]> An investment banker turned three-time award-winning Latina entrepreneur from Bolivia, Carolyn serves as the Cofounder and CEO of Hello Alice (helloalice.com), a smart technology that helps business owners find the right path to start and grow their companies. Carolyn is a long-time advocate for underestimated founders and believes technology-driven data will prove the business case for inclusion. During her time at Hello Alice, Carolyn was recognized as a "17 Women to Watch," by Inc. Magazine, and selected by Mayor Turner of Houston to co-chair the Women and Minority Small Business Task Force in 2019.

This episode is a masterclass on entrepreneurship!

Learn why it’s not a good idea to compare yourself to others, who you need to look for to bring on your team, how to handle being on the ropes financially, and the questions you should be asking as a founder.

 Find out more about Hello Alice | Website

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-13153257 Mon, 03 Jul 2023 11:00:00 -0400 4069 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Hello Alice, Carolyn Rodz full false #44: Lauren Bush Lauren, Founder and CEO of FEED — Building a business while making an impact, when not to take advice, learning to be direct, and how public service shaped her leadership #44: Lauren Bush Lauren, Founder and CEO of FEED — Building a business while making an impact, when not to take advice, learning to be direct, and how public service shaped her leadership Lauren Bush Lauren is the founder and CEO of FEED, the impact-driven lifestyle brand, making products that help feed the children of the world. A native of Texas, Lauren attended Princeton University where she majored in Anthropology. As a sophomore, Lauren had the opportunity to travel with the UN World FOOD Programme. While visiting regions across Central America, Asia, and Africa, Lauren witnessed firsthand the realities of poverty and hunger that people are facing all over the world. Using this experience as an inspiration, Lauren found FEED as a tangible way for her peers to make an impact in fighting childhood hunger. 
 
 Try, try again.

If you believe in your mission like Lauren Bush Lauren, the CEO of Feed does, don’t take no for an answer.

Learn how she combined her passions with a way to make an impact on the world, how she learned exactly who she needed on her team, and the mistakes made and lessons learned throughout the hiring process.
 
 Find out more about Feed | Website

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]]> Lauren Bush Lauren is the founder and CEO of FEED, the impact-driven lifestyle brand, making products that help feed the children of the world. A native of Texas, Lauren attended Princeton University where she majored in Anthropology. As a sophomore, Lauren had the opportunity to travel with the UN World FOOD Programme. While visiting regions across Central America, Asia, and Africa, Lauren witnessed firsthand the realities of poverty and hunger that people are facing all over the world. Using this experience as an inspiration, Lauren found FEED as a tangible way for her peers to make an impact in fighting childhood hunger. 
 
 Try, try again.

If you believe in your mission like Lauren Bush Lauren, the CEO of Feed does, don’t take no for an answer.

Learn how she combined her passions with a way to make an impact on the world, how she learned exactly who she needed on her team, and the mistakes made and lessons learned throughout the hiring process.
 
 Find out more about Feed | Website

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-13025302 Mon, 12 Jun 2023 13:00:00 -0400 3839 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, lauren bush lauren, feed, feed projects full false #43: Seth Godin, Author and Marketing Strategist — showing up for yourself, creating conditions for your best work, and how to deal with massive rejection #43: Seth Godin, Author and Marketing Strategist — showing up for yourself, creating conditions for your best work, and how to deal with massive rejection Seth is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and speaker. In addition to launching one of the most popular blogs in the world, he has written 20 best-selling books, including The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, and What To Do When It's Your Turn (And It's Always Your Turn). His book, This is Marketing, was an instant bestseller in countries around the world. Though renowned for his writing and speaking, Seth also founded two companies, Squidoo and Yoyodyne (acquired by Yahoo!).

By focusing on everything from effective marketing and leadership, to the spread of ideas and changing everything, Seth has been able to motivate and inspire countless people around the world.

In 2013, Seth was one of just three professionals inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. In an astonishing turn of events, in May 2018, he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame as well. He might be the only person in both.

Imagine a world where people work where they are respected, where the work - not the employee - is thoughtfully criticized, and where managers create the conditions for employees to do the best work of their lives. 

Seth Godin does a deep dive on all of these and so much more in our conversation, sharing concepts from his brand new book The Song of Significance that reimagines what work and leadership can be.

Find out more about Seth | Website

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]]> Seth is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and speaker. In addition to launching one of the most popular blogs in the world, he has written 20 best-selling books, including The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, and What To Do When It's Your Turn (And It's Always Your Turn). His book, This is Marketing, was an instant bestseller in countries around the world. Though renowned for his writing and speaking, Seth also founded two companies, Squidoo and Yoyodyne (acquired by Yahoo!).

By focusing on everything from effective marketing and leadership, to the spread of ideas and changing everything, Seth has been able to motivate and inspire countless people around the world.

In 2013, Seth was one of just three professionals inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. In an astonishing turn of events, in May 2018, he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame as well. He might be the only person in both.

Imagine a world where people work where they are respected, where the work - not the employee - is thoughtfully criticized, and where managers create the conditions for employees to do the best work of their lives. 

Seth Godin does a deep dive on all of these and so much more in our conversation, sharing concepts from his brand new book The Song of Significance that reimagines what work and leadership can be.

Find out more about Seth | Website

For more stories and advice on founders and CEOs, head to alisacohn.com

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-12946213 Tue, 30 May 2023 12:00:00 -0400 2937 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, seth godin, significance full false #42: Matt Biilmann, Co-Founder and CEO of Netlify — career pivoting, marketing for mass adoption, and growing company culture remotely #42: Matt Biilmann, Co-Founder and CEO of Netlify — career pivoting, marketing for mass adoption, and growing company culture remotely Matt Biilmann is the Co-Founder and CEO of Netlify. He was trained to be a musician and music journalist, but early into his career, he pivoted to programming. Among his creations was a content management system that helped web design agencies to build websites. The idea evolved into Netlify, which he launched with childhood friend Chris Bach in 2014. Netlify helped pioneer the movement to decouple front-end web development from back-end server management. Mattel, Unilever, and Verizon have all used Netlify to launch websites.

This was a fantastic conversation about Matt's career journey from his former studies in music to pivot towards programming and starting Netlify, what you need to know if you are marketing your product for mass adoption, how you can foster company culture even if you are hundreds of miles apart, and the questions you need to ask when you are hiring!

Find out more about Netlify | Website

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]]> Matt Biilmann is the Co-Founder and CEO of Netlify. He was trained to be a musician and music journalist, but early into his career, he pivoted to programming. Among his creations was a content management system that helped web design agencies to build websites. The idea evolved into Netlify, which he launched with childhood friend Chris Bach in 2014. Netlify helped pioneer the movement to decouple front-end web development from back-end server management. Mattel, Unilever, and Verizon have all used Netlify to launch websites.

This was a fantastic conversation about Matt's career journey from his former studies in music to pivot towards programming and starting Netlify, what you need to know if you are marketing your product for mass adoption, how you can foster company culture even if you are hundreds of miles apart, and the questions you need to ask when you are hiring!

Find out more about Netlify | Website

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-12852056 Mon, 15 May 2023 12:00:00 -0400 4023 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, matt biilmann, netlify full false #41: Alex Zaccaria, Co-Founder and CEO of Linktree — finding a need in the market, when to take venture money, preparing for board meetings, and the value of conferences #41: Alex Zaccaria, Co-Founder and CEO of Linktree — finding a need in the market, when to take venture money, preparing for board meetings, and the value of conferences Alex Zaccaria is the Co-Founder and CEO at Linktree, the link-in-bio category creator which enables creators, brands, artists, publishers, agencies, and businesses of all sizes to curate an online ecosystem, engage with their audience, and monetize their passions.

Find out more about Linktree | Website

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]]> Alex Zaccaria is the Co-Founder and CEO at Linktree, the link-in-bio category creator which enables creators, brands, artists, publishers, agencies, and businesses of all sizes to curate an online ecosystem, engage with their audience, and monetize their passions.

Find out more about Linktree | Website

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-12758271 Mon, 01 May 2023 12:00:00 -0400 2794 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Alex Zaccaria, Linktree full false #40: Peter Attia, MD, Founder of Early Medical — improving your lifespan and healthspan, the centenarian decathlon, and the process of making major life changes #40: Peter Attia, MD, Founder of Early Medical — improving your lifespan and healthspan, the centenarian decathlon, and the process of making major life changes Peter Attia, MD, is the founder of Early Medical, a medical practice that applies the principles of Medicine 3.0 to patients with the goal of lengthening their lifespan and simultaneously improving their healthspan.

He is the host of The Drive, one of the most popular podcasts covering the topics of health and medicine.

Dr. Attia received his medical degree from the Stanford University School of Medicine and trained for five years at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in general surgery, where he was the recipient of several prestigious awards, including resident of the year.

He spent two years at the National Institutes of Health as a surgical oncology fellow at the National Cancer Institute, where his research focused on immune-based therapies for melanoma.

Find out more about Peter Attia | Website

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]]> Peter Attia, MD, is the founder of Early Medical, a medical practice that applies the principles of Medicine 3.0 to patients with the goal of lengthening their lifespan and simultaneously improving their healthspan.

He is the host of The Drive, one of the most popular podcasts covering the topics of health and medicine.

Dr. Attia received his medical degree from the Stanford University School of Medicine and trained for five years at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in general surgery, where he was the recipient of several prestigious awards, including resident of the year.

He spent two years at the National Institutes of Health as a surgical oncology fellow at the National Cancer Institute, where his research focused on immune-based therapies for melanoma.

Find out more about Peter Attia | Website

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-12666296 Mon, 17 Apr 2023 11:00:00 -0400 2641 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, peter attia, the drive, health, lifespan, healthspan, health full false #39: Alex Lieberman, Cofounder and Executive Chairman of Morning Brew — Mental health for founders, having a framework for decision-making, and deciding when it's time to leave your job to start a company #39: Alex Lieberman, Cofounder and Executive Chairman of Morning Brew — Mental health for founders, having a framework for decision-making, and deciding when it's time to leave your job to start a company Alex Lieberman is the Cofounder and Executive Chairman of Morning Brew, a media brand that empowers modern business leaders with need-to-know content that is engaging and timely. Since its founding in 2015, Morning Brew has provided millions of users with the most important news from Wall Street to Silicon Valley.

Alex was someone ahead of the curve, thinking about the future of content delivery when he started Morning Brew from his dorm room. In our conversation, we discuss the importance of mental health for founders, what it was like to sell his company, his decision-making framework, and why he left his corporate job to start a new company.

Follow Alex Lieberman on Twitter | @businessbarista

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]]> Alex Lieberman is the Cofounder and Executive Chairman of Morning Brew, a media brand that empowers modern business leaders with need-to-know content that is engaging and timely. Since its founding in 2015, Morning Brew has provided millions of users with the most important news from Wall Street to Silicon Valley.

Alex was someone ahead of the curve, thinking about the future of content delivery when he started Morning Brew from his dorm room. In our conversation, we discuss the importance of mental health for founders, what it was like to sell his company, his decision-making framework, and why he left his corporate job to start a new company.

Follow Alex Lieberman on Twitter | @businessbarista

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-12578602 Mon, 03 Apr 2023 12:00:00 -0400 4563 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, alex lieberman, morning brew full false #38: Matthew Scullion, Cofounder and CEO of Matillion — Creating the right company culture, how to know your pivot is working, micro confidence vs. macro confidence, and the biggest obstacle in building a company #38: Matthew Scullion, Cofounder and CEO of Matillion — Creating the right company culture, how to know your pivot is working, micro confidence vs. macro confidence, and the biggest obstacle in building a company Matthew is the Cofounder and CEO of Matillion. He cofounded his first startup at age 18. Before starting Matillion in 2011, Matthew worked in commercial IT and software development for 15 years at a number of British and European systems integrators. A native of Altrincham, England, near Manchester, Matthew now spends half his time in the United States – primarily in Denver (Matillion’s U.S. headquarters), Seattle, New York, and in the Bay Area, at the beating heart of the enterprise software industry.

I am a big advocate for developing healthier company culture, and we dive right into this conversation with a framework on just that from Matthew! We also talk about how there’s no one right answer about which culture to create that leads to building a company with staying power, how to determine when your company pivot is working, micro confidence vs. macro confidence, the personal growth you make as a leader, and the biggest obstacle people have in building their companies.

Learn more about Matthew and Mattillion | Website

For more stories and advice on founders and CEOs, head to alisacohn.com

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter.

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better)

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast!

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Matthew is the Cofounder and CEO of Matillion. He cofounded his first startup at age 18. Before starting Matillion in 2011, Matthew worked in commercial IT and software development for 15 years at a number of British and European systems integrators. A native of Altrincham, England, near Manchester, Matthew now spends half his time in the United States – primarily in Denver (Matillion’s U.S. headquarters), Seattle, New York, and in the Bay Area, at the beating heart of the enterprise software industry.

