Supermanagers

Ken’s role as COO at Hostaway, a SaaS startup transforming the vacation rental industry, showcases his innovative approach to remote work and leadership. In discussion with host Aydin Mirzaee, Ken delves into the diverse experiences that have shaped his career, including pivotal positions at Hotjar and his unique journey as a digital nomad. His transition from traditional corporate environments to leading fully remote teams illustrates his commitment to transparency, deliberate decision-making, and culture-driven hiring.

A cornerstone of Ken’s leadership philosophy is fostering an environment where communication and transparency are prioritized. He highlights Hostaway’s structured use of tools like Slack, emphasizing the importance of clear guidelines for synchronous and asynchronous communication. Ken also touches on the significance of building purposeful remote work rituals and the strategic benefits of hiring for culture add rather than culture fit.

In episode 7 of season 2, Ken emphasizes the importance of effective team management through deliberate processes. His insights into remote work dynamics, cultural values, and global team distribution provide listeners with valuable strategies to implement in their own organizations.

Tune in to explore Ken’s techniques and insights that have contributed to Hostaway’s success as a fast-growing, fully remote company with a team located across 40+ countries.

This episode offers a wealth of actionable advice for leaders looking to enhance remote work practices, build strong team cultures, and lead with intention and impact.

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TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[03:58] Ken’s journey as a digital nomad

[07:12] Scaling success as former COO of Hotjar

[08:20] Balancing family life and remote work while traveling

[11:17] Remote vs. hybrid, and in-office work

[15:40] Hostaway’s approach to distributed teams and hiring across 40+ countries

[19:57] Synchronous vs. asynchronous communication

[24:30] Why transparency matters in operations

[32:21] Importance of culture add over culture fit

👉 Check out the resources mentioned here: https://fellow.app/supermanagers/ken-weary-hostaway

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Connect with Ken on LinkedIn

• Join the Supermanagers Slack community

Albert’s role as CTO & SVP of Engineering at Rippling is marked by an impressive blend of technical expertise and leadership experience. In discussion with host Aydin Mirzaee, Albert delves into the diverse experiences that have shaped his career, including pivotal positions at Segment, Mesosphere, and Cloudflare. His journey from engineering roles to top-tier management illustrates his deep commitment to hands-on leadership and continuous improvement.

A cornerstone of Albert’s leadership philosophy is fostering an environment where both innovation and quality are prioritized. He highlights Rippling’s strategic planning processes, including the importance of setting clear, actionable goals and maintaining flexibility to adapt to new information. Albert also touches on the future of HR software, emphasizing the integration of AI and the critical role of understanding employee data to drive better business outcomes.

In episode 6 of season 2, Albert emphasizes the significance of effective project management through mechanisms like blitz meetings, which streamline decision-making and ensure efficient execution of critical initiatives. His insights into leadership, team dynamics, and the evolving landscape of HR technology provide listeners with valuable strategies to implement in their own organizations.

Tune in to explore Albert’s techniques and insights that have contributed to Rippling’s success as a fast-growing technology company, valued at over $13 billion.

This episode offers a wealth of actionable advice for leaders looking to drive innovation, maintain quality, and lead with intention and impact.

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TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[03:26] Advice for aspiring leaders

[07:09] The importance of being hands-on leader

[11:58] Planning and prioritization in a rapidly growing company

[19:03] Utilizing Quality Weeks

[29:50] Strategic planning and setting goals

[34:48] The future of HR software and the role of AI

[40:40] Underrated leadership advice

👉 Check out the resources mentioned here: ⁠https://fellow.app/supermanagers/albert-strasheim-rippling/⁠

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Read ⁠The Goal⁠ by Eliyahu M. Goldratt

• Connect with Albert on ⁠LinkedIn⁠

• Join the ⁠Supermanagers Slack community⁠

Vitaly’s journey from COO to CEO of StackAdapt, a thriving programmatic advertising company, is marked by substantial role diversification and a refined approach to leadership. In discussion with host Aydin Mirzaee, Vitaly highlights the nuanced differences between the roles.

