In this episode of the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast, host Julian Castelli unpacks the 2nd half of the old adage Fire Fast/Hire Slow and digs into the details of how to hire well by hiring slow. He emphasizes the importance of a structured and data-driven hiring process, advocating for standardized job descriptions, candidate scorecards, and a consistent interview process. Key points include the philosophy of "hiring slow and hiring well," the benefits of data-driven decisions, and the efficiency gained from a structured approach. The episode concludes with a call to action for leaders to refine their hiring practices to ensure better outcomes and stronger teams.

For more resources on how to be a a better leader in business, please visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GrowthElevated.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Timestamps:

Introduction to the Podcast (00:00:02)
Julian Castelli welcomes listeners and introduces the theme of effective hiring in tech companies.

The Importance of Hiring Slowly (00:00:27)
Discussion on the balance between hiring slowly and ensuring quality hires without unnecessary delays.

Structured Hiring Processes (00:01:13)
Emphasis on using structured and data-driven approaches to improve hiring quality.

Challenges in Hiring (00:02:22)
Exploration of the difficulties and anxieties associated with the hiring process.

Refining the Hiring Process (00:05:22)
Suggestions for creating a structured hiring process to improve outcomes.

Standard Job Descriptions (00:06:25)
Importance of having standardized job descriptions across teams for clarity and consistency.

Defining Roles and Responsibilities (00:07:19)
Focus on specifying clear outcomes and responsibilities in job descriptions.

Professional Qualifications and Characteristics (00:08:17)
Advice on limiting qualifications and personal characteristics to ensure focused evaluations.

Screening Interview Process (00:10:23)
Recommendation for a preliminary screening to filter candidates before executive interviews.

Standardized Scorecards (00:10:30)
Introduction of a standardized scorecard for consistent evaluation of candidates.

Interview Structure and Evidence Gathering (00:11:30)
Outline of how to conduct interviews using scorecards to gather compelling evidence.

Scoring Candidates (00:14:18)
Explanation of how to score candidates based on their interview performance and characteristics.

Data-Driven Decision Making (00:16:08)
Highlighting the benefits of using data from scorecards to make informed hiring decisions.

Collaborative Review of Scores (00:17:07)
Encouragement for team discussions to refine candidate evaluations based on scorecard data.

Data-Driven Hiring Process (00:18:06)
Discussion on using data to identify top candidates through structured interviews and scorecards.

Structured Approach Benefits (00:18:55)
Explains how a disciplined, structured hiring process can lead to better outcomes without taking much extra time.

Confidence in Hiring (00:19:59)
Emphasizes the importance of structured job descriptions and processes in enabling confident hiring decisions.

Closing Remarks and Resources (00:20:28)
Encourages listeners to subscribe, recommend the podcast, and explore additional resources on leadership.

In this episode of the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast, host Julian Castelli interviews Rob Castaneda, founder of ServiceRocket. They discuss the importance of SaaS companies understanding customer needs and filling service gaps beyond their core product offerings. Rob emphasizes the significance of building a profitable ecosystem with foundational partners to ensure dedicated attention and success. He shares insights from his experience with Atlassian, highlighting the need for a partner like ServiceRocket to provide professional services and support to customers, enabling them to fully utilize software within their unique business environments. The conversation also touches on the concepts from Geoffrey Moore's "Crossing the Chasm" and the importance of recognizing that people, not logos, buy software.

For more resources on how to be a a better leader in business, please visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GrowthElevated.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Welcome to the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast (00:00:02) Introduction to the podcast and its purpose.

Introduction to Growth Elevated and Tech Summit (00:00:27) Promotion of the Growth Elevated community and its offerings.

Introduction to Rob Castaneda and Service Rocket (00:01:10) Background and introduction of Rob Castaneda, founder of ServiceRocket, and his association with Atlassian.

Rob's Triathlon Experience (00:02:29) Rob shares his experience as a lousy triathlete and the challenges he faced.

Service Rocket's Early Engagement with Atlassian (00:04:44) Rob narrates the early days of ServiceRocket's collaboration with Atlassian and their role in promoting Jira.

Service Rocket's Training Approach (00:11:41) Discussion about ServiceRocket's training strategy and the transition from early adopters to the early majority.

Service Rocket's Professional Services (00:18:11) Details about ServiceRocket's professional services and their approach to enabling and empowering customers.

Conclusion and Overview of Service Rocket (00:19:49) Summary of ServiceRocket's unique approach and the importance of understanding customer nuance.

Filling the Gaps in SaaS Business (00:20:24) Discussion on the conventional wisdom of valuing SaaS companies based on subscription revenue and the potential gaps it leaves for customers.