I am a big advocate for developing healthier company culture, and we dive right into this conversation with a framework on just that from Matthew! We also talk about how there’s no one right answer about which culture to create that leads to building a company with staying power, how to determine when your company pivot is working, micro confidence vs. macro confidence, the personal growth you make as a leader, and the biggest obstacle people have in building their companies.

Learn more about Matthew and Mattillion | Website

For more stories and advice on founders and CEOs, head to alisacohn.com

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter.

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better)

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast!

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-12476489 Mon, 20 Mar 2023 12:00:00 -0400 2680 full false #37: Robert Glazer, Founder and CEO of Acceleration Partners — the importance of values and purpose, how to build your team's capacity, and why you should start your ideas even if they aren't ready #37: Robert Glazer, Founder and CEO of Acceleration Partners — the importance of values and purpose, how to build your team's capacity, and why you should start your ideas even if they aren't ready Robert Glazer is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of global partner marketing agency, Acceleration Partners. He is also the co-founder and Chairman of BrandCycle. A serial entrepreneur, Bob has a passion for helping individuals and organizations build their capacity to elevate.

Key highlights:

  • His company, Acceleration Partners (02:53)
  • How Robert ended up building an email list, writing blogs, writing books, podcasting, and how he fits it all together (06:14) 
  • Why clarifying values and purpose is important to you and your company (13:53) 
  • Activities and exercises to help you clarify your core values (18:27) 
  • What prompted Robert to clarify his company’s culture to take into account the importance of values? (21:38)
  • A scenario where he had to make a hard decision in a situation that didn’t align with his values and the company’s values (27:15)
  • Why he decided to step down as CEO to become an Executive Chairman and what the transitioning process looked like (29:00)
  • His book; Elevate Your Team: Empower Your Team To Reach Their Full Potential and Build A Business That Builds Leaders (36:00) 
  • What is capacity? (36:20)
  • The capacity building road map (37:18)
  • Robert’s framework for building team capacity and the different categories of capacity (40:17)
  • How Robert has evolved as a leader (47:47)
  • His experience with the impostor syndrome and how he deals with it (49:06)
  • What Robert wishes he had known earlier on his journey (52:10)
  • His advice for other founders as they embark on their journey to grow into leaders (53:37)

 Notable Quotes

  • “I have started a ton of things that have failed, but I have never been successful in anything I didn’t start.” (10:44)
  • ” If you are accountable, you can have flexibility.” (22:06)

Resources Mentioned

  • Elevate Your Team: Empower Your Team To Reach Their Full Potential and Build A Business That Builds Leaders: https://bit.ly/40IzbmJ
  • Friday Forward: Inspiration & Motivation to End Your Week Stronger Than It Started (Ignite Reads): https://bit.ly/3JUU732
  • How to Make Virtual Teams Work: Manage and Empower a Virtual Team That Thrives While Working from Home: http://bit.ly/3zfp5hw

Connect with Robert!

Follow Robert Glazer on:

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Robert Glazer is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of global partner marketing agency, Acceleration Partners. He is also the co-founder and Chairman of BrandCycle. A serial entrepreneur, Bob has a passion for helping individuals and organizations build their capacity to elevate.

Key highlights:

  • His company, Acceleration Partners (02:53)
  • How Robert ended up building an email list, writing blogs, writing books, podcasting, and how he fits it all together (06:14) 
  • Why clarifying values and purpose is important to you and your company (13:53) 
  • Activities and exercises to help you clarify your core values (18:27) 
  • What prompted Robert to clarify his company’s culture to take into account the importance of values? (21:38)
  • A scenario where he had to make a hard decision in a situation that didn’t align with his values and the company’s values (27:15)
  • Why he decided to step down as CEO to become an Executive Chairman and what the transitioning process looked like (29:00)
  • His book; Elevate Your Team: Empower Your Team To Reach Their Full Potential and Build A Business That Builds Leaders (36:00) 
  • What is capacity? (36:20)
  • The capacity building road map (37:18)
  • Robert’s framework for building team capacity and the different categories of capacity (40:17)
  • How Robert has evolved as a leader (47:47)
  • His experience with the impostor syndrome and how he deals with it (49:06)
  • What Robert wishes he had known earlier on his journey (52:10)
  • His advice for other founders as they embark on their journey to grow into leaders (53:37)

 Notable Quotes

  • “I have started a ton of things that have failed, but I have never been successful in anything I didn’t start.” (10:44)
  • ” If you are accountable, you can have flexibility.” (22:06)

Resources Mentioned

  • Elevate Your Team: Empower Your Team To Reach Their Full Potential and Build A Business That Builds Leaders: https://bit.ly/40IzbmJ
  • Friday Forward: Inspiration & Motivation to End Your Week Stronger Than It Started (Ignite Reads): https://bit.ly/3JUU732
  • How to Make Virtual Teams Work: Manage and Empower a Virtual Team That Thrives While Working from Home: http://bit.ly/3zfp5hw

Connect with Robert!

Follow Robert Glazer on:

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-12385176 Mon, 06 Mar 2023 13:00:00 -0500 3344 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, robert glazer, acceleration partners full false #36: Hubert Palan, Founder and CEO of Productboard — the challenges of scaling leadership, tactics for fundraising, and finding a work/life balance #36: Hubert Palan, Founder and CEO of Productboard — the challenges of scaling leadership, tactics for fundraising, and finding a work/life balance Hubert is the founder and CEO of Productboard.com, a platform for strategic product design and management headquartered in San Francisco, California. Prior to Productboard, Hubert was the Vice President of Product Management at GoodData, where he managed GoodData’s disruptive platform business, built the whole front-end product management and UX team from the ground up, and established and embodied modern principles of user experience design. Hubert also once worked in management consulting as well as trained 20 national park managers in Vietnam on marketing and strategy.

In our conversation, filmed live at Web Summit in Portugal, Hubert dives into the challenges of scaling leadership, which include the conversations you need to have when an executive is unable to scale, the tactics he uses for fundraising, which helped Productboard become a unicorn, and how he finds a work/life balance.

  • Hubert’s company; Productboard (02:15)
  • Definition of empathy (04:08) 
  • How empathy helps leaders scale a company (05:23)
  • How Hubert developed the skill of giving negative feedback (07:08) 
  • The biggest challenge faced by Founders & CEOs of fast-growing companies (12:35)
  • Markers that show that an executive will not be able to scale and the kind of conversations you should have with executives to identify their ability to scale (15:58) 
  • The strategies Hubert uses to fundraise successfully (22:37)
  • Why is it necessary to perform due diligence on investors? (29:00) 
  • How he conducts due diligence on investors (30:00)
  • Hubert’s mood meter; why he built it and how he uses it (32:33)
  • How he maintains a work-life balance (39:08) 
  • His greatest strength and the weakness he is working on (43:26)
  • What Hubert wishes he had known earlier on his journey (45:11)
  • His advice for other founders as they embark on their journey to grow into leaders (47:38)

Love the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!

Let’s Connect!

Follow Hubert Palan on:


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Follow Alisa Cohn on 

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Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Hubert is the founder and CEO of Productboard.com, a platform for strategic product design and management headquartered in San Francisco, California. Prior to Productboard, Hubert was the Vice President of Product Management at GoodData, where he managed GoodData’s disruptive platform business, built the whole front-end product management and UX team from the ground up, and established and embodied modern principles of user experience design. Hubert also once worked in management consulting as well as trained 20 national park managers in Vietnam on marketing and strategy.

In our conversation, filmed live at Web Summit in Portugal, Hubert dives into the challenges of scaling leadership, which include the conversations you need to have when an executive is unable to scale, the tactics he uses for fundraising, which helped Productboard become a unicorn, and how he finds a work/life balance.

  • Hubert’s company; Productboard (02:15)
  • Definition of empathy (04:08) 
  • How empathy helps leaders scale a company (05:23)
  • How Hubert developed the skill of giving negative feedback (07:08) 
  • The biggest challenge faced by Founders & CEOs of fast-growing companies (12:35)
  • Markers that show that an executive will not be able to scale and the kind of conversations you should have with executives to identify their ability to scale (15:58) 
  • The strategies Hubert uses to fundraise successfully (22:37)
  • Why is it necessary to perform due diligence on investors? (29:00) 
  • How he conducts due diligence on investors (30:00)
  • Hubert’s mood meter; why he built it and how he uses it (32:33)
  • How he maintains a work-life balance (39:08) 
  • His greatest strength and the weakness he is working on (43:26)
  • What Hubert wishes he had known earlier on his journey (45:11)
  • His advice for other founders as they embark on their journey to grow into leaders (47:38)

Love the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!

Let’s Connect!

Follow Hubert Palan on:


Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-12306074 Wed, 22 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0500 2987 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, hubert palan, productboard full false #35: Padma Warrior, Founder and CEO of Fable — The reverse journey of grown-up to start-up, what to unlearn to become a founder, how to get your initial hires onboard, and rituals that build culture #35: Padma Warrior, Founder and CEO of Fable — The reverse journey of grown-up to start-up, what to unlearn to become a founder, how to get your initial hires onboard, and rituals that build culture Padmasree Warrior is the Founder, President and CEO of Fable, a mobile-first company that brings stories to everyone, anywhere. Previously, Padma was the Chief Executive Officer of NIO U.S., Chief Development Officer and Board Member of NIO Inc., a manufacturer of smart, electric, and autonomous vehicles. In this role, she scaled the company from start-up to a successful IPO NYSE:NIO in 3 years.

Our conversation was truly fascinating! We discuss her reverse journey from grown-up to start-up, what she had to unlearn from a large corporation to become a start-up founder, how you can get your initial hires onboard, and the rituals that build a strong company culture.

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast!

  • What inspired Padma to become an entrepreneur?(03:36)
  • What she had to learn and unlearn when she went from being in a large company to becoming a start-up founder (06:14)
  • Tips to help you when hiring team members for your start-up (09:28)
  • What Fable does (14:45)
  • Why Padma started Fable (15:45)
  • The definition of company culture (22:48)
  • Why investing in company culture is important for your start-up (23:36)
  • The difference between hiring for experience and hiring for expertise (28:37)
  • The ‘Fika’ ritual and why it is a powerful ritual for developing the company culture (33:12)
  • Why she bans talk about work inside the Fika ritual (36:03)
  • What it actually means to bring your whole self to work (40:40)
  • How Padma made a mindset shift from a problem solver to someone who helps other people solve problems (44:35)
  • The decision-making framework she uses in her staff meetings at Fable (49:20)
  • The difference between being on a board and being on a management team (52:30)
  • 3 Things you should consider before you become a board member (54:36)
  • What Padma has learned from her board roles at Microsoft and Spotify (56:31)
  • Her experience with the impostor syndrome (59:38)
  • What Padma wishes she had known earlier on her journey (1:02:58)
  • Her advice for other founders as they embark on their journey to grow into leaders (1:04:05)

Remember to Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share! 

Connect with Padma!

Follow Padma Warrior on:

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Padmasree Warrior is the Founder, President and CEO of Fable, a mobile-first company that brings stories to everyone, anywhere. Previously, Padma was the Chief Executive Officer of NIO U.S., Chief Development Officer and Board Member of NIO Inc., a manufacturer of smart, electric, and autonomous vehicles. In this role, she scaled the company from start-up to a successful IPO NYSE:NIO in 3 years.

Our conversation was truly fascinating! We discuss her reverse journey from grown-up to start-up, what she had to unlearn from a large corporation to become a start-up founder, how you can get your initial hires onboard, and the rituals that build a strong company culture.

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast!

  • What inspired Padma to become an entrepreneur?(03:36)
  • What she had to learn and unlearn when she went from being in a large company to becoming a start-up founder (06:14)
  • Tips to help you when hiring team members for your start-up (09:28)
  • What Fable does (14:45)
  • Why Padma started Fable (15:45)
  • The definition of company culture (22:48)
  • Why investing in company culture is important for your start-up (23:36)
  • The difference between hiring for experience and hiring for expertise (28:37)
  • The ‘Fika’ ritual and why it is a powerful ritual for developing the company culture (33:12)
  • Why she bans talk about work inside the Fika ritual (36:03)
  • What it actually means to bring your whole self to work (40:40)
  • How Padma made a mindset shift from a problem solver to someone who helps other people solve problems (44:35)
  • The decision-making framework she uses in her staff meetings at Fable (49:20)
  • The difference between being on a board and being on a management team (52:30)
  • 3 Things you should consider before you become a board member (54:36)
  • What Padma has learned from her board roles at Microsoft and Spotify (56:31)
  • Her experience with the impostor syndrome (59:38)
  • What Padma wishes she had known earlier on her journey (1:02:58)
  • Her advice for other founders as they embark on their journey to grow into leaders (1:04:05)

Remember to Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share! 