👉 Visit our website to get all the details: https://fellow.app/supermanagers/vitaly-pecherskiy-stackadapt/

As COO, operational efficiency and internal management were his forte. However, stepping into the CEO role required a shift towards more strategic decision-making and external representation of the company.

Understanding that effective leadership requires reliance on his management team, Vitaly speaks about empowering this team. He emphasizes hiring a chief of staff and an executive assistant to better distribute tasks that pertain to decision-making and execution, allowing him to focus on overarching company goals and culture.

A cornerstone of Vitaly’s leadership philosophy is the importance of company culture, which he identifies as a dynamic rather than static element within the organization. He candidly shares an anecdote about a positive customer service experience that reshaped their office greetings, subtly yet significantly influencing the company’s culture. This story highlights how small changes can have far-reaching effects on an organization's atmosphere and employee morale.

In episode 5 of season 2, Vitaly notes that leadership is not just about leading others but also about continuous self-development and fostering an environment where both employees and the company thrive. His experiences and strategies shine a light on the path to being an adaptive, thoughtful, and impactful leader. As the podcast episode concludes, listeners are left with actionable insights and the encouragement to reflect, adapt, and lead with intention and innovation.

Tune in to explore Vitaly's techniques and insights that helped propel a bootstrapped company to monumental success, now operating with over 1100 employees across 10 countries.

Rob Khazzam's tenure on Uber's first international launch team provided invaluable lessons that continue to shape his leadership as CEO of Float.

At Uber, Rob experienced an environment marked by an unwavering focus on talent, a bias for action, and relentless execution. Amidst the intense and fast-paced environment, Rob also recognized the importance of being willing to think really big and go for it.

Rob Khazzam is the CEO and Co-Founder of Float, a revolutionary fintech company helping companies simplify spending through a corporate card and spend management software. Prior to becoming a founder, Rob worked at Uber for 5 years in international expansion and general management in Eastern Europe and Canada.

In episode 4 of season 2, Rob shares his journey of intense growth from launching Uber in different countries to founding and leading Float. He emphasizes the importance of communication, organization, and reflection in becoming a better manager. Rob also discusses the culture at Float, focusing on values such as talent density, risk tolerance, urgency, customer obsession, and a culture of learning and growth. He shares his insights on hiring excellent talent and the importance of resilience and passion. Rob encourages leaders to stop coddling their teams and instead lead with transparency and context.

Tune in to hear all about Rob’s leadership journey and the lessons learned along the way!

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Like this episode? Be sure to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review and share the podcast with your colleagues.

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TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[03:11] Going from private equity to Uber

[08:48] How to know when to seize the rocket ship

[15:20] Accountability and focus: key drivers at Uber

[19:57] The problem with unproductive meetings

[23:21] Organizational growth and improved management

[29:05] Building a culture of talent and customer obsession at Float

[33:11] Hiring for culture and continuous growth at Float

[38:24] The importance of risk tolerance in startups

👉 Check out the resources mentioned here: https://fellow.app/supermanagers/rob-khazzam-float/

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Connect with Rob on LinkedIn

Follow Rob on X

Subscribe to the Supermanagers TLDR newsletter

Join the Supermanagers Slack Community

Mark Frein, COO of Oyster, discusses how he approaches his role as a multifunctional executive. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on the scope and responsibilities of the job, rather than the title.

Transitioning from a single-function to a multifunctional executive, like a COO, requires a significant shift in how you operate. According to Mark Frein, whether it's navigating a discussion on service metrics one moment and pivoting to product innovation the next, being able to adapt and change at a moment's notice is vital.

Mark Frein is a seasoned leader and the Chief Operating Officer at Oyster. With decades of experience in the tech industry, including roles as Chief People Officer and a professor in academia, Mark has established himself as a dynamic force driving organizational growth and operational excellence.

