Turning Setbacks Into Scale-ups & Plateaus Into Pivots: Steve Pockross on Unlocking Startup Growth

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 diagnosing organizational stagnation, orchestrating strategic pivots, and cultivating a culture of continuous learning. As Steve reflects, “The real work of building a company comes from the 1000 micro interactions every single week.” With 1000s of customer and interactions, how do you iterate your way toward the North Star of growth - and still make it feel like this ongoing hard work has the drama of pivots? This episode is essential listening for founders, operators, and investors seeking not just growth, but enduring transformation.

About Steve

Steve Pockross is a seasoned CEO and fractional Chief Growth Officer renowned for guiding founders and leadership teams through the ambiguous, high-stakes moments that follow early startup success. His unique expertise lies in diagnosing the root causes of stalled growth—whether in sales, marketing, leadership, or product-market fit—and crafting practical, actionable strategies that drive real results. Steve’s approach is both analytical and empathetic: he excels at building cultures of trust, aligning teams around a clear North Star, and breaks down complex challenges into manageable footholds. He is especially effective with founders who are “stuck” after initial traction, ambitious to scale, and open to transformative change. Steve’s ideal clients are growth-stage startups or founder-led companies seeking a trusted advisor to help them prioritize, pivot, and unlock their next phase of sustainable growth. www.practicalpivots.co