Connect with Padma!

Follow Padma Warrior on:

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-12180370 Fri, 03 Feb 2023 21:00:00 -0500 3947 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Padma Warrior, Fable full false #34: Nick Sonnenberg, Founder and CEO of Leverage — Bootstrapping your business; risk and how to build confidence; how to make your business more efficient, and how to come up for air #34: Nick Sonnenberg, Founder and CEO of Leverage — Bootstrapping your business; risk and how to build confidence; how to make your business more efficient, and how to come up for air Nick Sonnenberg is the Founder and CEO of Leverage, a business efficiency consultant, Inc. columnist, and author of the book, Come Up For Air: How Teams Can Leverage Systems and Tools to Stop Drowning in Work. As a serial entrepreneur with a passion for productivity and a background in data science, Nick’s mission is to create companies that disrupt the way people work by leveraging the power of remote teams, digital tools, and automation.

His primary focus is to help teams operate more efficiently through his CPR® Business Efficiency Framework, a proven system for leaders, managers, and teams to maximize their performance and reduce overwhelm by using the right tools in the right way, at the right time. This framework consistently results in greater output, less stress, happier employees, and the potential to gain an extra full day per week in productivity per person. Nick has worked with individuals and companies of all sizes including Tony Robbins, Jay Abraham, Facebook, ConsenSys, and more.

Nick and I had a rich conversation about the benefits of bootstrapping your business, his thoughts on risk and how to build confidence, and the many ways you can make your business more efficient!

Love the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!

  • Introducing today’s guest; Nick Sonnenberg (00:22)
  • How Nick co-founded Leverage after a successful career in high-frequency trading (03:00)
  • Nick’s dramatic breakup with his cofounder and the lessons he learned from that (06:24)
  • Why he never gave up on the company and how he managed stress in that period (10:55)
  • The benefits of bootstrapping your business (13:00)
  • Why hiring is the worst way to get more bandwidth (16:04)
  • How to determine when it’s time to hire someone new (17:54)
  • How to get feedback from your team (21:50)
  • Effective strategies for ensuring you get feedback when you are the boss (25:04)
  • Why he authored - Come Up for Air: How Teams Can Leverage Systems and Tools to Stop Drowning in Work. (32:20)
  • Why people are drowning in work and what they can do about it (33:42)
  • The scavenger hunt problem  (35:09)
  • Quick win tips & tactics in his book to help you make your business more efficient (38:37)
  • How to build confidence as an entrepreneur (44:30)
  • Nick’s advice for people getting into cofounder relationships (45:00)
  • Nick’s leadership style and how it has evolved (49:59)
  • What Nick wishes he had known earlier on his entrepreneurship journey (51:06)
  • His advice for other founders as they embark on their journey to grow into leaders (55:30) 

 Love the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Nick!

Follow Nick Sonnenberg on:



Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Nick Sonnenberg is the Founder and CEO of Leverage, a business efficiency consultant, Inc. columnist, and author of the book, Come Up For Air: How Teams Can Leverage Systems and Tools to Stop Drowning in Work. As a serial entrepreneur with a passion for productivity and a background in data science, Nick’s mission is to create companies that disrupt the way people work by leveraging the power of remote teams, digital tools, and automation.

His primary focus is to help teams operate more efficiently through his CPR® Business Efficiency Framework, a proven system for leaders, managers, and teams to maximize their performance and reduce overwhelm by using the right tools in the right way, at the right time. This framework consistently results in greater output, less stress, happier employees, and the potential to gain an extra full day per week in productivity per person. Nick has worked with individuals and companies of all sizes including Tony Robbins, Jay Abraham, Facebook, ConsenSys, and more.

Nick and I had a rich conversation about the benefits of bootstrapping your business, his thoughts on risk and how to build confidence, and the many ways you can make your business more efficient!

Love the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!

  • Introducing today’s guest; Nick Sonnenberg (00:22)
  • How Nick co-founded Leverage after a successful career in high-frequency trading (03:00)
  • Nick’s dramatic breakup with his cofounder and the lessons he learned from that (06:24)
  • Why he never gave up on the company and how he managed stress in that period (10:55)
  • The benefits of bootstrapping your business (13:00)
  • Why hiring is the worst way to get more bandwidth (16:04)
  • How to determine when it’s time to hire someone new (17:54)
  • How to get feedback from your team (21:50)
  • Effective strategies for ensuring you get feedback when you are the boss (25:04)
  • Why he authored - Come Up for Air: How Teams Can Leverage Systems and Tools to Stop Drowning in Work. (32:20)
  • Why people are drowning in work and what they can do about it (33:42)
  • The scavenger hunt problem  (35:09)
  • Quick win tips & tactics in his book to help you make your business more efficient (38:37)
  • How to build confidence as an entrepreneur (44:30)
  • Nick’s advice for people getting into cofounder relationships (45:00)
  • Nick’s leadership style and how it has evolved (49:59)
  • What Nick wishes he had known earlier on his entrepreneurship journey (51:06)
  • His advice for other founders as they embark on their journey to grow into leaders (55:30) 

 Love the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Nick!

Follow Nick Sonnenberg on:



Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-12110299 Tue, 24 Jan 2023 14:00:00 -0500 3440 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Nick Sonnenberg, leverage full false #33: Chip Conley, Founder at Modern Elder Academy — Using regret as fuel; how and why founders need to shift their identities; how to manage people older than you; and his favorite interview question #33: Chip Conley, Founder at Modern Elder Academy — Using regret as fuel; how and why founders need to shift their identities; how to manage people older than you; and his favorite interview question Chip is the founder of the Modern Elder Academy (MEA), where a new roadmap for midlife is offered at a beautiful oceanfront campus in Baja California Sur, Mexico, and forthcoming campuses in Santa Fe, NM. His five books have made him a leading authority at the intersection of psychology and business. 

Chip had tons of wisdom to share in this talk, including how to use regret as fuel for the future, what founders can learn when they shift their identities, how to manage people older than you, what Chip learned from the people that he mentored, and his favorite interview question. 

Key highlights in the episode

Know our guest; Chip Conley (00:30)

The identity cleanse and why it is important (03:19)

Chip’s near-death experience and how it made him shift his identity when he sold his company (07:30)

The Anatomy of a transition; Three stages of transition (14:48)

How Chip became a mentor and an intern to Airbnb Co-Founder&CEO Brian Chesky (18:46)

Using regret as raw material for the future (19:45)

How insights from Airbnb led him to start the Modern Elder Academy (21:55)

Ways of scaling your company’s culture & soul as the company grows (26:46)

Culture fit vs. Culture add approach to hiring (28:48)

His favorite interview questions (31:20)

Why Chip has developed a strong personal brand and how it has served him (37:55)

His advice to new founders about having a personal brand (41:06)

What Chip teaches his mentees (46:37)

What he has learned from his mentees (51:10) 

How to manage people older than you. And how to operate in an environment where your boss is younger than you (56:18)

Ways through which founders can find the truth in their companies (1:01:30)

The adjustments Chip has made in his leadership style and the feedback he  received (1:04:13)

What Chip wishes he had known earlier on his entrepreneurship journey (1:08:11)

His advice for other founders as they embark on their journey to grow into leaders (1:09:41)


Love the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!

 Resources Mentioned

Let’s Connect!

Follow Chip Conley on:

 Subscribe to MEA Wisdom well: https://wisdomwell.modernelderacademy.com/

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Chip is the founder of the Modern Elder Academy (MEA), where a new roadmap for midlife is offered at a beautiful oceanfront campus in Baja California Sur, Mexico, and forthcoming campuses in Santa Fe, NM. His five books have made him a leading authority at the intersection of psychology and business. 

Chip had tons of wisdom to share in this talk, including how to use regret as fuel for the future, what founders can learn when they shift their identities, how to manage people older than you, what Chip learned from the people that he mentored, and his favorite interview question. 

Key highlights in the episode

Know our guest; Chip Conley (00:30)

The identity cleanse and why it is important (03:19)

Chip’s near-death experience and how it made him shift his identity when he sold his company (07:30)

The Anatomy of a transition; Three stages of transition (14:48)

How Chip became a mentor and an intern to Airbnb Co-Founder&CEO Brian Chesky (18:46)

Using regret as raw material for the future (19:45)

How insights from Airbnb led him to start the Modern Elder Academy (21:55)

Ways of scaling your company’s culture & soul as the company grows (26:46)

Culture fit vs. Culture add approach to hiring (28:48)

His favorite interview questions (31:20)

Why Chip has developed a strong personal brand and how it has served him (37:55)

His advice to new founders about having a personal brand (41:06)

What Chip teaches his mentees (46:37)

What he has learned from his mentees (51:10) 

How to manage people older than you. And how to operate in an environment where your boss is younger than you (56:18)

Ways through which founders can find the truth in their companies (1:01:30)

The adjustments Chip has made in his leadership style and the feedback he  received (1:04:13)

What Chip wishes he had known earlier on his entrepreneurship journey (1:08:11)

His advice for other founders as they embark on their journey to grow into leaders (1:09:41)


Love the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!

 Resources Mentioned

Let’s Connect!

Follow Chip Conley on:

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-11987152 Thu, 05 Jan 2023 13:00:00 -0500 4438 leadership, personal development, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, chip conley full false #32: Julia Boorstin, Senior Media and Tech Correspondent CNBC — The confidence dial, empathy as a strategic skill, and why playing sports makes for better leaders #32: Julia Boorstin, Senior Media and Tech Correspondent CNBC — The confidence dial, empathy as a strategic skill, and why playing sports makes for better leaders Julia Boorstin is CNBC’s Senior Media & Tech correspondent based at the network’s Los Angeles bureau, where she reports and conducts CEO interviews across CNBC programming, and plays a key role on CNBC’s bicoastal tech-focused program TechCheck, delivering reporting, analysis, and interviews around streaming, social, and the convergence of media and technology. She is also the author of When Women Lead. In 2013, she created and launched the CNBC Disruptor 50, an annual list she oversees, highlighting the private companies transforming the economy and challenging companies in established industries. Additionally, she reported a documentary on the future of television for the network, “Stay Tuned...The Future of TV” and helped launch CNBC’s “Closing the Gap” initiative, covering the people and companies closing gender gaps, and leads CNBC’s coverage of studies on this topic. Before joining CNBC, Boorstin was a writer and reporter at Fortune magazine, as well as a contributor to “Street Life,” a live market wrap-up segment on CNN Headline News.

This conversation is packed with SO many great topics, including a concept Julia calls the confidence dial, having empathy as a strategic skill, and why people who played sports make for much better leaders.

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]]> Julia Boorstin is CNBC’s Senior Media & Tech correspondent based at the network’s Los Angeles bureau, where she reports and conducts CEO interviews across CNBC programming, and plays a key role on CNBC’s bicoastal tech-focused program TechCheck, delivering reporting, analysis, and interviews around streaming, social, and the convergence of media and technology. She is also the author of When Women Lead. In 2013, she created and launched the CNBC Disruptor 50, an annual list she oversees, highlighting the private companies transforming the economy and challenging companies in established industries. Additionally, she reported a documentary on the future of television for the network, “Stay Tuned...The Future of TV” and helped launch CNBC’s “Closing the Gap” initiative, covering the people and companies closing gender gaps, and leads CNBC’s coverage of studies on this topic. Before joining CNBC, Boorstin was a writer and reporter at Fortune magazine, as well as a contributor to “Street Life,” a live market wrap-up segment on CNN Headline News.

This conversation is packed with SO many great topics, including a concept Julia calls the confidence dial, having empathy as a strategic skill, and why people who played sports make for much better leaders.

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-11872057 Wed, 14 Dec 2022 12:00:00 -0500 2442 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, julia boorstin, leadership, when women lead full false #31: Mid-Day Squares - Creating fans and not customers, building a company as a family, and the power of social media #31: Mid-Day Squares - Creating fans and not customers, building a company as a family, and the power of social media Lezlie Karls, Co-founder, and CEO started MID-DAY SQUARES with her husband Nick Saltarelli, and brother Jake Karls. After being rejected by every major grocery store buyer, she persuaded her husband to leave his tech startup and help her sell online direct to consumers. Together, they wanted to bring delicious tasting, clean, high-protein afternoon snacks to people on the daily life grind.

Join in on our conversation as we discuss how they want to create fans instead of customers, how they've leveraged the power of social media, and built a strong startup together as a family of co-founders.