In episode 3 of season 2, Mark offers valuable perspectives on effective goal setting, prioritization, and the power of hypothesis-oriented goals in driving success. He delves into prioritizing job scope and responsibilities over titles and shares insights on aligning people practices with business objectives. Mark explores the challenges of fostering cross-functional collaboration and highlights the importance of fostering a cohesive team environment. Drawing from his expertise as an executive coach, he discusses the role of HR in a business context and the significance of systems thinking and multidisciplinary approaches in leadership. Mark also addresses the evolving landscape of remote work in 2024, advocating for inclusivity and equal opportunities in distributed work environments.

Tune in to hear all about Mark’s leadership journey and the lessons learned along the way!

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Like this episode? Be sure to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review and share the podcast with your colleagues.

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TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[04:02] Context switching as a multifunctional executive

[09:25] Shiny object syndrome

[14:28] Creating cross-functional collaboration

[20:19] Executive coaching in leadership

[28:11] Systems thinking and multidisciplinary approaches

[33:50] The state of remote work in 2024

[39:04] The never-ending craft of being a manager

👉 Check out the resources mentioned here: https://fellow.app/supermanagers/mark-frein-oyster/

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn

Follow Mark on Medium

Check out the book Range by David Epstein

Join the Supermanagers Slack community

There’s a secret formula behind fostering innovation, driving success, and creating positive work environments in large corporations.

Optimism, coupled with curiosity and kindness, are traits that leaders must embody to create synergies, boost efficiency, and improve working relationships in their organizations. According to Mauro Porcini, these underrated characteristics allow leaders to see progress, stay motivated and overcome any obstacles.

Mauro Porcini is a visionary leader and the first-ever Chief Design Officer at PepsiCo. With a distinguished career spanning renowned organizations like 3M and Philips Design, Mauro has been at the forefront of infusing design thinking into corporate cultures worldwide. He hosts the podcast ‘In Your Shoes With Mauro Porcini,’ where he explores the creative minds shaping our world. Mauro is also an accomplished author, with his latest book, "The Human Side of Innovation,” has earned accolades for his insights into innovation, design, and leadership.

In episode 2 of season 2, Mauro Porcini discusses the importance of dreaming big and creating space for innovation within organizations. He shares his experience implementing the 15% time approach in PepsiCo, allowing employees to work on passion projects. He also highlights the importance of dreaming big and executing ideas through prototyping and experimentation. Mauro also discusses insights from his book, 'The Human Side of Innovation,' which highlights the importance of people in driving successful projects. He concludes by emphasizing the importance of love for the people served, love for what one does, and love for the people surrounding us as key drivers of success and happiness.

Tune in to discover Mauro’s wealth of insights in creating a culture of innovation and kindness in your organizations!

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Like this episode? Be sure to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review and share the podcast with your colleagues.

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TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[07:49] Surrounding yourself with inspiring people

[15:15] ‘The Human Side of Innovation'

[25:26] The 15% time rule

[30:55] The importance of optimism, curiosity, and kindness in business

[44:27] The three dimensions of love in the workplace

👉 Check out the resources mentioned here: https://fellow.app/supermanagers/mauro-porcini-pepsico/

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Connect with Mauro on LinkedIn

Follow Mauro on Instagram and X

Read Mauro’s book ‘The Human Side of Innovation: The Power of People in Love with People’

Check out Mauro’s podcast In Your Shoes With Mauro Porcini

Join the Supermanagers Slack community

There’s no such thing as a bias-free workplace.

According to Kim Scott, leaders must proactively look for and root out bias, prejudice, and bullying in the workplace. Rather than waiting for these behaviors to escalate into harmful situations, she advocates for a shared commitment in your organization to dismantle bias, prejudice, and bullying head-on as it arises.