Understanding the Customer's Ecosystem (00:21:36) Exploration of the importance of understanding and catering to the customer's ecosystem for successful SaaS adoption and expansion.

Building an Ecosystem (00:24:00) Insights into the process of building an ecosystem for SaaS companies and the role of foundational partners in the ecosystem.

Clarity and Communication with Partners (00:32:39) Importance of internal clarity and treating partners as an extension of the team for successful collaboration.

Journey of Building a Business (00:36:11) Challenges and lessons learned in the journey of building a business, including leadership, cultural understanding, and mentorship.

Networking and Mentorship (00:38:15) The significance of mentorship, networking, and paying it forward in business and leadership.

Where to Find Rob (00:40:13) Information on where to connect with Rob Castaneda, including his company website, LinkedIn, and his substack on leadership behaviors.

Thank you (00:40:46) Closing remarks and gratitude expressed by the speakers.

Podcast promotion (00:40:52) Encouragement for listeners to follow, subscribe, and recommend the podcast, along with a website invitation.

Closing (00:41:13) Final thank you and sign-off from the host.

In this episode of the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast, host Julian Castelli interviews Blake Harber, a seasoned sales executive with experience in SaaS companies like HireVue Workstream and Lucid. Blake shares his stories from his leadership journey at Workstream, an applicant tracking system for the hourly workforce. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Blake led a strategic pivot to focus on the restaurant sector, resulting in significant growth. He discusses his experience scaling sales teams, achieving product-market fit, and leveraging networking and educational institutions for recruitment. The episode provides valuable insights into overcoming challenges and driving growth in technology companies.

For more resources on how to be a a better leader in business, please visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GrowthElevated.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Timestamps:

Scaling Sales Team (00:18:09)
Blake discusses hiring over 60 sales reps and the challenges of scaling.

Signs of Product Market Fit (00:18:29)
The speakers explore the indicators that confirm achieving product market fit.

Market Pull and Sales Success (00:18:54)
Blake explains how market demand accelerated their sales cycle and referrals.

Recruiting Strategies (00:20:38)
Blake shares his effective recruiting methods and networking experience in Utah.

Growth and Revenue Milestones (00:23:01)
Discussion on the company's revenue growth from 1 million to over 20 million.

Funding Success (00:23:50)
Blake details raising a $100 million Series B funding round and its implications.

Transition to Consulting (00:24:40)
Blake talks about his move to consulting after stepping away from Workstream.

Engagement Flexibility (00:26:17)
Blake describes his adaptable consulting engagements and their duration.

Focus on SMB Market (00:27:14)
Blake clarifies his specialization in SMB and lower mid-market companies.

Contact Information (00:27:41)
Blake shares how listeners can reach out to him for consulting opportunities.

In this episode of the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast, we interview Davis Bell, CEO of Canopy, a SaaS platform for accounting practices. They discuss Canopy's journey, including its growth from 100 to 170 employees and a 4-5x revenue increase since Bell joined in 2019. Bell highlights the challenges of prioritizing product development, navigating COVID-19, and raising capital, including a recent $35 million funding round. They also delve into leadership lessons, emphasizing transparency, team autonomy, and the importance of listening and curiosity in achieving better results. Bell shares insights on maintaining high employee engagement and navigating market challenges.

For more resources on how to be a a better leader in business, please visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GrowthElevated.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Timestamps (by podsqueeze):

The journey of Canopy (00:00:02)

David Bell discusses the growth and challenges faced by Canopy, a SaaS company serving accounting practices.

Raising funding (00:01:46)

David Bell talks about Canopy's successful funding round of $35 million and the challenges of raising capital during a tough economy.

What Canopy does (00:02:15)

David Bell explains that Canopy is a firm-wide operating system for accounting firms, managing customer information, communication, collaboration, time tracking, and more.

Challenges and growth of Canopy (00:03:10)

David Bell shares the challenges and growth of Canopy, including the decision to focus on practice management and the company's revenue and team growth.

Building a system of record (00:06:02)

David Bell discusses the challenges of building a comprehensive system of record for accounting firms and the decision to build the entire platform.

Raising capital and market challenges (00:07:47)

David Bell talks about the challenges of raising capital, re-educating investors, and navigating market dynamics to secure funding.

Series A and Series B funding (00:09:16)

David Bell discusses the traction in the marketplace that led to the successful Series A and Series B funding rounds for Canopy.

Investor value and confidence (00:11:37)

David Bell emphasizes the importance of investors' behavior during challenges and the value of topical expertise in investors.

Navigating COVID-19 impact (00:15:03)

David Bell discusses the challenges of transitioning to remote work and the decision-making process regarding office and remote work arrangements.