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]]> Lezlie Karls, Co-founder, and CEO started MID-DAY SQUARES with her husband Nick Saltarelli, and brother Jake Karls. After being rejected by every major grocery store buyer, she persuaded her husband to leave his tech startup and help her sell online direct to consumers. Together, they wanted to bring delicious tasting, clean, high-protein afternoon snacks to people on the daily life grind.

Join in on our conversation as we discuss how they want to create fans instead of customers, how they've leveraged the power of social media, and built a strong startup together as a family of co-founders.

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-11817867 Mon, 05 Dec 2022 14:00:00 -0500 3684 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, mid-day squares, nick saltarelli, lezlie karls, jake karls full false #30: Rob Kramer of PurposeLab — Building resilience, an unconventional career path, and working with the Kardashians #30: Rob Kramer of PurposeLab — Building resilience, an unconventional career path, and working with the Kardashians Rob Co-Founded PurposeLab with Andrew Skinner back in 2009 from a simple idea: build technology and invest in companies driven by impact and purpose. They partner with like-minded founders with domain expertise who love to create impact, and who need a tech partner that can ideate, design, and build beautiful consumer and enterprise software products. PurposeLab has evolved into a product development and venture studio that invests in brilliant entrepreneurs striving to disrupt the status quo. 

Rob is also the Co-host of the Hell & Wellness Podcast with Matt Ruby.

We discuss how to bounce back from incredibly challenging circumstances, the process of experimenting vs. sticking it out, and Rob's working with the Kardashian family.

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]]> Rob Co-Founded PurposeLab with Andrew Skinner back in 2009 from a simple idea: build technology and invest in companies driven by impact and purpose. They partner with like-minded founders with domain expertise who love to create impact, and who need a tech partner that can ideate, design, and build beautiful consumer and enterprise software products. PurposeLab has evolved into a product development and venture studio that invests in brilliant entrepreneurs striving to disrupt the status quo. 

Rob is also the Co-host of the Hell & Wellness Podcast with Matt Ruby.

We discuss how to bounce back from incredibly challenging circumstances, the process of experimenting vs. sticking it out, and Rob's working with the Kardashian family.

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-11775174 Mon, 28 Nov 2022 14:00:00 -0500 3487 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Rob Kramer, PurposeLab full false #29: Dan Zavorotny, Nutrisense #29: Dan Zavorotny, Nutrisense Dan Zavorotny is a healthcare technology entrepreneur whose latest venture, NutriSense, involves CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitoring) technology as a tool for preventative health, weight management, and increased physical performance. His team has helped tens of thousands of individuals, ranging from type II diabetics to world record-setting athletes by optimizing their health and wellness with a data-driven approach.

Prior to his entrepreneurial career, Dan worked as a global healthcare consultant at KPMG and has had the privilege of traveling to over 100 countries.

We discuss establishing trust as co-founders, the culture shift going from a large corporation to a startup, and his process of teaching himself marketing. 

I feel that his approach applies globally to any skill you are trying to teach yourself - this is gold!!

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]]> Dan Zavorotny is a healthcare technology entrepreneur whose latest venture, NutriSense, involves CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitoring) technology as a tool for preventative health, weight management, and increased physical performance. His team has helped tens of thousands of individuals, ranging from type II diabetics to world record-setting athletes by optimizing their health and wellness with a data-driven approach.

Prior to his entrepreneurial career, Dan worked as a global healthcare consultant at KPMG and has had the privilege of traveling to over 100 countries.

We discuss establishing trust as co-founders, the culture shift going from a large corporation to a startup, and his process of teaching himself marketing. 

I feel that his approach applies globally to any skill you are trying to teach yourself - this is gold!!

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-11657093 Tue, 08 Nov 2022 14:00:00 -0500 4536 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, dan zavorotny, nutrisense full false #28: Melissa Daimler, Udemy #28: Melissa Daimler, Udemy Melissa Daimler helps leaders design, operationalize, and scale their culture. She currently serves as the Chief Learning Officer for Udemy, where she develops learning strategies for both customers and employees. Melissa brings over two decades of experience across Learning and Development, Talent Management, and Organizational Development. Prior to Udemy, Melissa created and built Learning, Organizational, and Talent Development functions for Adobe, Twitter, and WeWork.

Melissa is a speaker, panelist, and contributor to broad industry publishers including Harvard Business Review, Huffington Post, Chief Learning Officer, and Chief Talent Development Officer magazines.
She has served as a board member for the Association of Talent Development (“ATD”) and the Advisory Board for the University of San Francisco, Master’s Program for Organization Development.

Melissa is also the author of the McGraw Hill book, ReCulturing: Design Your Company Culture to Connect with Strategy and Purpose for Lasting Success.

We talk all about culture, including what it takes to build a strong company culture, what she’s learned from her experiences in different cultural environments. This includes WeWork, and when she realized they weren’t going to change. Melissa shares how she’s managing her worklife now as an executive, author, and speaker, and the systems she’s put in place to keep up with all of her activities.

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]]> Melissa Daimler helps leaders design, operationalize, and scale their culture. She currently serves as the Chief Learning Officer for Udemy, where she develops learning strategies for both customers and employees. Melissa brings over two decades of experience across Learning and Development, Talent Management, and Organizational Development. Prior to Udemy, Melissa created and built Learning, Organizational, and Talent Development functions for Adobe, Twitter, and WeWork.

Melissa is a speaker, panelist, and contributor to broad industry publishers including Harvard Business Review, Huffington Post, Chief Learning Officer, and Chief Talent Development Officer magazines.
She has served as a board member for the Association of Talent Development (“ATD”) and the Advisory Board for the University of San Francisco, Master’s Program for Organization Development.

Melissa is also the author of the McGraw Hill book, ReCulturing: Design Your Company Culture to Connect with Strategy and Purpose for Lasting Success.

We talk all about culture, including what it takes to build a strong company culture, what she’s learned from her experiences in different cultural environments. This includes WeWork, and when she realized they weren’t going to change. Melissa shares how she’s managing her worklife now as an executive, author, and speaker, and the systems she’s put in place to keep up with all of her activities.

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter.

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-11530609 Wed, 19 Oct 2022 13:00:00 -0400 3763 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals,melissa daimler, company culture, culture full false #27: - Andy Karsner, X (a division of Alphabet) #27: - Andy Karsner, X (a division of Alphabet) Andy Karsner is a true renaissance man! His entrepreneurial leadership has been associated with both venture capital and private equity portfolios throughout the past decade. With responsibilities in guidance and holdings for some of the most successful technology startups, from solar energy to biotech, Karsner is currently a senior strategist at X, the moonshot factory, where he brings an entrepreneurial focus to economic competitiveness, global security, and environmental sustainability. He was the Managing Partner at Emerson Collective where he founded and led Elemental, an environmental practice. He has also served in the US Department of Energy as the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. A board member at Applied Materials (Nasdaq:AMAT) and Exxon Mobil ( NYSE: XOM) 

This conversation starts from the beginning of when he led Enercorp as a CEO. You'll hear in great detail the near-death experiences Andy had, why he felt he got a bad deal when he sold his company (even though it ended up being a very good one!), and his perspective as an investor, including the two most important things he looks for in an entrepreneur when he considers backing them. Listen to all this and more, including the advice he most often gives to the entrepreneurs that he mentors in this episode.

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]]> Andy Karsner is a true renaissance man! His entrepreneurial leadership has been associated with both venture capital and private equity portfolios throughout the past decade. With responsibilities in guidance and holdings for some of the most successful technology startups, from solar energy to biotech, Karsner is currently a senior strategist at X, the moonshot factory, where he brings an entrepreneurial focus to economic competitiveness, global security, and environmental sustainability. He was the Managing Partner at Emerson Collective where he founded and led Elemental, an environmental practice. He has also served in the US Department of Energy as the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. A board member at Applied Materials (Nasdaq:AMAT) and Exxon Mobil ( NYSE: XOM) 

This conversation starts from the beginning of when he led Enercorp as a CEO. You'll hear in great detail the near-death experiences Andy had, why he felt he got a bad deal when he sold his company (even though it ended up being a very good one!), and his perspective as an investor, including the two most important things he looks for in an entrepreneur when he considers backing them. Listen to all this and more, including the advice he most often gives to the entrepreneurs that he mentors in this episode.

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter.

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-11408740 Thu, 29 Sep 2022 14:00:00 -0400 2649 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, andy karsner full false #26: Maëlle Gavet, Techstars #26: Maëlle Gavet, Techstars Maëlle Gavet is the CEO of the global investment business Techstars, focused on supporting entrepreneurs, and is one of the most well-known startup accelerators around the world. One of the tech industry’s brightest stars, Maëlle has been named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, one of Fortune’s 40 Under 40, one of the Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company, and was fifth among Time magazine’s List of the Top 25 ‘Female Techpreneurs’. She has spoken regularly at the leading technology industry events and her writing has appeared in Wired, the Harvard Business Review, the World Economic Forum, Fast Company, and Fortune magazine. 

Maëlle shared a wealth of knowledge in this episode! We start off by hearing about how she started her first business at 16, and how the lessons for hiring and motivation she learned then are still used today. We talk about the power of feedback,  the moment she realized she became an autocratic leader, and what she did about it. And you might want to listen to this conversation just for her definition of empathy - it may be one of the best I've ever heard!

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]]> Maëlle Gavet is the CEO of the global investment business Techstars, focused on supporting entrepreneurs, and is one of the most well-known startup accelerators around the world. One of the tech industry’s brightest stars, Maëlle has been named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, one of Fortune’s 40 Under 40, one of the Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company, and was fifth among Time magazine’s List of the Top 25 ‘Female Techpreneurs’. She has spoken regularly at the leading technology industry events and her writing has appeared in Wired, the Harvard Business Review, the World Economic Forum, Fast Company, and Fortune magazine. 

Maëlle shared a wealth of knowledge in this episode! We start off by hearing about how she started her first business at 16, and how the lessons for hiring and motivation she learned then are still used today. We talk about the power of feedback,  the moment she realized she became an autocratic leader, and what she did about it. And you might want to listen to this conversation just for her definition of empathy - it may be one of the best I've ever heard!

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter.

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-11319092 Wed, 14 Sep 2022 12:00:00 -0400 3625 full false #25: Larry Gadea, Envoy #25: Larry Gadea, Envoy Larry Gadea is the Founder and CEO of Envoy, a workplace platform that helps companies welcome visitors, keep employees safe, book desks and conference rooms, and manage deliveries in over 16,000 locations around the globe. Larry started his career as a software engineer at 17, having been recruited by Google out of high school. He later joined Twitter as one of the early people driving its ability to scale. Wanting to build a similar global company, in 2013 Larry went on to build the initial website and app for what eventually became Envoy. 
 
I am thrilled to welcome Larry onto the show! Listen to hear how and why his company, Envoy, had to pivot their work and also use the threat of the pandemic as fuel for new products. You’ll also hear how he developed his leadership growing from a manager to a founder and CEO over the last nine years. Listen to his advice on how he engages the leadership team, and also the resolve one needs to make a startup succeed. 

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]]> Larry Gadea is the Founder and CEO of Envoy, a workplace platform that helps companies welcome visitors, keep employees safe, book desks and conference rooms, and manage deliveries in over 16,000 locations around the globe. Larry started his career as a software engineer at 17, having been recruited by Google out of high school. He later joined Twitter as one of the early people driving its ability to scale. Wanting to build a similar global company, in 2013 Larry went on to build the initial website and app for what eventually became Envoy. 
 
I am thrilled to welcome Larry onto the show! Listen to hear how and why his company, Envoy, had to pivot their work and also use the threat of the pandemic as fuel for new products. You’ll also hear how he developed his leadership growing from a manager to a founder and CEO over the last nine years. Listen to his advice on how he engages the leadership team, and also the resolve one needs to make a startup succeed. 

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter.

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Learn more about Envoy | LinkedIn

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-11223071 Mon, 29 Aug 2022 13:00:00 -0400 2553 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, envoy, larry gadea full false #24: Carolyn Childers, Chief #24: Carolyn Childers, Chief Carolyn Childers is the CEO and Co-Founder of Chief. She is an experienced leader and operator, having successfully scaled several early-stage businesses. Prior to founding Chief, Carolyn was SVP of Operations at Handy. Previously, Carolyn led the launch of the site Soap.com (Quidsi) and acted as its GM through its acquisition by Amazon. Carolyn also had roles at Victoria’s Secret and Avon Products where she worked on strategy and business development. She started her career in finance where she spent over three years in investment banking at Deutsche Bank. Carolyn has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS in Finance from Boston College.

I was able to have such a fun interview with Carolyn live at Collision Conference in Toronto this summer! We cover what it’s like to have a successful career and subsequently, the vulnerability one feels becoming a co-founder and CEO. Carolyn discusses the early days of founding Chief with her co-founder and the breakthrough moment they found after that, what it feels like to have so many people not see your vision, and how she learned to be a leader from her background in sports.