Kim Scott is a co-founder and the renowned bestselling author of the books ‘Radical Candor’ and ‘Radical Respect.’ She has been a CEO coach at renowned tech companies like Dropbox, Qualtrics, and Twitter. Before her coaching career, Kim was a faculty member at Apple University and led the AdSense, YouTube, and DoubleClick teams at Google.

In the first episode of season two, Kim Scott discusses the importance of creating conditions for your employees to do their best work. Reflecting on her own experience, Kim candidly shares the invaluable lessons gained from early leadership missteps, including failing to be an upstander for marginalized women and overlooking her own biases and prejudices. Sharing insights from her newly revamped book ‘Radical Respect,’ Kim offers practical strategies for leaders to recognize and address bias, prejudice, and bullying in the workplace. ​She emphasizes the need for establishing a shared vocabulary, norm, and commitment across your organization to publicly address bias, whether in remote or in-person work settings. Finally, Kim explains the business case for addressing bias and bullying, as diverse workforces perform better and retaining diverse talent is crucial for success.

Tune in to discover Kim’s tactical and effective strategies for fostering a culture of radical respect in your organization! And don’t forget to pre-order Kim’s latest book Radical Respect, coming out on May 7, 2024.

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Like this episode? Be sure to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review and share the podcast with your colleagues.

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TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[04:36] Restructuring ‘Just Work’ into ‘Radical Respect’

[10:16] Distinguishing between bias, prejudice, and bullying

[18:13] Disrupting bullying without overstepping

[23:14] Preventing bias and prejudice in the workplace

[26:55] Creating a shared commitment to disrupting bias

[33:35] Communicating standards in ways people can hear them

[39:49] The business case for addressing bias and bullying

[44:37] Kim’s underrated leadership advice

👉 Check out the resources mentioned here: https://fellow.app/supermanagers/kim-scott-bestselling-author-of-radical-candor-and-radical-respect/

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Follow Kim on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Medium

Pre-order Kim’s new book Radical Respect

Listen to Kim’s podcasts Radical Respect and Radical Candor

Check out Kim’s book recommendations:

• Robertson Davies
• Orlando by Virginia Woolf
• Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
• Middlemarch by George Eliot
• The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Learn more about Project Include

Striking the right balance between growth and stability is a challenge faced by many large organizations today.

It's essential to anticipate and adapt to market changes, and according to Joe Militello, one way to do this is by firmly anchoring your people strategy with your business strategy.

With over twenty years of management experience, Joe Militello is a seasoned people leader in the tech industry. As the Chief People Officer at PagerDuty, Joe oversees the entire People organization, including HR, talent development, recruiting, and diversity and inclusion. He has a proven track record of helping renowned technology companies scale and reach their market potential. Prior to PagerDuty, Joe held senior leadership roles at Pivotal Software, EMC, and even served as a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps.

In episode #188, Joe dives into his expertise in seamlessly integrating the people strategy into every functional unit of your organization, from recruitment to executive development. Drawing from his wealth of experience, Joe emphasizes the importance of reflecting on and refining strategy based on factors like the increasing need for generative AI or market fluctuations. He also shares his insights into building high-performing teams, managing individuals with more experience, and leading teams consciously above the line.

Tune in to discover Joe’s secrets to achieving responsible growth, predictability, and profitability through strategic people strategy!

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Like this episode? Be sure to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review and share the podcast with your colleagues.

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TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[04:45] Early management mistakes

[10:55] The art of managing people with more experience

[15:30] Above the line vs. below the line leadership

[20:16] Anchoring people strategy in business strategy

[28:08] Incorporating AI into people strategy

[34:00] Training people in their flow of work

[40:22] Final words of wisdom

👉 Check out the resources mentioned here: https://fellow.app/supermanagers/joe-militello-chief-people-officer-pagerduty-rethink-people-strategy/

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn

Follow Joe on X

Learn more about Conscious Leadership

Check out Fellow’s 1-on-1 coaching template and meeting guidelines

Subscribe to the Supermanagers TLDR newsletter

Imagine the remarkable success of a team that has been together for years. They know each other inside out, work seamlessly, and achieve incredible results.

