The Operations Room: A Podcast for COO’s

Bethany Ayers & Brandon Mensinga
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  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
The Operations Room: A Podcast for COO’s

We are the COO coaches to help you successfully scale in this new world where efficiency is as important as growth. Remember when valuations were 3-10x ARR and money wasn’t free? We do. Each week we share our experiences and bring in scale up experts and operational leaders to help you navigate both the burning operational issues and the larger existential challenges. Beth Ayers is the former COO of Peak AI, NewVoiceMedia and Codilty and has helped raise over $200m from top funds - Softbank, Bessemer, TCV, MCC, Notion and Oxx. Brandon Mensinga is the former COO of Signal AI and Trint. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

  1. 20 MAR

    75. The Announcement Episode

    In this episode we chat about what's going on in our lives, share some life changing news, and announce the new seasoned approach. Going forward, we'll be releasing 10 episodes at a time, starting June 5th 2025. Join our WhatsApp community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/J8w0bDV0pBtHUPzlvmzTgb Stay tuned! This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

    9 min

  2. 13 MAR

    74. The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings

    In this episode we discuss: the art and science of 1 to 1 meetings. We are joined by Dr. Steven Rogelberg, CEO, Board Member, Editor, Author, Chief Talent Officer, Director. Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here. We chat about the following with Steven Rogelberg:  Are your one-on-ones actually driving engagement, or are they just another meeting on the calendar?What message are you really sending when you cancel a one-on-one—and how does it impact employee trust?Why is listening more than speaking the secret to making one-on-ones truly effective?How can structured one-on-ones boost productivity, retention, and even inclusion within your team?Are most managers failing at one-on-ones simply because they’ve never been trained to do them well? References https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogelberg/stevenrogelberg.com Biography Dr. Steven G. Rogelberg is a Chancellor’s Professor at UNC Charlotte and a leading expert on meetings. An award-winning organizational psychologist, he has over 200 publications, 12,000+ citations, and received the prestigious Humboldt Award for his research. Adam Grant calls him the “world’s leading expert on how to fix meetings.” His book The Surprising Science of Meetings appeared on 25+ “best of” lists, including The Washington Post’s #1 leadership book to watch. His latest book, Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings, has earned high praise, including recognition from SHRM and Forbes. Rogelberg has been featured on CBS This Morning, CNN, BBC World, NPR’s Morning Edition, and major publications like The WSJ, NY Times, Bloomberg, and National Geographic. His keynotes have been delivered worldwide at top organizations including Google, Amazon, Pfizer, and the United Nations. In 2022, he testified before the U.S. Congress and was the inaugural winner of SIOP’s Humanitarian Award. To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here.  Summary14:40 The Importance of One-on-Ones 17:48 Common Mistakes in One-on-Ones 23:40 Building Trust and Connection 26:51 Key Elements of Effective One-on-Ones 27:22 Surprising Insights from Research 30:34 Training and Supporting Line Managers 33:28 Creating a Culture of Effective Meetings This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

    39 min

  3. 6 MAR

    73. Building an AI First Organisation Part 2

    In this episode we discuss: Unlocking AI for Non-Technical Leaders. We are joined by Charlie Cowan, Founder of Kowalah and author of "How To Sell Tech" and “The Revenue Operations Playbook”. Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here. We chat about the following with Charlie Cowan:  Is AI more accessible than we think?What’s the difference between AI agents and workflows—and why does it matter for businesses looking to scale?How can organizations build their own AI-powered tools instead of relying solely on SaaS solutions?What role does leadership play in AI adoption, and why is AI literacy now a must-have skill for future executives?Can a simple “power hour” or habit shift really transform your productivity—and what does AI have to do with it? References https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliecowan/www.charliecowan.aiwww.kowalah.com Biography Charlie works with CEOs and senior leaders looking to embed AI behaviours across their organisation. With a 25 year career in SaaS, consulting and enterprise sales, Charlie bridges the gap between AI technology and practical applied use cases that help teams work smarter and faster. Charlie is the author of two books - How To Sell Tech and The Revenue Operations Playbook. Charlie is the founder of Kowalah, an AI-powered platform that helps buying teams to run a great buying processes, pick the right vendors and reduce the fear of messing up. Charlie built Kowalah as a solo-founder using AI development tools. To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here.  Summary26:36 Introduction to AI Adoption for Non-Technical Executives 027:16 Understanding AI Optimism vs. Pessimism 28:08 Defining AI Policies for Effective Implementation 29:52 The Concept of Agentic AI 31:23 Distinguishing Between Agents and Workflows 33:01 Building Effective AI Agents 37:49 Evaluating Future Tech Stacks for AI Integration 43:05 Empowering Leadership in the Age of AI 46:06 Navigating AI Tools for Policy Management 46:23 Crafting Effective Prompts for AI Tools 49:54 Building a Data Repository for Enhanced Insights 51:44 The Power Hour: Maximizing Productivity This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