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter.

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]]> Carolyn Childers is the CEO and Co-Founder of Chief. She is an experienced leader and operator, having successfully scaled several early-stage businesses. Prior to founding Chief, Carolyn was SVP of Operations at Handy. Previously, Carolyn led the launch of the site Soap.com (Quidsi) and acted as its GM through its acquisition by Amazon. Carolyn also had roles at Victoria’s Secret and Avon Products where she worked on strategy and business development. She started her career in finance where she spent over three years in investment banking at Deutsche Bank. Carolyn has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS in Finance from Boston College.

I was able to have such a fun interview with Carolyn live at Collision Conference in Toronto this summer! We cover what it’s like to have a successful career and subsequently, the vulnerability one feels becoming a co-founder and CEO. Carolyn discusses the early days of founding Chief with her co-founder and the breakthrough moment they found after that, what it feels like to have so many people not see your vision, and how she learned to be a leader from her background in sports.

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter.

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Learn more about Chief | LinkedIn

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-11011240 Mon, 25 Jul 2022 10:00:00 -0400 3330 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Caroline Childers, Chief full false #23: Scott Belsky, Behance #23: Scott Belsky, Behance Scott Belsky is an executive, entrepreneur, author, and investor (and all-around product obsessive). He currently serves as Adobe's Chief Product Officer and Executive Vice President, Creative Cloud. Scott's passion is to make the creative world more productive, connected, and adaptive to new technologies. Scott co-founded Behance in 2006, and served as CEO until Adobe acquired Behance in 2012. Millions of people use Behance to display their portfolios, as well as track and find top talent across the creative industries. After Behance's acquisition, Scott helped kick off Creative Cloud’s services and reboot Adobe's mobile product strategy and led Behance until 2016, when he spent a few years as an investor and advisor to multiple businesses. 

Alongside his role at Adobe, Scott actively advises and invests in businesses that cross the intersection of technology and design - and help empower people. He is/was an early advisor and investor in Pinterest, Uber, sweetgreen, Carta, Cheddar, Flexport, Airtable, OpenSea, Ramp, Ro, and Periscope (now part of Twitter) as well as several others in the early stages.

Scott is also the author of the international bestselling books Making Ideas Happen and The Messy Middle.

We cover so much ground in this conversation, including how he knows when he can trust an executive, why he sees company culture as an immune system, and why it’s important to extinguish most new ideas.

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter!

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Learn more about Scott Belsky
For more stories and advice on founders and CEOs, head to alisacohn.com

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]]> Scott Belsky is an executive, entrepreneur, author, and investor (and all-around product obsessive). He currently serves as Adobe's Chief Product Officer and Executive Vice President, Creative Cloud. Scott's passion is to make the creative world more productive, connected, and adaptive to new technologies. Scott co-founded Behance in 2006, and served as CEO until Adobe acquired Behance in 2012. Millions of people use Behance to display their portfolios, as well as track and find top talent across the creative industries. After Behance's acquisition, Scott helped kick off Creative Cloud’s services and reboot Adobe's mobile product strategy and led Behance until 2016, when he spent a few years as an investor and advisor to multiple businesses. 

Alongside his role at Adobe, Scott actively advises and invests in businesses that cross the intersection of technology and design - and help empower people. He is/was an early advisor and investor in Pinterest, Uber, sweetgreen, Carta, Cheddar, Flexport, Airtable, OpenSea, Ramp, Ro, and Periscope (now part of Twitter) as well as several others in the early stages.

Scott is also the author of the international bestselling books Making Ideas Happen and The Messy Middle.

We cover so much ground in this conversation, including how he knows when he can trust an executive, why he sees company culture as an immune system, and why it’s important to extinguish most new ideas.

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter!

If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast!

Learn more about Scott Belsky
For more stories and advice on founders and CEOs, head to alisacohn.com

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-10942479 Mon, 11 Jul 2022 14:00:00 -0400 2697 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Scott belsky full false #22: Sarah Dorsett, Nanit #22: Sarah Dorsett, Nanit Sarah Dorsett is CEO of Nanit, a high-growth baby tech company that supports the new parent journey with products that connect parents to their child’s development through powerful insights that improve the sleep and well-being of the entire family.  Under Dorsett’s leadership, Nanit has been named to Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500, and CNBC’s Upstart 100 list of most promising startups. An ecommerce leader with more than two decades of experience scaling retail businesses, Dorsett previously served as Vice President of Ecommerce at Bed Bath & Beyond and held executive roles at Bloomingdales.com, Century 21 Department Stores and Coty. Aside from her corporate responsibilities, Sarah is a mom of three and founder of Parken Jewelry.

Sarah offered a fortune of valuable advice in this conversation! From stepping into the role of a CEO replacing a founder, sharing what her experience was as a first-time CEO, developing a playbook for leadership and management, building trust, creating white space in her calendar to focus on bigger questions, building situational awareness, and how her role as a parent has helped her become a better CEO.

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]]> Sarah Dorsett is CEO of Nanit, a high-growth baby tech company that supports the new parent journey with products that connect parents to their child’s development through powerful insights that improve the sleep and well-being of the entire family.  Under Dorsett’s leadership, Nanit has been named to Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500, and CNBC’s Upstart 100 list of most promising startups. An ecommerce leader with more than two decades of experience scaling retail businesses, Dorsett previously served as Vice President of Ecommerce at Bed Bath & Beyond and held executive roles at Bloomingdales.com, Century 21 Department Stores and Coty. Aside from her corporate responsibilities, Sarah is a mom of three and founder of Parken Jewelry.

Sarah offered a fortune of valuable advice in this conversation! From stepping into the role of a CEO replacing a founder, sharing what her experience was as a first-time CEO, developing a playbook for leadership and management, building trust, creating white space in her calendar to focus on bigger questions, building situational awareness, and how her role as a parent has helped her become a better CEO.

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-10907825 Tue, 05 Jul 2022 12:00:00 -0400 2841 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, Sarah Dorsett, Nanit full false #21: Alexi Robichaux, BetterUp #21: Alexi Robichaux, BetterUp Alexi Robichaux is the Co-Founder and CEO of BetterUp, the first leadership development platform to connect coaching to sustainable behavior change. Prior to BetterUp, Alexi was Director of Product Management at VMware. Alexi is Chairman of Youth Leadership America (YLA), a nonprofit he co-founded in 2003, to foster peer-to-peer leadership development and civic engagement in high school students. YLA has collaborated with leading companies including Disney, Google, and Hilton Hotels to coach and mentor future leaders.

This episode is chock-full of so many stories! We literally dive right into it, talking about what Navy Seals taught him about running his company, handling a cacophony of pain and misery, why it took him two years to hire a CRO, the frameworks he has in place to scale his business, and the mentors who have helped him learn them.

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]]> Alexi Robichaux is the Co-Founder and CEO of BetterUp, the first leadership development platform to connect coaching to sustainable behavior change. Prior to BetterUp, Alexi was Director of Product Management at VMware. Alexi is Chairman of Youth Leadership America (YLA), a nonprofit he co-founded in 2003, to foster peer-to-peer leadership development and civic engagement in high school students. YLA has collaborated with leading companies including Disney, Google, and Hilton Hotels to coach and mentor future leaders.

This episode is chock-full of so many stories! We literally dive right into it, talking about what Navy Seals taught him about running his company, handling a cacophony of pain and misery, why it took him two years to hire a CRO, the frameworks he has in place to scale his business, and the mentors who have helped him learn them.

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-10791788 Tue, 14 Jun 2022 12:00:00 -0400 4935 Founders, CEO, Startups, Management, Leadership, Business, Alisa Cohn, Alexi Robichaux, Practice, Breather full false #20: Oleg Rogynskyy, People.ai #20: Oleg Rogynskyy, People.ai Oleg Rogynskyy is the Founder and CEO of People.ai

I was introduced to Oleg by Robin Matlock, who has also appeared on this podcast! Oleg is an incredibly thoughtful and intentional leader in how he builds his company. In our conversation, we talk about specifics for board management,  why he hires people that are "way out of his league," and his strategy to maintain and grow his extensive network.

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]]> Oleg Rogynskyy is the Founder and CEO of People.ai

I was introduced to Oleg by Robin Matlock, who has also appeared on this podcast! Oleg is an incredibly thoughtful and intentional leader in how he builds his company. In our conversation, we talk about specifics for board management,  why he hires people that are "way out of his league," and his strategy to maintain and grow his extensive network.

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter!

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Learn more about People.ai
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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-10666982 Mon, 23 May 2022 12:00:00 -0400 3090 leadership, management, startups, alisa cohn, productivity, motivation, strategy, goals, oleg rogsynskyy full false #19: Jon Stein, Betterment #19: Jon Stein, Betterment Jon Stein is the Founder and Chairman of the Board at Betterment.

Jon was the first person I interviewed for my book, From Start-Up to Grown-Up! We start at the beginning of his journey that led him to founding Betterment, then discuss how important culture is to the success of the company. Later on, we got into why he stepped down as CEO, and how he would end up finding his successor.

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Learn more about Jon's company, Betterment, at betterment.com
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]]> Jon Stein is the Founder and Chairman of the Board at Betterment.

Jon was the first person I interviewed for my book, From Start-Up to Grown-Up! We start at the beginning of his journey that led him to founding Betterment, then discuss how important culture is to the success of the company. Later on, we got into why he stepped down as CEO, and how he would end up finding his successor.

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Learn more about Jon's company, Betterment, at betterment.com
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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-10587131 Mon, 09 May 2022 14:00:00 -0400 3976 full false #18: Paul English, Boston Venture Studio #18: Paul English, Boston Venture Studio Paul English is the co-founder and CEO of Boston Venture Studio.

Paul has been a founder for multiple companies and organizations, one of his companies being Kayak. Paul shares how he found his co-founder Steve Hafner and how they decided to build Kayak together. 
He is also a master of the hiring process, and shares step by step his process for determining whether to hire someone and how he does it within seven days of hearing their name!

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Learn more about Paul at paulenglish.com
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]]> Paul English is the co-founder and CEO of Boston Venture Studio.

Paul has been a founder for multiple companies and organizations, one of his companies being Kayak. Paul shares how he found his co-founder Steve Hafner and how they decided to build Kayak together. 
He is also a master of the hiring process, and shares step by step his process for determining whether to hire someone and how he does it within seven days of hearing their name!

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter!

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Learn more about Paul at paulenglish.com
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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-10499528 Mon, 25 Apr 2022 11:00:00 -0400 4299 full false #17: Kara Goldin, Hint Inc. #17: Kara Goldin, Hint Inc. Kara Goldin is the co-founder and CEO of the beverage company Hint Inc.

She discusses co-founding Hint with her husband Theo, why and when she decided to bring in outside investors after bootstrapping for so long, and why singer-songwriter John Legend became an investor.

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Learn more about Hint at drinkhint.com
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]]> Kara Goldin is the co-founder and CEO of the beverage company Hint Inc.

She discusses co-founding Hint with her husband Theo, why and when she decided to bring in outside investors after bootstrapping for so long, and why singer-songwriter John Legend became an investor.

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter!

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Learn more about Hint at drinkhint.com
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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-10424955 Tue, 12 Apr 2022 11:00:00 -0400 3889 Founders, CEO, Startups, Management, Leadership, Business, Alisa Cohn, Kara Goldin, Hint, John Legend full false #16: Julien Smith, Practice #16: Julien Smith, Practice Julien Smith is the Founder and CEO of Practice, a WSJ bestselling author, and former CEO and Founder of Breather.

He discusses what he learned stepping away from his former company, Breather, how he strengthens his co-founder relationships, and the insight he gained watching another CEO operate.

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Learn more about Practice at practice.do
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]]> Julien Smith is the Founder and CEO of Practice, a WSJ bestselling author, and former CEO and Founder of Breather.

He discusses what he learned stepping away from his former company, Breather, how he strengthens his co-founder relationships, and the insight he gained watching another CEO operate.

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter!

Learn more about Practice at practice.do
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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-10332805 Mon, 28 Mar 2022 13:00:00 -0400 3971 Founders, CEO, Startups, Management, Leadership, Business, Alisa Cohn, Julien Smith, Practice, Breather full false #15: Ilan Twig, TripActions #15: Ilan Twig, TripActions Ilan Twig is the Co-Founder and CTO of TripActions.

Ilan talks about how his first company was acquired after nine months, how the pandemic nearly ruined their business, how they leaned on their mission and culture to create and survive, and why a diagnosis helped define his leadership style.

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Learn more about TripActions at tripactions.com
For more stories and advice on founders and CEOs, head to alisacohn.com

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]]> Ilan Twig is the Co-Founder and CTO of TripActions.

