Practical Pivots
Practical Pivots is the go-to source for startup leaders and investors asking, “What do we do next?”. Each episode, we talk with a wide array of experts to guide companies to disrupt the undisruptable, turn setbacks into scale-ups, and transform plateaus into pivots.
Episodes
On this episode of Practical Pivots, host Steve Pockross rewinds the sharpest go-to-market lessons from the show’s most insightful guests to help founders navigate a world where software is cheap, AI is everywhere, and attention is scarce. Drawing on 12 hard-won insights from operators, VCs, and AI leaders, Steve breaks down why being more human is the real competitive edge, why distribution now beats product, how to define product...
Steve Pockross sits down with Marc Nager, co-founder and general partner at Howdy, a rural Colorado-focused venture fund breaking ground with its unconventional name and a bold, investment approach. From keen insights on growth investing lessons that span the tech market to specific insights on building rural-focused tech startups, Marc shares how connecting talent, capital, and vision far from traditional tech hubs is reshaping wh...
On this episode of Practical Pivots, marketing veteran Rachel Shayne, of B2B R&D, unpacks why “brand is your moat” and how the real challenge isn’t besting your competitors, but cutting through marketplace confusion. From her insights working with technical founders, Shayne lays out her playbook for building resilient, memorable brands in complex industries. Whether you’re leading a high-growth tech venture or steering strategy...
In a departure from his usual role as host, Steve Pockross—accomplished CEO and fractional Chief Growth Officer—takes the guest seat in this episode, with the insightful Suneet Bhatt stepping in as interviewer. This special conversation highlights Steve’s frameworks and philosophy for instigating growth in the hyper-complex startup environment. Drawing from a wealth of executive experience, Steve elucidates the subtle art of diagno...
Startup advisor Hunter Albright says the secret to early-stage growth is cutting through the complexity and finding where real momentum lives. On the latest episode of Practical Pivots, Albright, who’s worked at the crossroads of technology, business strategy and human behavior, explains that while AI is just a tool, the explosion in data and compute power has changed the game for founders. He urges entrepreneurs to focus on buildi...
Adam Burrows, co-founder of Range Ventures, breaks down the elusive keys to success of early-stage startup investing, from the qualities that set standout founders apart to the challenges of navigating today’s venture capital landscape. How do you know what to invest in when the company you’re investing in might barely have a product? The conversation explores common missteps in early startup fundraising, the hype and hazards of AI...
Join host Steve Pockross as he sits down with executive coach and former CEO Derek Pilling to explore the real-world impact of values-based leadership in startups and high-growth companies. This episode continues the discussion from the recent episode with Kellogg School of Management Professor Harry Kraemer on values-based leadership as we focus on applying those principles in the real world. In this episode, Derek shares why alig...
In this episode of Practical Pivots, serial entrepreneur Niel Robertson shares his deep insights into the transformative power of AI in business, drawing from his experience of co-founding seven venture-backed startups. Robertson explores the nuanced landscape of artificial intelligence, discussing everything from the Shopify CEO's AI manifesto to the critical importance of distribution in the modern tech economy. Through his ...
In this episode of Practical Pivots, Mick Freeman, CEO of BEN Colorado, unveils the hidden challenges and untapped potential of startup ecosystems. Drawing from his diverse entrepreneurial background, Freeman candidly discusses the critical importance of bootstrapping until achieving true product market fit - which he defines simply as "somebody bought it twice" - and warns against premature fundraising that can dilute fo...
In this episode of Practical Pivots, host Steve Pockross sits down with Harry Kraemer, Kellogg Professor at Northwestern University and former Baxter International CEO, to explore the critical importance of values-based leadership; especially in turbulent times like these. Kraemer shares his transformative approach to leadership, emphasizing four key principles: self-reflection, balanced perspective, true self-confidence, and genui...
In this episode, we talk with Mark Organ, who created not one, but two software categories: marketing automation at Eloqua and advocate marketing at Influitive. These days, he coaches founders through the highs and lows of category creation at Categorynauts — and he specializes in deeply insightful and contrarian takes.
Mark explores the evolving landscape of AI and its potential impact on business and technology. Organ projects ho...
Bob Wold, a first-time founder in his 40s, demystifies quantum computing and shares his unexpected journey from corporate retirement to tech innovation. Diving deep into the world of quantum technology, Bob explains how his company, Quantum Rings, is developing tools to make complex computing more accessible, while revealing the potential to revolutionize industries from healthcare to cybersecurity. Beyond the technical insights, B...
In this episode of "Yes in Marketing," Steve sits down with Brook Critchfield from Plymouth Growth to explore the nuanced world of growth equity investing. Brooke reveals how his firm uniquely serves founder-led B2B software companies stuck between venture capital and private equity, offering a refreshing alternative to traditional funding models. With engaging sports metaphors and insights from her Midwestern roots, she ...
Joe Eandi, a partner at the Cyber Mentor Fund, shares invaluable insights with Steve on building successful startups. He emphasizes the often under-the-radar traits for building he sees as keys to success, like the importance of "market permission" and niche expertise, as well as strategies for cultivating high-performing founding teams. Eandi's seasoned perspective as a venture capitalist, former CEO and tech execut...
In this episode, Kyle Shannon, a leading expert on AI and creativity, discusses the transformative impact of AI on storytelling and the creative process. He shares his "holy crapification" moments with AI and explains why embracing these tools can actually enhance creativity rather than replace it.
Kyle Shannon
Founder & CEO: Storyvine
Co-Founder & President: AI Salon
Creator & Host: AI Learning Lab (TikTok)
A...
In the first episode of the rebooted podcast, business coach Eric Marcoullier shares his expertise on innovation and startup growth. He discusses navigating funding cycles, the significance of curiosity, and his coaching methods for CEOs facing economic challenges.
www.linkedin.com/in/obviousstartupadvice
Devin Bramhall and Margaret Kelsey, the co-hosts of Don't Say Content, bring their frank perspectives to bear on everything from how we should be measuring brand marketing, to the uncanny valleys of AI, to why marketers need to stop blaming their orgs.
Suneet is an industry veteran who has led marketing teams, successfully earned B Corp certifications, and dabbled in venture capital. This conversation is a masterclass on what positive, effective leadership looks like in the current age.
4x CMO and current Chief Marketing Officer at Rembrand, Cory Treffiletti joined Yes, and Marketing for a deep dive into the ways AI is influencing his data-driven storytelling approach. (Plus, some tough love for execs, a look at his must-try AI tools, and a few life lessons we can all learn from.)
As CEO of Volume 9, a Denver-based marketing agency, Natalie Henley stays on the ball when it comes to marketing trends to follow (and which ones are just passing fads.) Tune in to hear how her agency approaches the AI revolution and prioritizes winning organic traffic for their clients in an ever-evolving landscape by keeping it old-school.
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