But what if you don't have that luxury?

There’s a hidden shortcut to cultivating team bonding and mimicking the dynamics of long-standing teams in record time. Tony Martignetti explains that it’s all about building genuine connections.

Tony Martignetti is a trusted advisor, leadership coach, author, podcast host, and TEDx speaker. As the Chief Inspiration Officer at Inspired Purpose Partners, Tony draws on over 25 years of experience in leadership roles and coaching global leaders. He is the author of two insightful books, 'Campfire Lessons for Leaders' and 'Climbing The Right Mountain,' and is passionately dedicated to empowering leaders to unearth their true potential and navigate change with confidence.

In episode 187, Tony reveals practical tactics for building deeper connections with your team, unlocking high performance, and finding leverage in your work to maximize impact and avoid burnout. He also introduces his CORE methodology, a powerful framework designed to help both employees and leaders embrace their individuality, express their true selves in the workplace, and cultivate deeper, more genuine connections. By making intentional efforts to build team bonding, leaders can foster trust, feedback exchange, and the identification of blind spots.

Tune in to gain Tony’s invaluable insights on reigniting connection and meaning in your workplace!

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Like this episode? Be sure to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review and share the podcast with your colleagues.

. . .

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[04:49] Learning from early missteps

[10:32] Reigniting spark with ‘Campfire Lessons for Leaders’

[18:46] Building deeper connections

[24:06] The CORE framework

[32:39] Leveraging collective strengths

[38:47] Defining success and ‘Climbing The Right Mountain’

👉 Check out the resources mentioned here: ⁠https://fellow.app/supermanagers/tony-martignetti-leadership-advisor-how-to-make-impact-without-burnout/

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Connect with Tony on LinkedIn

Read Tony’s book Campire Lessons for Leaders

Read Tony’s previous book Climbing The Right Mountain

Listen to Tony’s podcast The Virtual Campfire

Watch Tony’s 2M viewed TEDx Talk

Check out Fellow can improve team meetings

Subscribe to the Supermanagers TLDR newsletter

👉 Check out the resources mentioned here: https://fellow.app/supermanagers/susan-odle-operational-change-expert/

70% of all change management efforts actually fail within organizations.

With such a high failure rate, it's crucial to understand how to be part of that successful 30%. According to operational change expert Susan Odle, successfully implementing change requires buy-in, accountability, and clear timelines throughout the entire organization.

Susan Odle is the founder of 8020CS, a company that specializes in change management to drive growth, profitability, and efficiency. With over 25 years of global experience, Susan has helped businesses of all sizes, ranging from start-ups to $800M companies, navigate complex change and achieve tangible results in company growth, stability, and shareholder returns. In her book, "Successful Change," Susan provides a powerful blueprint for successfully navigating the complexities of business transformation.

In episode 186, Susan discusses how to operationalize successful change to positively impact top-line revenue and bottom-line profitability in organizations. She also emphasizes the importance of evidence-based leadership and pragmatic problem-solving, offering practical advice that listeners can apply to their own teams and organizations.

Tune in to hear Susan’s actionable advice on how to help you and your team thrive in times of transformation!

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Like this episode? Be sure to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review and share the podcast with your colleagues.

. . .

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[04:24] Avoiding analysis paralysis

[11:59] The 30% success club

[17:34] Leading with pragmatism, not your ego

[25:51] Evidence-based management and leadership

[33:21] The five-gate framework of operationalizing change

[37:18] Being kind and human

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Connect with Susan on LinkedIn

Check out Susan’s company 8020CS

Read Susan’s book Successful Change

Check out Fellow’s Meeting Guidelines

Subscribe to the Supermanagers TLDR newsletter