Ilan talks about how his first company was acquired after nine months, how the pandemic nearly ruined their business, how they leaned on their mission and culture to create and survive, and why a diagnosis helped define his leadership style.

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter!

Learn more about TripActions at tripactions.com
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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-10268823 Thu, 17 Mar 2022 13:00:00 -0400 3845 full false #14: Sid Viswanathan, Truepill #14: Sid Viswanathan, Truepill Sid Viswanathan is the Co-Founder and President of the digital health platform, Truepill.

This was such a rich conversation! We talked about how he was reverse-pitched on his first startup, founder market fit, how company culture evolves as your business grows, and how when he solves a problem, it's a failure.

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]]> Sid Viswanathan is the Co-Founder and President of the digital health platform, Truepill.

This was such a rich conversation! We talked about how he was reverse-pitched on his first startup, founder market fit, how company culture evolves as your business grows, and how when he solves a problem, it's a failure.

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter!

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-10086735 Wed, 16 Feb 2022 12:00:00 -0500 3268 alisa cohn, startups, business, sid viswanathan, truepill, founders, market full false #13: Ragy Thomas, Sprinklr #13: Ragy Thomas, Sprinklr Ragy Thomas is the Founder and CEO of the social media and customer management company, Sprinklr.

We really got into it in this discussion, from how he grew up in a family that looked down on business, becoming a multi-time entrepreneur, his abundance mindset, and the advice that changed his life.

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]]> Ragy Thomas is the Founder and CEO of the social media and customer management company, Sprinklr.

We really got into it in this discussion, from how he grew up in a family that looked down on business, becoming a multi-time entrepreneur, his abundance mindset, and the advice that changed his life.

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter!

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-9949841 Tue, 25 Jan 2022 12:00:00 -0500 3294 full false #12: Rahul Vohra, Superhuman #12: Rahul Vohra, Superhuman Rahul Vohra is the Co-Founder and CEO of Superhuman.

Rahul Vohra is the Founder and CEO at Superhuman. According to Crunch Base, he is also a Technical Advisor at Boldstart Ventures, an investor and advisor at Partender, and an investor of sendwithus and Easy Post. He received his bachelor of arts in Computer Science at the University of Cambridge.

Rahul shares the lessons he learned from being a serial entrepreneur, how and why he learned to meditate, what he does to build trust with his team, and the pros and cons of being a celebrity founder.

[1:41] Rahul’s Gaming Life

[3:57] Rahul’s Past Experiences

[6:48] Rahul’s Experience on Rapportive

[8:07] Motivation and Driving Power of Rahul

[11:25] Maintaining Spiritual, Mental, and Physical Health

[26:06] Taking Feedbacks

[31:56] Building up Trust

[38:29] Change of Mindset as a Leader

[44:12] Is there a Downside about Waiting so Long to Launch?

[51:52] The Challenges of Change

[56:11] Advantages and Disadvantages of Being a Celebrity CEO

[59:55] Experience on Self-Doubt

[1:02:50] Advice in Growing as a Leader

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter at http://alisacohn.com/5scripts

Check out Superhuman on https://superhuman.com/

You can also follow Rahul on his socials:

Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram

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]]> Rahul Vohra is the Co-Founder and CEO of Superhuman.

Rahul Vohra is the Founder and CEO at Superhuman. According to Crunch Base, he is also a Technical Advisor at Boldstart Ventures, an investor and advisor at Partender, and an investor of sendwithus and Easy Post. He received his bachelor of arts in Computer Science at the University of Cambridge.

Rahul shares the lessons he learned from being a serial entrepreneur, how and why he learned to meditate, what he does to build trust with his team, and the pros and cons of being a celebrity founder.

[1:41] Rahul’s Gaming Life

[3:57] Rahul’s Past Experiences

[6:48] Rahul’s Experience on Rapportive

[8:07] Motivation and Driving Power of Rahul

[11:25] Maintaining Spiritual, Mental, and Physical Health

[26:06] Taking Feedbacks

[31:56] Building up Trust

[38:29] Change of Mindset as a Leader

[44:12] Is there a Downside about Waiting so Long to Launch?

[51:52] The Challenges of Change

[56:11] Advantages and Disadvantages of Being a Celebrity CEO

[59:55] Experience on Self-Doubt

[1:02:50] Advice in Growing as a Leader

To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter at http://alisacohn.com/5scripts

Check out Superhuman on https://superhuman.com/

You can also follow Rahul on his socials:

Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-9860283 Mon, 10 Jan 2022 11:00:00 -0500 3846 full false #11: Robin Matlock, VMware #11: Robin Matlock, VMware Robin Matlock was the former CMO of VMware, an independent Board Director of startups including People.ai and Cohesity.

Robin is a seasoned Silicon Valley GTM executive with over 30 years of marketing, sales and business development experience in the enterprise software and services market. Currently an Independent Director with Iron Mountain (NYSM: IRM), serving on Technology, Compensation and Risk/Safety Committees. Advisor to People.ai, a fast growing AI and Revenue Acceleration company, and Calamu, an early-stage disruptor in the data security market.

She talks about her own career growth and about the importance of not putting limits on yourself and how a fateful lunch totally changed her career trajectory. She talks about how you need to promote yourself in your own mind to lead at a different altitude as you become more senior, and then again when you serve as a board director. Robin also shares a recipe for how to bring culture to life, why you need to get better at failing, and how playing the harp prepared her for her very successful business career.

[01:58] Silicon Valley’s Ethos

[03:54] Robin’s role model

[08:38] A CEO’s Influence

[15:41] How Robin’s career began

[36:36] The Importance of Culture

[46:16] Struggles

[52:48] Advice

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]]> Robin Matlock was the former CMO of VMware, an independent Board Director of startups including People.ai and Cohesity.

Robin is a seasoned Silicon Valley GTM executive with over 30 years of marketing, sales and business development experience in the enterprise software and services market. Currently an Independent Director with Iron Mountain (NYSM: IRM), serving on Technology, Compensation and Risk/Safety Committees. Advisor to People.ai, a fast growing AI and Revenue Acceleration company, and Calamu, an early-stage disruptor in the data security market.

She talks about her own career growth and about the importance of not putting limits on yourself and how a fateful lunch totally changed her career trajectory. She talks about how you need to promote yourself in your own mind to lead at a different altitude as you become more senior, and then again when you serve as a board director. Robin also shares a recipe for how to bring culture to life, why you need to get better at failing, and how playing the harp prepared her for her very successful business career.

[01:58] Silicon Valley’s Ethos

[03:54] Robin’s role model

[08:38] A CEO’s Influence

[15:41] How Robin’s career began

[36:36] The Importance of Culture

[46:16] Struggles

[52:48] Advice

To hear more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter at http://alisacohn.com/5scripts

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]]> Alisa Cohn / Robin Matlock Buzzsprout-9823790 Mon, 03 Jan 2022 13:00:00 -0500 3324 startups, business, leadership, CEO, Alisa Cohn, Robin Matlock full false #10: Greg Galant, Muck Rack #10: Greg Galant, Muck Rack Gregory Galant is the co-founder and CEO of Muck Rack, a platform enabling PR teams to work together to find the right journalists for their stories, send customized pitches, build meaningful relationships with the media, monitor news and quantify their impact. It’s used by thousands of organizations, including Taco Bell, Pfizer, Golin, International Committee of the Red Cross, Knight Foundation, Kauffman Foundation and Penguin Random House. Muck Rack is also the solution of choice for journalists, who use Muck Rack’s free, automatically updated portfolios to showcase their work and provide information about what stories they’re looking for.

Greg’s also the co-creator and executive producer of The Shorty Awards, which honor the best of social media. Past winners include Lizzo, Ricky Gervais, Rebel Wilson, Trevor Noah, Conan O’Brien, Issa Rae, Marques Brownlee, Sesame Street, Neil Patrick Harris, Mike Bloomberg and NASA.

Greg is a frequent speaker and writer on topics related to social media, marketing, PR, entrepreneurship, remote work and journalism. He’s presented at SXSW, Web Summit, Harvard Business School, Le Web and The International Journalism Festival, and his columns have appeared in Fortune, Forbes and Business Insider.

Along with his companies, Greg has been cited in and interviewed by numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press, Business News Daily, Editor & Publisher, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Inc., Poynter, PR News and PRWeek. BusinessWeek named him one of the “Best Young Tech Entrepreneurs,” and Crain’s honored Muck Rack as one of the “100 Best Places to Work in New York City.”

In this episode, Greg shares why he decided to bootstrap instead of taking VC money, the constant state of change his job is as a CEO, and why he’s become grateful to sit around and be bored.

[1:33] Early Days of Greg's Entrepreneurial Career

[3:22] Greg's Founding Story

[11:04] Greg's View on Failure

[15:45] Greg's Opinions on VC Money

[19:39] Downsides on the Decisions Made

[24:38] Greg's Journey as a Leader

[33:00] What Greg Felt When He Gave Way 

[40:13] Setting Learning Goals

[42:27] Working Remotely – The Remote Culture

[52:22] Greg on Firing People

[57:56] Self-doubt in Greg's Entrepreneurial Journey

[1:07:42] Final Remarks

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]]> Gregory Galant is the co-founder and CEO of Muck Rack, a platform enabling PR teams to work together to find the right journalists for their stories, send customized pitches, build meaningful relationships with the media, monitor news and quantify their impact. It’s used by thousands of organizations, including Taco Bell, Pfizer, Golin, International Committee of the Red Cross, Knight Foundation, Kauffman Foundation and Penguin Random House. Muck Rack is also the solution of choice for journalists, who use Muck Rack’s free, automatically updated portfolios to showcase their work and provide information about what stories they’re looking for.

Greg’s also the co-creator and executive producer of The Shorty Awards, which honor the best of social media. Past winners include Lizzo, Ricky Gervais, Rebel Wilson, Trevor Noah, Conan O’Brien, Issa Rae, Marques Brownlee, Sesame Street, Neil Patrick Harris, Mike Bloomberg and NASA.

Greg is a frequent speaker and writer on topics related to social media, marketing, PR, entrepreneurship, remote work and journalism. He’s presented at SXSW, Web Summit, Harvard Business School, Le Web and The International Journalism Festival, and his columns have appeared in Fortune, Forbes and Business Insider.

Along with his companies, Greg has been cited in and interviewed by numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press, Business News Daily, Editor & Publisher, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Inc., Poynter, PR News and PRWeek. BusinessWeek named him one of the “Best Young Tech Entrepreneurs,” and Crain’s honored Muck Rack as one of the “100 Best Places to Work in New York City.”

In this episode, Greg shares why he decided to bootstrap instead of taking VC money, the constant state of change his job is as a CEO, and why he’s become grateful to sit around and be bored.

[1:33] Early Days of Greg's Entrepreneurial Career

[3:22] Greg's Founding Story

[11:04] Greg's View on Failure

[15:45] Greg's Opinions on VC Money

[19:39] Downsides on the Decisions Made

[24:38] Greg's Journey as a Leader

[33:00] What Greg Felt When He Gave Way 

[40:13] Setting Learning Goals

[42:27] Working Remotely – The Remote Culture

[52:22] Greg on Firing People

[57:56] Self-doubt in Greg's Entrepreneurial Journey

[1:07:42] Final Remarks

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-9754113 Mon, 20 Dec 2021 11:00:00 -0500 4175 full false #9: David Sax, Author #9: David Sax, Author David Sax is the author of The Soul of an Entrepreneur.

An award winning writer, journalist, and keynote speaker, David has been at the forefront of reporting and dissecting the intersection of business and culture for nearly two decades, including four internationally bestselling books, articles and appearances in nearly every major global news outlet, and dozens of keynote speeches to audiences around the world.


We talk through the startup myth, what entrepreneurship really looks like, the emotional and personal journey about what it takes to be an entrepreneur, and the highs and lows of being a solopreneur.

[0:48] Going Beyond the Start-Up Myth

[3:30] David’s Interest in Entrepreneurship

[9:23] Accidental Entrepreneurs

[15:56] What does it take to be an Entrepreneur?

[22:49] Occupational Hazard on Entrepreneur

[25:39] David as a Solopreneur

[28:55] David’s reminder during downs

[37:58] Is Entrepreneurship a Mental Illness?

[41:07] The Change after Writing the Book

[44:40] What David is Working on for Now

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]]> David Sax is the author of The Soul of an Entrepreneur.

An award winning writer, journalist, and keynote speaker, David has been at the forefront of reporting and dissecting the intersection of business and culture for nearly two decades, including four internationally bestselling books, articles and appearances in nearly every major global news outlet, and dozens of keynote speeches to audiences around the world.


