286 Cameron Bishop - Knowing Your People

Cameron Bishop is a seasoned executive and entrepreneur with decades of experience leading growth and transformation. He is a Managing Director and Partner at Raincatcher, a FINRA-compliant investment bank specializing in the sale of privately held companies. With over 70 M&A transactions completed as both buyer and seller, Cameron brings unmatched expertise in guiding business owners through the complex process of maximizing value in a sale. Previously, he served as CEO of Intertec Publishing, scaling it into a $400 million enterprise, and co-founded Ascend Media, a PE-backed startup that grew to $120 million in just three years.

In this episode, Steve and Cameron discuss:

• Cameron’s journey from journalism student to serial entrepreneur
• How one failed acquisition shaped his leadership approach
• The role of servant leadership and listening in building strong teams
• Adapting leadership styles to motivate diverse teams
• The value of lifelong learning and reinvention

Key Takeaways: 

• Failure is often the best teacher. The lessons gained from setbacks can shape resilience, sharpen decision-making, and influence leadership style far more deeply than success ever could.
• People matter more than processes. True business success comes from understanding, motivating, and valuing individuals, not just checking boxes on technical diligence.
• Servant leadership is about humility. By hiring people smarter than themselves, listening to their insights, and adjusting when necessary, leaders unlock greater wisdom than they could achieve alone.
• Motivation is never universal. Every person is driven by something different, and leaders who take time to uncover those drivers can inspire their teams to perform at the highest level.
• Lifelong learning fuels reinvention. Staying curious, adaptable, and willing to evolve ensures both leaders and their organizations remain relevant and thriving in a changing world.

“My goal is always to be the dumbest person in the room. I loved hiring smart people. I never tried to hire people in my own image, which so many senior-level people do. I wanted a very eclectic mix of senior-level executives and employees in general. For that matter, they came from different experiences and different walks of life, because they all add a different kind of value, and the sum of the parts is greater. You know, one plus one equals three is what you get out of that.” - Cameron Bishop

Connect with Cameron Bishop:

Website: https://raincatcher.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-bishop-19b6804/ 

Email: [e-mail]

Connect with Steve and Jason:

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