Pride in the team and employee satisfaction (00:17:42)

David Bell expresses pride in Canopy's team, low attrition, and high employee NPS, highlighting the company's positive work culture.

Employee NPS and Transparency (00:18:03)

Discussion on the company's employee Net Promoter Score (NPS) and the impact of transparency on employee satisfaction.

Leadership Conception (00:23:03)

The evolution of the speaker's leadership style, moving away from the traditional "visionary leader" model.

Impact of Curiosity on Decision-Making (00:25:12)

The benefits of leading with curiosity and openness, with a specific example of how it led to a better outcome.

Financial Planning and Optionality (00:27:04)

The importance of structuring financial plans to maintain control and optionality, with lessons learned from previous funding experiences.

Future Goals and AI Investment (00:30:46)

The company's future plans, including investment in AI and expansion into adjacent products.

Recommended Learning Resources (00:31:44)

The speaker's recommended newsletters and podcasts for staying informed and learning about AI and tech.

Conclusion and Podcast Wrap-Up (00:32:51)

Closing remarks and gratitude for the conversation, concluding the podcast episode.

In this episode of the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast, host Julian Castelli interviews Amelia Wilcox, founder and CEO of Nivati. They discuss the company's pivot during the pandemic from providing onsite massage therapy to virtual wellness services, addressing the increased need for accessible mental health resources. Amelia shares the challenges of adapting to market trends, selling to HR departments, and the impact of the economic downturn on venture-backed tech companies. She also talks about Nivati’s strategic shift to focus on healthcare and education sectors, her personal journey as an entrepreneur, and the importance of self-care and mentoring. Amelia recommends resources for personal and professional growth, including the "How I Built This" podcast and books like "Extreme Ownership."

For more resources on how to be a a better leader in business, please visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GrowthElevated.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Timestamps (by podsqueeze):

Welcome to the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast (00:00:02) Introduction to the podcast and its purpose.

Introduction to NovoMoto and Amelia Wilcox (00:01:17) Description of NovoMoto's business and Amelia Wilcox's background.

Starting NovoMoto and Adapting to COVID-19 (00:02:10) Amelia explains how NovoMoto started and how they adapted to the challenges of COVID-19.

Challenges in Selling to Employers (00:05:02) Discussion about the challenges of selling NovoMoto's services to employers and the business model.

Growth and Fundraising (00:06:00) Amelia discusses NovoMoto's growth and recent fundraising success.

Impact of NovoMoto's Services (00:07:14) Amelia shares the impact of NovoMoto's services on mental health and well-being.

Educating Employers and Addressing Market Trends (00:09:16) Discussion about educating employers and addressing the growing awareness of mental health.

Business Model Challenges and Market Trends (00:10:44) Challenges in selling NovoMoto's services to HR and addressing market trends in mental health.

Selling NovoMoto's Services and Addressing Market Needs (00:13:42) Reasons why employers add NovoMoto to their benefits packages and addressing market needs.

Challenges in Selling to Employers and Market Trends (00:15:10) Challenges in selling NovoMoto's services to employers and market trends affecting sales.

Adapting to Changes in the Venture Community (00:16:56) Discussion about the impact of changes in the venture community and potential pivots for NovoMoto.

Adapting to Business Challenges (00:17:47) Adapting to challenges in working with venture-funded businesses and addressing customer needs.

Identifying New Markets (00:17:56) Amelia discusses the need to pivot and focus on healthcare and education markets due to stalled revenue and competition.

Strategic Approach to New Markets (00:18:43) Amelia explains the approach of running campaigns and analyzing the focus within healthcare and education markets.

Exploring Opportunities in Healthcare (00:20:15) Amelia discusses the experimentation and efforts to explore specialized healthcare brokers and conferences.

Lessons Learned and Personal Growth (00:21:09) Amelia reflects on personal growth, fear of failure, and the realization of employability beyond entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurial Challenges and Mental Health (00:23:08) Amelia shares insights on the pressures of fundraising, burnout, and the importance of taking breaks.

Mentoring and Self-Care (00:25:45) Amelia discusses mentoring female entrepreneurs and the need for self-care during challenging periods.

Favorite Podcasts and Books (00:28:36) Amelia shares her favorite podcasts and books related to entrepreneurship, leadership, and mental health.

Closing Remarks (00:30:08) Julian concludes the conversation and encourages listeners to follow and subscribe to the podcast.

In this episode of the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast, we speak with Dave Carruthers the Co Founder and former CEO of Voxpopme, a leading digital insights platform for large consumer product companies. Dave describes the lessons from his journey of expanding into the US market and growing the Company into an industry leader.