We talk through the startup myth, what entrepreneurship really looks like, the emotional and personal journey about what it takes to be an entrepreneur, and the highs and lows of being a solopreneur.

[0:48] Going Beyond the Start-Up Myth

[3:30] David’s Interest in Entrepreneurship

[9:23] Accidental Entrepreneurs

[15:56] What does it take to be an Entrepreneur?

[22:49] Occupational Hazard on Entrepreneur

[25:39] David as a Solopreneur

[28:55] David’s reminder during downs

[37:58] Is Entrepreneurship a Mental Illness?

[41:07] The Change after Writing the Book

[44:40] What David is Working on for Now

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-9686243 Wed, 08 Dec 2021 13:00:00 -0500 3068 full false #8: Rick Nucci, Guru #8: Rick Nucci, Guru Rick Nucci is the Co-Founder and CEO of Guru.

Rick Nucci is co-founder and CEO at Guru. Rick brings twenty years of experience in creating category-leading software solutions and companies. Prior to Guru, Rick was the founder and chief technology officer of Boomi, which defined and led a new segment as the first-ever cloud integration platform-as-a-service. Boomi was acquired by Dell in 2010, where Rick went on to run the Boomi business for Dell as its general manager, helping grow the organization into the industry leader it is today. Rick frequently speaks at industry events about startups, SaaS and cloud computing. Rick holds a Bachelor of Science in Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management from Penn State University.

In this talk, Rick discusses the importance of having complementary founder skills, his philosophy about culture, what to do when he doesn't know what to do, and why he insists that people vent.

[01:04] “Success is not a license for arrogance.”

[02:55] What Rick learned from the trials and errors of leadership

[15:03] Importance of Culture 

[19:42] Hiring Candidates 

[22:09] Downsides to Guru’s Culture 

[28:02] Maintaining Guru’s Culture during the Pandemic

[34:19] The Change and Growth that Ricks has done as a Leader 

[40:30] Experiencing Self-Doubt and Impostor Syndrome 

[45:46] What Rick wished he knew before starting his journey

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]]> Rick Nucci is the Co-Founder and CEO of Guru.

Rick Nucci is co-founder and CEO at Guru. Rick brings twenty years of experience in creating category-leading software solutions and companies. Prior to Guru, Rick was the founder and chief technology officer of Boomi, which defined and led a new segment as the first-ever cloud integration platform-as-a-service. Boomi was acquired by Dell in 2010, where Rick went on to run the Boomi business for Dell as its general manager, helping grow the organization into the industry leader it is today. Rick frequently speaks at industry events about startups, SaaS and cloud computing. Rick holds a Bachelor of Science in Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management from Penn State University.

In this talk, Rick discusses the importance of having complementary founder skills, his philosophy about culture, what to do when he doesn't know what to do, and why he insists that people vent.

[01:04] “Success is not a license for arrogance.”

[02:55] What Rick learned from the trials and errors of leadership

[15:03] Importance of Culture 

[19:42] Hiring Candidates 

[22:09] Downsides to Guru’s Culture 

[28:02] Maintaining Guru’s Culture during the Pandemic

[34:19] The Change and Growth that Ricks has done as a Leader 

[40:30] Experiencing Self-Doubt and Impostor Syndrome 

[45:46] What Rick wished he knew before starting his journey

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-9637930 Tue, 30 Nov 2021 12:00:00 -0500 2934 full false #7: Jennifer Dulski, Rising Team #7: Jennifer Dulski, Rising Team Jennifer Dulski is the Founder and CEO of Rising Team and author of the WSJ bestselling book Purposeful.

Jennifer Dulski has a wide range of executive experience including leadership roles at Facebook, Google, and Yahoo!, and founder, CEO, and president roles at early stage and scaling startups. She is currently CEO and founder of Rising Team, a company that provides tools, data, and community to turn managers into amazing coaches that build happier and more successful teams.

Prior to Rising Team, she led Facebook Groups, used by more than 1.5 billion people each month to create and participate in communities that matter to them. Her team was responsible for envisioning, building, and growing the Groups product. She also led the 2019 redesign of Facebook, “FB5,” to put communities at the center of the app.

Before Facebook, Dulski was president and COO of Change.org, a social enterprise company that empowers people to create campaigns for change. Under her leadership, Change.org grew 10x, from 18 million users to 180 million, developed a profitable business model, rebuilt its tech stack, and supported thousands of successful campaigns globally.


During our conversation, Jennifer shares her story of becoming the founder of a nonprofit when she was 21, how you can get fooled by thinking you have product market fit, why it's so helpful for founders to spend time at large companies, work/life mashup, and her love of acronyms.

[01:49] Overcoming Challenges

[03:20] Strengthening Teams with Similar Talents

[05:30] Why Jennifer Appreciates Honest Feedback

[08:45] Building a Nonprofit Company

[10:03] Structure of the Organization

[14:23] Developing Technology to Create a Consumer Product

[17:53] Truths of Being a Serial Founder

[26:12] Jennifer's Goal to Build Rising Team

[37:25] Vital Life Lessons Learned

[42:55] The Strength of Self-Confidence

[49:55] Three Traits for Successful Movements

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]]> Jennifer Dulski is the Founder and CEO of Rising Team and author of the WSJ bestselling book Purposeful.

Jennifer Dulski has a wide range of executive experience including leadership roles at Facebook, Google, and Yahoo!, and founder, CEO, and president roles at early stage and scaling startups. She is currently CEO and founder of Rising Team, a company that provides tools, data, and community to turn managers into amazing coaches that build happier and more successful teams.

Prior to Rising Team, she led Facebook Groups, used by more than 1.5 billion people each month to create and participate in communities that matter to them. Her team was responsible for envisioning, building, and growing the Groups product. She also led the 2019 redesign of Facebook, “FB5,” to put communities at the center of the app.

Before Facebook, Dulski was president and COO of Change.org, a social enterprise company that empowers people to create campaigns for change. Under her leadership, Change.org grew 10x, from 18 million users to 180 million, developed a profitable business model, rebuilt its tech stack, and supported thousands of successful campaigns globally.


During our conversation, Jennifer shares her story of becoming the founder of a nonprofit when she was 21, how you can get fooled by thinking you have product market fit, why it's so helpful for founders to spend time at large companies, work/life mashup, and her love of acronyms.

[01:49] Overcoming Challenges

[03:20] Strengthening Teams with Similar Talents

[05:30] Why Jennifer Appreciates Honest Feedback

[08:45] Building a Nonprofit Company

[10:03] Structure of the Organization

[14:23] Developing Technology to Create a Consumer Product

[17:53] Truths of Being a Serial Founder

[26:12] Jennifer's Goal to Build Rising Team

[37:25] Vital Life Lessons Learned

[42:55] The Strength of Self-Confidence

[49:55] Three Traits for Successful Movements

To hear more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter at http://alisacohn.com/5scripts

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-9593328 Mon, 22 Nov 2021 12:00:00 -0500 3034 alisa cohn, startups, business, jennifer dulski, Rising Team, full false #6: Jeff Wald, WorkMarket #6: Jeff Wald, WorkMarket Jeff Wald is a serial entrepreneur,  Board Member, Best Selling author, Keynote speaker and investor.   Jeff is co-founder and Chairman of two new technology startups, Bento Engine (toolkit for financial advisers) and Sonero (AI tool that provides summaries and action items from meetings).  Jeff’s previous company, Work Market, an enterprise software platform that enables companies to manage freelancers was acquired by ADP in 2018, where he served on the Senior Leadership Team until 2020.  Mr. Wald has founded several other technology companies, including Spinback, a social sharing platform (eventually purchased by salesforce.com). He began his career in finance, serving as Managing Director at activist hedge fund Barington Capital Group, a Vice President at venture capital firm GlenRock and various roles in the M&A Group at JP Morgan.

Jeff has served on numerous public and private Boards of Directors including Steel Connect (NASDAQ: STCN), Costar Technologies (OTC: CSTI) and venture-backed TransfrVR.   Mr. Wald serves as an adviser to several companies and entities including the X-Prize’s Rapid Reskilling Initiative.

Jeff is the author of the #1 Amazon Best Seller, The End of Jobs: The Rise of On-Demand Workers and Agile Corporations and The Birthday Rules: A Fun and Flexible Framework for Raising Children in a Technology Enabled World.

In this episode, Jeff talks about cofounder drama, his depression when his first startup failed, and what he said to his investors when they told him to get a coach, frameworks, and what he now looks for as an investor.

[02:48] How Jeff started

[13:44] Sign of Weakness

[20:37] Getting a Coach 

[27:33] Working Habit

[37:28] Lifeline

[45:05] Achievements

[47:28] Jeff’s Imposter Syndrome

[55:23] Advice

[01:07:57] Conclusion

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]]> Jeff Wald is a serial entrepreneur,  Board Member, Best Selling author, Keynote speaker and investor.   Jeff is co-founder and Chairman of two new technology startups, Bento Engine (toolkit for financial advisers) and Sonero (AI tool that provides summaries and action items from meetings).  Jeff’s previous company, Work Market, an enterprise software platform that enables companies to manage freelancers was acquired by ADP in 2018, where he served on the Senior Leadership Team until 2020.  Mr. Wald has founded several other technology companies, including Spinback, a social sharing platform (eventually purchased by salesforce.com). He began his career in finance, serving as Managing Director at activist hedge fund Barington Capital Group, a Vice President at venture capital firm GlenRock and various roles in the M&A Group at JP Morgan.

Jeff has served on numerous public and private Boards of Directors including Steel Connect (NASDAQ: STCN), Costar Technologies (OTC: CSTI) and venture-backed TransfrVR.   Mr. Wald serves as an adviser to several companies and entities including the X-Prize’s Rapid Reskilling Initiative.

Jeff is the author of the #1 Amazon Best Seller, The End of Jobs: The Rise of On-Demand Workers and Agile Corporations and The Birthday Rules: A Fun and Flexible Framework for Raising Children in a Technology Enabled World.

In this episode, Jeff talks about cofounder drama, his depression when his first startup failed, and what he said to his investors when they told him to get a coach, frameworks, and what he now looks for as an investor.

[02:48] How Jeff started

[13:44] Sign of Weakness

[20:37] Getting a Coach 

[27:33] Working Habit

[37:28] Lifeline

[45:05] Achievements

[47:28] Jeff’s Imposter Syndrome

[55:23] Advice

[01:07:57] Conclusion

To hear more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter at alisacohn.com/5scripts

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-9549532 Mon, 15 Nov 2021 11:00:00 -0500 4208 full false #5: Sadie Lincoln, Barre3 #5: Sadie Lincoln, Barre3 Sadie Lincoln is the co-founder and CEO of the fitness franchise company, Barre3.

Sadie is on Inc.’s Female Founders 100 list and the MO100 Impact list, has been featured on NPR’s How I Built This, and speaks regularly on the topics of mindful leadership, the power of body wisdom, and the movement to redefine what success in fitness means. Beyond running her company and being a global spokesperson, Sadie still enjoys teaching barre3 classes to many of her founding clients in her hometown of Portland, Oregon.


In this episode, Sadie shares how their in-person business had to pivot during the pandemic, why she views running her business as a spiritual practice, the worst feedback she ever received, and the importance of having the right team around her.

[2:17] Building business was a spiritual practice

[5:14] Micro practices that bring her closer to her spiritual practices

[7:46] Shifting into a more confident state

[9:45] The founding story of Barre3

[16:39] During the pandemic

[33:26] A circle in Sadie’s leadership group

[37:41] Female leadership

[39:55] What else does Sadie wish she had known earlier on her journey?

[41:04] Sadie’s Advice


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]]> Sadie Lincoln is the co-founder and CEO of the fitness franchise company, Barre3.

Sadie is on Inc.’s Female Founders 100 list and the MO100 Impact list, has been featured on NPR’s How I Built This, and speaks regularly on the topics of mindful leadership, the power of body wisdom, and the movement to redefine what success in fitness means. Beyond running her company and being a global spokesperson, Sadie still enjoys teaching barre3 classes to many of her founding clients in her hometown of Portland, Oregon.


In this episode, Sadie shares how their in-person business had to pivot during the pandemic, why she views running her business as a spiritual practice, the worst feedback she ever received, and the importance of having the right team around her.

[2:17] Building business was a spiritual practice

[5:14] Micro practices that bring her closer to her spiritual practices

[7:46] Shifting into a more confident state

[9:45] The founding story of Barre3

[16:39] During the pandemic

[33:26] A circle in Sadie’s leadership group

[37:41] Female leadership

[39:55] What else does Sadie wish she had known earlier on her journey?

