Experience-Focused Leaders

Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the CCO, Author, Speaker, and Advisor, Mary Poppen. Mary emphasized the often-underestimated link between how employees feel and how customers perceive a company. Organizations focusing on employee and customer experiences in parallel see remarkable results, including increased stock prices and higher retention rates. Engaged employees who feel valued are more likely to deliver value to custom...

Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the Managing Director of Intersection Capital, Oren Klaff. Oren started the discussion with a fascinating story about a colleague's unconventional approach to closing a multimillion-dollar deal. This experience was a turning point for Oren, leading to a profound exploration of the social undercurrents that influence transactions. His findings, which he generously detailed in "Pitch Anything," ...

Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the Co-Founder and CEO of Katana Cloud Inventory, Kristjan Vilosius. Kristjan shed light on how Estonia's limited internal market compels startups to think globally from the outset. This necessity to expand beyond borders is a driving force behind the country's success. Moreover, the legacy of Skype, which originated in Estonia, has played a pivotal role in cultivating local talent and inspiri...

Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the Founder of Saastock, Alex Theuma. SaaStock began its journey in 2015, stemming from a vision to create a content platform that would unite B2B SaaS companies. Inspired by the legendary Woodstock festival, Alex wanted to craft an event that would leave a lasting impact on the community. This vision materialized into the first B2B SaaS conference in Europe, held in Dublin, which has since gr...

Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the Author, Founder, and CEO of CultureGene, Brett Putter. The shift to remote work has been one of the most significant transformations in the modern workplace. As leaders, we're tasked with the daunting challenge of preserving our company's culture without the traditional office setting that once served as its breeding ground. This is where my discussion with Brett Potter becomes crucial.

Bre...

Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the CEO and Keynote Speaker of Coeus Creative Group, Jay Johnson. Jay brings a wealth of experience to the table, with 15 years of guiding leaders in organizational culture and working with prestigious companies and institutions. His insights on human behavior are not just theoretical; they are backed by practical experiences and millions of views on his TEDx talk about handling challenging in...

Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the C-Suite Transformational Leader, Keynote Speaker, Board Director, Author, and Passionate Diversity and Inclusion Leader, Victoria Pelletier. Victoria's journey is one marked by significant adversity. She shared how she harnessed these challenges as catalysts for growth and success. Her story is a testament to the power of authenticity and intentionality in crafting a personal brand that ev...

Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the General Partner of NFX Pete Flint. Pete's candid recount of the challenges he faced while scaling Trulia is both enlightening and inspiring. He opened up about the 2008 real estate crash's impact and the strategic decisions that led to a successful IPO and exit. His experiences underscore the importance of networking, understanding consumer needs, and being resourceful, especially during t...

Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with Board Member and Stanford Cloud Computing Lecturer, Dr. Timothy Chou. Timothy discussed the challenge of managing multiple initiatives. Timothy, with his extensive background at Tandem Computers, emphasized the importance of compartmentalization. He shared how the ability to focus on specific tasks without getting overwhelmed by the "noise" in the tech industry is crucial for success. In today...

Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the Founder of Practical Founders, Greg Head. Greg Head brought to the table a wealth of experience from his years in the CRM sector. He had seen the transformation of CRM software and how it has shaped the way companies interact with their customers. One of the most significant shifts discussed was the move towards product-led growth—a strategy where the product itself becomes the primary dri...

Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the Global Credibility Expert of Credibility Nation, Mitchell Levy. Mitchell opened the conversation with a powerful message about the importance of expressing gratitude. He shared a poignant quote from his book, which speaks to the responsibility we have to pass on the love we receive. In a world where negativity can often take center stage, saying "thank you" and acknowledging the contributi...

Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the President and CEO of Octain Growth Systems, Clare Price. Clare emphasized the need for a strategic foundation in marketing. Without a blueprint, businesses can get caught in a cycle of frantic marketing activity, which hinders their ability to grow. Clare discussed the concept of "hamster marketing," where businesses constantly run in circles without a clear plan, leading to burnout and ta...

Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the CEO and Founder of Next Level University, Alan Lazaros. Alan Lazaros, a peak performance business coach, shared his journey and reflected on his growth and learning over the years. He emphasized the importance of integrating personal and professional development, a topic often overlooked in business.

One of the most intriguing parts of the conversation was when Alan discussed people's top r...

Your host, Alex Shevelenko talks with the Senior Vice President of Kodi Collective, Eric West. "One of the privileges of being a founder is you get to work with customers who have innovation in their blood and who help you co-create a change in the world. The only thing that’s better is a 2x super-customer like Eric West! First as a senior leader at one of the Omnicom Media Group’s agencies and now at Kodi Collective (global leader...

In this podcast episode, Alex Shevchenko, CEO of Relayto, and RJ Grimshaw, CEO of UniFi Equipment Finance, discuss the importance of entrepreneurship within established businesses.

Grimshaw shares his experience of growing UniFi from $13 million to $120 million in revenue in six years, attributing this success to the Entrepreneur Operating System (EOS). They discuss the value of fostering entrepreneurial qualities in employees, the...

In this podcast episode, entrepreneur Lloyed Lobo shares his insights on building successful businesses through community-led growth. He discusses the importance of defining personal success, understanding customer needs, and focusing on a growing target audience.

He also highlights the significance of creating a community around a startup, citing examples of successful businesses like Atlassian. He also advises on the importance o...

Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the Chief Impact Officer of Business for Social Responsibility, Laura Gitman. Laura, a game-changer in the field of sustainability, shed light on BSR's mission, which has remained steadfast for over 30 years. The organization's primary focus is to work directly with large businesses due to their significant impact and ambition. BSR offers membership to companies, providing them with thoug...

Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the CEO of ProductLed, Wes Bush. Wes is the author of the book "Product-Led Growth: How to Build a Product That Sells Itself," which has been read by over half a million people. The conversation revolved around creating experiences, particularly content experiences, and how they support various aspects of business growth. Wes, as a content-led business owner and an expert in product-led growth...

Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the CEO of FE International, Thomas Smale. FE International specializes in tech-focused M&A advisory services for businesses in the $1 to $100 million exit sector. With over 1500 deals closed and a total value of over $50 billion, Thomas' experience in the SaaS, e-commerce, and digital media content categories is awe-inspiring.

One of the key topics discussed was why small business own...