Every founder has a story, but the ones who rise above the noise are those who can articulate their WHY with clarity and conviction. Your WHY is more than just a mission statement—it’s the heartbeat of your vision, the lens through which others see your purpose, and the driving force that inspires trust and investment. It’s what makes you memorable, relatable, and irreplaceable. Beyond the pitch deck, your WHY communicates how you’re wired, what truly matters to you, and why you are uniquely positioned to tackle the challenges ahead.

In this episode of the Extraordinary Pursuits podcast from BIP Ventures, Tara Flickinger from ON Search Partners shares ways for startup leaders to step confidently into the spotlight. Tara explains how to communicate in ways that will leave a positive indelible impression. She offers steps for differentiating yourself, standing out, and inspiring confidence. She also provides recommendations for ways to show up with clarity that motivates others and builds trust with investors.

• [02:15] Tara's background and her role at ON Search Partners
• [03:17] How Tara got into the talent and financial industry
• [07:23] How to communicate your WHY effectively and why it is important
• [09:56] Practical steps to simplify and separate personal and business WHY
• [12:08] How to reframe and overcome impostor syndrome
• [14:24] Ways to tap into your WHY, differentiate yourself, and be memorable
• [20:00] Forgiveness vs. permission: Balancing confidence, assertiveness, and humility
• [23:21] Tara’s WHY and passion for the talent space

• “The investors are investing in the person, as much as they are investing in the company, and the better they are able to communicate their WHY, the more they are going to gain the trust of the investors and ultimately the investment.” [08:16]
• “Differentiate yourself and be memorable so you are not just another founder.” [14:54]
• “If a founder comes across very confident and convicted in their ask and what they are looking for vs. asking for permission, they resonate more with investors.” [21:05]

Start with why: TED Talk by Simon Sinek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4ZoJKF_VuA.

Tara Flickinger is a partner and executive committee member at ON Search Partners, a retained talent search firm specializing in VP, C-level, and board searches. Tara came to ON Search Partners from Parker Executive Search, and before that, Goldman Sachs. She earned an MBA at the University of North Carolina Keenan-Flagler Business School and a BA from Brown University, where she captained the women's golf team. Tara brings extensive experience with environments that demand presence and presentation.

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On this episode of Extraordinary Pursuits, BIP Ventures Chief Performance Officer Christy Johnson is joined by Hailey Devlin and Jason Moore, co-founders of DNA Partners. Hailey brings over a decade of experience in sales, marketing, and product leadership, while Jason is a seasoned entrepreneur with two successful exits. Together, they bring a depth of knowledge and tips for creating operational clarity, improving leadership, and prioritizing communication. Their approach emphasizes the importance of simple, scalable systems that can support long-term growth.

Timestamps:

• 00:55 Building a Content Foundation for Startups

• 04:10 The Importance of Iteration and Lean Practices

Points of Wisdom:

• "Don't aim for perfection; aim for progress."

About Haley Devlin and Jason Moore

Haley Devlin is a Growth, GTM, and Operations Consultant with over a decade of expertise in sales, marketing, and product leadership. Jason Moore is a specialist in operations, sales, and executive leadership. He founded and scaled two companies. Together, these industry experts share tips for setting up a successful recruitment approach that builds a winning team, leverages strengths, and establishes a solid foundation for sustainable growth.

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BIP Ventures

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As we step into a new year, strategic leaders pause to consider what went well and what to do in the year ahead. That process begins with an annual retrospective. For startups—especially those that are in an intense growth mode—an annual retrospective is a crucial exercise. It clarifies what worked, what didn’t, and why from internal and external perspectives and from subjective and objective perspectives. The process requires exercises like team SWOTs and customer surveys. This result is a broad view that can help uncover blind spots and provide the necessary context for setting informed, measurable, effective goals for the coming year.

In this episode of the Extraordinary Pursuits podcast, BIP Ventures Chief Performance Officer Christy Johnson shares insights based on decades of experience as a startup executive and a venture investor. She explains what startup leadership should prioritize at the start of a new year—from conducting an annual retrospective to setting measurable goals and KPIs. Christy also offers actionable advice on aligning teams, creating visibility, and fostering accountability.

Whether you’re revisiting your strategy or planning for growth, this timely episode is packed with invaluable counsel.

• [01:58] Christy's career background and role on the operating side
• [04:11] The core components of annual strategic retrospective planning
• [10:20] Conducting surveys effectively with minimal cost and time
• [13:51] How to maximize value from SWOT analysis and surveys
• [18:39] Key considerations for assessing performance and building KPIs
• [20:00] Leadership responsibilities: visibility, alignment, and accountability
• [26:12] Tracking and adjusting KPIs based on your strategy throughout the year
• [30:26] Where to start and what to prioritize now
• [33:19] Wrap up and end of the show

• “It’s not just about the metrics and how you do it, it’s about all the rich context around that, both externally and internally, and making sure every person has a voice.” [08:52]
• “If you’re trying to do an external analysis of competitors, have your success and sales team contribute because they have a unique lens from talking to customers and prospects all the time.” [14:40]
• “When people understand all the different mechanics of what makes a company successful, they tend to make better decisions about how they contribute, and it’s easier to set goals for individuals and teams.” [24:15]

Christy Johnson is the Chief Performance Officer and General Partner at BIP Ventures. With over 30 years of experience, she has worked with small and scaling companies, gaining hands-on expertise in what it takes to build thriving organizations. From rolling up her sleeves in early-stage startups to leading a technology business as CEO, Christy has experienced the full spectrum of business challenges. Her journey has provided a deep understanding of the obstacles founders and leaders face, making her a valuable resource in helping companies navigate their growth.

At BIP Ventures, Christy partners with portfolio companies to unlock the insights that drive sustainable growth, focusing on efficient scaling, data-driven decisions, and organizational design. Her work includes guiding executive teams to build strong foundations before scaling aggressively and serving as a trusted advisor to help leaders sharpen their decisions and overcome challenges. Follow Christy on LinkedIn.

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