[41:04] Sadie’s Advice


To hear more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter at http://alisacohn.com/5scripts

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-9509631 Mon, 08 Nov 2021 08:00:00 -0500 2537 full false #4: Chris Hsu, Azibo #4: Chris Hsu, Azibo Chris Hsu is the CEO & Co-Founder of Azibo, a VC-backed real estate fintech startup focused on simplifying the rental property experience. Prior to Azibo, Chris served as an Advisory Partner at a16z and previously was CEO of Micro Focus, a $4B enterprise software company. He also was COO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, where he successfully led the largest corporate separation in history. Chris spent the earlier part of his career in leadership roles at top consulting firms, including KKR and McKinsey. A military veteran, Chris graduated as a Distinguished Cadet from the United States Military Academy at West Point and completed his U.S. Army tenure as a Captain. He also has an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.

In this episode of From Start Up to Grown Up, our guest is Chris Hsu. Chris is the CEO and Co-Founder of Azibo, a financial service for rental property owners. He has various work experience with a variety of companies, namely: General Mills, McKinsey, KKR, HP, and Andreessen Horowitz. He also has an MBA from Kellogg School of Management.

In this episode, we cover:

[1:59] Chris’ Personal Life

[7:33] Chris’ Experience on Ranger School

[13:55] Azibo Founding Story 

[18:17] Co-Founding Azibo

[22:02] Culture of the Company that Chris wrote down

[33:40] Chris on Leadership 

[37:43]The Struggles of Chris in his journey

[46:44] Chris as a CEO 

[54:09] Challenges in Talking to Employees and Executives

[59:48] What Chris Wished He Had Known Earlier

[1:02:02] Advice for other Founders

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]]> Chris Hsu is the CEO & Co-Founder of Azibo, a VC-backed real estate fintech startup focused on simplifying the rental property experience. Prior to Azibo, Chris served as an Advisory Partner at a16z and previously was CEO of Micro Focus, a $4B enterprise software company. He also was COO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, where he successfully led the largest corporate separation in history. Chris spent the earlier part of his career in leadership roles at top consulting firms, including KKR and McKinsey. A military veteran, Chris graduated as a Distinguished Cadet from the United States Military Academy at West Point and completed his U.S. Army tenure as a Captain. He also has an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.

In this episode of From Start Up to Grown Up, our guest is Chris Hsu. Chris is the CEO and Co-Founder of Azibo, a financial service for rental property owners. He has various work experience with a variety of companies, namely: General Mills, McKinsey, KKR, HP, and Andreessen Horowitz. He also has an MBA from Kellogg School of Management.

In this episode, we cover:

[1:59] Chris’ Personal Life

[7:33] Chris’ Experience on Ranger School

[13:55] Azibo Founding Story 

[18:17] Co-Founding Azibo

[22:02] Culture of the Company that Chris wrote down

[33:40] Chris on Leadership 

[37:43]The Struggles of Chris in his journey

[46:44] Chris as a CEO 

[54:09] Challenges in Talking to Employees and Executives

[59:48] What Chris Wished He Had Known Earlier

[1:02:02] Advice for other Founders

To hear more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter at http://alisacohn.com/5scripts

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]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-9470226 Mon, 01 Nov 2021 11:00:00 -0400 3744 alisa cohn, startups, business, chris hsu, azibo full false #3: Jake Stein, Common Paper #3: Jake Stein, Common Paper Jake Stein is the cofounder and CEO of Common Paper. Previously, he was the co-founder of RJMetrics (acquired by Magento, then Adobe) and Stitch (acquired by Talend). Before RJMetrics, Jake worked in venture capital, started a landscaping business in high school, and was the 44th ranked table tennis player under 21 in New Jersey; achievements of which he is equally proud.

In this episode, Jake discusses the pros and cons of distributed teams, the questions that he and his co-founder asked before they started their company, and the challenges he ran into once his former company was acquired. You'll also hear Jake's biggest mistake, how he invites company feedback parties, and all about Whale Wednesdays.

[01:27] Entrepreneurship Origins

[03:32] Aligning Company Plans

[11:33] The Emotional Battle of Running a Business

[28:03] Written Feedback vs. Verbal Feedback

[33:23] Fostering Company Culture

[45:36] Jake’s Biggest Professional Blunder

[58:05] The Importance of Self-Care

[58:51] Advice for New Business Owners

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]]> Jake Stein is the cofounder and CEO of Common Paper. Previously, he was the co-founder of RJMetrics (acquired by Magento, then Adobe) and Stitch (acquired by Talend). Before RJMetrics, Jake worked in venture capital, started a landscaping business in high school, and was the 44th ranked table tennis player under 21 in New Jersey; achievements of which he is equally proud.

In this episode, Jake discusses the pros and cons of distributed teams, the questions that he and his co-founder asked before they started their company, and the challenges he ran into once his former company was acquired. You'll also hear Jake's biggest mistake, how he invites company feedback parties, and all about Whale Wednesdays.

[01:27] Entrepreneurship Origins

[03:32] Aligning Company Plans

[11:33] The Emotional Battle of Running a Business

[28:03] Written Feedback vs. Verbal Feedback

[33:23] Fostering Company Culture

[45:36] Jake’s Biggest Professional Blunder

[58:05] The Importance of Self-Care

[58:51] Advice for New Business Owners

To hear more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter at http://alisacohn.com/5scripts

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-9393492 Tue, 19 Oct 2021 08:00:00 -0400 3687 full false #2: Zvi Band, Contactually #2: Zvi Band, Contactually Zvi Band is the co-founder and CEO of Contactually, which has been acquired by Compass. He is also the author of Success is In Your Sphere. His new venture is called Talk Social, which is focused on bringing humanity back together.

In this episode, Zvi and I had a conversation about how he got onto the path of entrepreneurship, how he learned to see himself as the leader, and the limits of transparency. Zvi and I also get into a real talk discussion about co-founder dynamics, mental health, and his surprising advice to founders who are getting ready to sell their business.

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]]> Zvi Band is the co-founder and CEO of Contactually, which has been acquired by Compass. He is also the author of Success is In Your Sphere. His new venture is called Talk Social, which is focused on bringing humanity back together.

In this episode, Zvi and I had a conversation about how he got onto the path of entrepreneurship, how he learned to see himself as the leader, and the limits of transparency. Zvi and I also get into a real talk discussion about co-founder dynamics, mental health, and his surprising advice to founders who are getting ready to sell their business.

To hear more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter!

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Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Buzzsprout-9372908 Fri, 15 Oct 2021 08:00:00 -0400 3840 full false #1: Matt Blumberg, Bolster #1: Matt Blumberg, Bolster Matt Blumberg is the founder and CEO of Bolster, a new talent marketplace for on-demand executives launched in 2020. Before Bolster, he was the CEO of Return Path. He has authored two books, namely: The Startup CEO and The Startup CXO.

In this episode, Matt will take us through his entrepreneurship journey. He will give us in-depth details on how they founded Return Path, how they built the company culture, as well as their exit from the company. Matt also shares how he creates a support system, learned to say ”no,” and became a two-time CEO.

If you were to sell your company today, would you feel like you are giving away your child? Today, I’m joined by a man who founded a company, built it up, attempted selling it and failed, went back to rebuilding it, and sold it years later. Meet Matt Blumberg!

Matt is a founder and CEO of Bolster, a new talent marketplace for on-demand executives launched in 2020. Before Bolster, he was the CEO of Return Path. Also, he has authored two books, namely: The Startup CEO and The Startup CXO.

In this episode, Matt will take us through his entrepreneurship journey. He will give us in-depth details on how they founded Return-path, how they built the company culture, and their exit from the company. Also, he will tell us how he creates a support system, his journey to learning to say, "no” and how he became a second-time CEO.

Key Talking Points of the Episode:

[01:36] Getting to know Matt

[03:27] Matt’s growth path in leadership

[09:30] How Matt learned to say NO

[12:39] How to build a support system

[13:23] What’s the difference between a coach and a mentor?

[15:10] How Matt handles difficult conversations with his employees

[21:20] Coaching someone is about to get fired

[29:30] How Matt built the company culture at Return Path and how it evolved

[40:16] How Matt deals with difficult setbacks and bad moments in his day-to-day life

[41:57] Transparency and authenticity

[43:27] Matt’s favorite failure

[51:05] How Matt sold Return Path

[56:25] What is it like to be a second-time CEO for Matt?

[01:02:58] The most challenging role for Matt in his current role

[01:04:42] Matt’s book, Startup CXO and why it is important 

[01:10:43] What Matt wishes he knew earlier on his journey

[01:11:15] Matt’s message to other founders, as they embark on their journey to grow into leaders

Quotes from the Episode:

“You’re never done growing as a leader all of us are works in progress.”

“The most important conversation to have with an employee or an executive who is not doing well is the conversation you have before the one you fire them.”

“The best way to deal with a bad moment is to wait a few minutes. Something else is going to come along and replace it.”

“When you make the hard conversation early, that means the later conversation is easier.”

“Don’t be shy about asking for help. There are a lot of people around you who know a lot more than you do about a lot of things that you’re doing.”

 Grab Matt’s Books:

 Startup CEO: https://www.amazon.com/Startup-CEO-Website-Scaling-Business/dp/1118548361

Startup CXO: https://www.amazon.com/Startup-CXO-Companys-Functions-Techstars/dp/1119772575

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]]> Matt Blumberg is the founder and CEO of Bolster, a new talent marketplace for on-demand executives launched in 2020. Before Bolster, he was the CEO of Return Path. He has authored two books, namely: The Startup CEO and The Startup CXO.

In this episode, Matt will take us through his entrepreneurship journey. He will give us in-depth details on how they founded Return Path, how they built the company culture, as well as their exit from the company. Matt also shares how he creates a support system, learned to say ”no,” and became a two-time CEO.

If you were to sell your company today, would you feel like you are giving away your child? Today, I’m joined by a man who founded a company, built it up, attempted selling it and failed, went back to rebuilding it, and sold it years later. Meet Matt Blumberg!

Matt is a founder and CEO of Bolster, a new talent marketplace for on-demand executives launched in 2020. Before Bolster, he was the CEO of Return Path. Also, he has authored two books, namely: The Startup CEO and The Startup CXO.

In this episode, Matt will take us through his entrepreneurship journey. He will give us in-depth details on how they founded Return-path, how they built the company culture, and their exit from the company. Also, he will tell us how he creates a support system, his journey to learning to say, "no” and how he became a second-time CEO.

Key Talking Points of the Episode:

[01:36] Getting to know Matt

[03:27] Matt’s growth path in leadership

[09:30] How Matt learned to say NO

[12:39] How to build a support system

[13:23] What’s the difference between a coach and a mentor?

[15:10] How Matt handles difficult conversations with his employees

[21:20] Coaching someone is about to get fired

[29:30] How Matt built the company culture at Return Path and how it evolved

[40:16] How Matt deals with difficult setbacks and bad moments in his day-to-day life

[41:57] Transparency and authenticity

[43:27] Matt’s favorite failure

[51:05] How Matt sold Return Path

[56:25] What is it like to be a second-time CEO for Matt?

[01:02:58] The most challenging role for Matt in his current role

[01:04:42] Matt’s book, Startup CXO and why it is important 

[01:10:43] What Matt wishes he knew earlier on his journey

[01:11:15] Matt’s message to other founders, as they embark on their journey to grow into leaders

Quotes from the Episode:

“You’re never done growing as a leader all of us are works in progress.”

“The most important conversation to have with an employee or an executive who is not doing well is the conversation you have before the one you fire them.”

“The best way to deal with a bad moment is to wait a few minutes. Something else is going to come along and replace it.”

“When you make the hard conversation early, that means the later conversation is easier.”

“Don’t be shy about asking for help. There are a lot of people around you who know a lot more than you do about a lot of things that you’re doing.”

 Grab Matt’s Books:

 Startup CEO: https://www.amazon.com/Startup-CEO-Website-Scaling-Business/dp/1118548361

Startup CXO: https://www.amazon.com/Startup-CXO-Companys-Functions-Techstars/dp/1119772575

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]]> Matt Blumberg Buzzsprout-9343406 Mon, 11 Oct 2021 10:00:00 -0400 4401 startups, business, leadership, CEO full false #0: A Welcome Message from Alisa #0: A Welcome Message from Alisa Learn about Alisa's new podcast, From Start-Up to Grown-Up, where she interviews founders about the journey from their beginnings as a fledgling business to thriving companies that are leading the way.

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Learn about Alisa's new podcast, From Start-Up to Grown-Up, where she interviews founders about the journey from their beginnings as a fledgling business to thriving companies that are leading the way.

Connect with Alisa!

Follow Alisa Cohn on 

Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) 

Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

]]> Alisa Cohn Buzzsprout-8867210 Thu, 15 Jul 2021 01:00:00 -0400 88 trailer false