For more resources on how to be a a better leader in business, please visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠GrowthElevated.com⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Timestamps (by podsqueeze):

The founding of Voxpopme (00:00:02) The journey of building a tech company, the founding story, and the initial stages of Voxpopme's creation.

The idea behind Voxpopme (00:01:03) The concept behind Voxpopme, the rise of video surveys, and the need for consumer brands to understand their customers better.

Challenges in introducing video surveys (00:04:01) Challenges faced in convincing corporate customers to adopt video surveys, including changing long-standing behaviors and relationships in the industry.

Moving Voxpopme to the US (00:10:00) The challenges and impact of moving Voxpopme from the UK to the US, including the decision to raise capital in the US and the strategic move of a co-founder to establish the base.

Critical hires for US expansion (00:17:00) The key hires made for go-to-market expansion in the US, including experienced salespeople, a customer success leader, and a VP of marketing.

Building a Reputation at Events (00:18:14) Discussing the impact of attending events and conferences in building a brand and attracting industry talent.

Challenges of Moving to the US (00:19:08) Exploring the difficulties and impacts of moving the company from the UK to the US, including hiring, compensation, and cultural differences.

Lessons from Geographical Expansion (00:21:49) Reflecting on the challenges and lessons learned from expanding into different regions, such as APAC and EMEA.

Scaling the Business and Hiring Challenges (00:25:02) Discussing the challenges faced in scaling the business and hiring senior roles, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and leadership.

Partnerships and Focus (00:28:01) Exploring the challenges and lessons learned from pursuing partnerships and the importance of focusing on core products for scaling.

Resilience and Leadership Transition (00:31:09) Discussing the resilience required in startup leadership and the self-awareness needed to transition leadership based on strengths and skills.

New Venture: Zeeda (00:34:15) Introducing a new marketplace business, Zeeda, focused on group buying in the outdoor industry and plans for expansion.

Connect with Dave Carruthers (00:36:23) Providing contact information for connecting with Dave Carruthers on LinkedIn and Twitter and accessing information about Zeeda.

In this Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast episode, Deepak Sindwani, co-founder of Wave Crest Growth Partners, shares his experiences in the growth equity sector, focusing on B2B software companies. He recounts his path from Bain Capital Ventures and Comcast Ventures to establishing his own growth equity firm, emphasizing the importance of resilience and humility. Deepak explains Wave Crest's operating platform, which offers comprehensive support to portfolio companies, and details the success stories of some of his portfolio companies.

For more resources on how to be a a better leader in business, please visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GrowthElevated.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Timestamps (by podsqueeze):

Welcome to the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast (00:00:02)

Introduction to the podcast and its purpose.

Deepak's Journey to Wave Crest Partners (00:00:27)

Deepak Simone's background and experience in the investing business.

Founding Wave Crest Partners (00:01:51)

Deepak's entrepreneurial journey and the founding of Wave Crest Partners.

Initial Struggles and First Fundraising (00:05:04)

Challenges faced during the initial stages of founding the firm and raising the first round of capital.

Growth and Expansion of Wave Crest Partners (00:10:34)

The growth of Wave Crest Partners from two people to a team of 15 and the raising of their first fund.

Investment Strategy and Target Companies (00:12:04)

Defining growth equity and the target range for investment in companies.

Supporting Founders in Growth and Expansion (00:15:55)

The role of Wave Crest Partners in assisting companies in the $5 to $20 million ARR range with growth and expansion strategies.

Value-Added Support for Portfolio Companies (00:18:11)

The expertise and value-added support that Wave Crest Partners provides to portfolio companies on their growth journey.

The Wave Crest Operating Platform (00:18:55)

Deepak explains the five pillars of value and support offered to founder-led capital-efficient B2B software companies.

Impel (00:20:20)

Deepak discusses the journey of a company named Impel (formerly Spin Car) and its evolution from a digital merchandising solution to an augmented reality platform for the automotive industry.

Challenges and Adaptation during COVID-19 (00:23:15)

Deepak shares how Impel faced challenges during COVID-19, initially experiencing a downturn and then benefiting from the shift in consumer behavior.

Acquisition and Evolution (00:25:34)

Discussion on the acquisition of a conversational AI business and its integration into Impel's product, leading to a change in the company's vision and trajectory.

Growth and Partnership (00:28:03)

Deepak highlights Impel's growth, diversification of risk for the founders, and the partnership between Wave Crest and the company.

Recommendations (00:30:23)

Deepak shares podcast and book recommendations, including "All In" podcast, "Smart Lists" podcast, and books by Charlie Munger and the philosophy of "Die with Zero."

Contact Information (00:33:29)

Deepak shares how to connect with Wave Crest and himself for further discussions and collaborations.