    56 min

  4. 27 FEB

    72. Is the COO the Single Source of Truth?

    In this episode we discuss: Is the COO the single source of truth? We are joined by Eric Collins, Investor, Serial Entrepreneur, CEO & Founding Member at Impact X Capital investing in underrepresented entrepreneurs; Author of We Don’t Need Permission (amzn.to/3Qp6G9d); & Host of Channel 4's The Money Maker. Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here. We chat about the following with Eric Collins:  What makes the COO the true "source of truth" in scaling a venture-backed company?How can COOs balance growth while CFOs maintain financial discipline—and why does this partnership make or break success?Why is succession planning not just a CEO concern, but a critical step for every COO aiming to lead?Can a COO ever match a founder's passion, or is their power found in something entirely different?What does it really take for a COO to transition into the CEO seat—and what role does backfilling play in that journey? References https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericdcollinsba/?originalSubdomain=ukwww.impactxcapital.com Biography Eric Collins is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and host of Channel 4's The Money Maker. He’s held leadership roles at AOL, TimeWarner, SwiftKey/Microsoft, and Touch Surgery/Medtronic. Appointed by President Obama to the Small Business Administration’s Council on Underserved Communities, Eric now serves on the boards of Cirata, UnLtd, Crux, and Autograph ABP. A sought-after speaker and Audi brand ambassador, he’s consistently featured on The Powerlist of influential Black Britons. His award-winning book, We Don’t Need Permission (Penguin), advocates for investing in Black and underrepresented entrepreneurs as a powerful driver of social change. To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here.  Summary23:55 The unique role that the CEO plays in a scaling organisation  28:05 The value of the COO next to the CFO 30:58 Progressing as a COO 33:11 CEO and COO Succession Planning 33:51 The Passion of Founders vs. COOs 39:56 Planning for Success as a COO 43:16 Setting the Agenda in Board Meetings This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

    53 min

  5. 20 FEB

    71. Proactive Mental Health Strategies for Leaders

    In this episode we discuss: How to tackle mental health in an organization. We are joined by Chris Hatfield, Mindset & Well-being Coach. Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here. We chat about the following with Chris Hatfield:  What if naming your anxiety was the first step to taking back control?How can leaders foster vulnerability without losing authority?Is your ‘stress container’ full, and how do you know when it’s overflowing?Are we truly addressing the root of anxiety, or just applying quick fixes?What if managing mental health was less about avoidance and more about sitting with discomfort? References https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrishatfieldsalespsyche/www.salespsyche.co.uk Biography A sales mindset and well-being Coach and Author of Sales Psyche. With over 15+ years of experience working with the likes of Meta, Google, Salesforce, Experian and O2. Focused on supporting salespeople and leaders in developing a healthy and high performing mind. Also founded a run community, Run Your Mind, that is focused on mental well-being.  To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here.  Summary16:31 Understanding Anxiety 16:52 The Nature of Anxiety in Men 19:14 Coping Mechanisms for Anxiety 20:36 Proactive vs Reactive Approaches to Anxiety 22:46 Identifying When Anxiety Becomes a Problem 25:10 The Importance of Vulnerability in Leadership 29:01 Understanding the Stress Container Exercise 36:05 The Importance of Reflection and Action 37:59 Tools for Managers to Address Anxiety 34:14 Creating a Mental Health Culture in Organizations 39:18 Training Managers for Mental Health Awareness 42:49 Sales-Specific Strategies for Managing Stress This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

    48 min

  6. 13 FEB

    70. Jumpstarting Your Workplace Culture

    In this episode we discuss: Jumpstarting your workplace culture. We are joined by Eric Stone, International Keynote Speaker | Award Winning Author | Expert in Building High-Performance Cultures | Empowering Leaders to Drive Engagement & Transform Workplaces Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here. We chat about the following with Eric Stone:  Is your workplace culture truly driving success, or just a ‘flavor of the week’ experiment?How can leaders balance structure and empowerment without losing control?What does a simple story like ‘Johnny the Bagger’ reveal about ownership and impact at work?Are we equipping employees with the right tools and trust, or just expecting results without support?What makes relationships the hidden engine behind high-performance workplace cultures? References https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-stone-clear-path/ericdstone.com and clearpathventures.comhttps://www.instagram.com/clearpathventures_/ c. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100040382190383 d. https://www.youtube.com/@ericdstone1/about Biography ERIC D. STONE’S passion for business led him to an influential twenty-six-year career at the iconic rental car company Enterprise Holdings, where he quickly became one of the most decorated Regional Vice Presidents in the company’s history. His ability to connect and motivate employees from all different generations and demographics allowed his teams to sustain top-level results and a culture of pride. Eric attributes much of this success to his ability to create, ignite, and sustain a high-performance culture—one that enabled him to lead his teams through challenges like 9/11, the Great Recession, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Great Resignation—along with an extraordinary ability to adapt to the unexpected and help others do the same. Eric is the author of the award-winning book Jumpstart Your Workplace Culture and an international speaker on leadership, employee engagement, and creating high-performance organizations. He retired from Enterprise in 2018 and founded Clear Path Ventures, which specializes in guiding young professionals and businesses as they navigate their path to success. To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here.  Summary17:17 Core Thesis of 'Jumpstart Your Workplace Culture' 18:25 Understanding Employee Engagement 19:04 Building Strong Relationships in the Workplace 20:17 Leadership's Role in Workplace Culture 23:57 Effective Communication Strategies 26:54 The Johnny the Bagger Story: A Lesson in Ownership 30:05 Empowerment vs. Accountability in Leadership 31:04 Balancing Standardization and Empowerment 32:33 Ego and Leadership: Letting Go of Control 34:18 Identifying and Nurturing Culture Carriers 36:12 The Importance of Clear Communication and Culture  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

    41 min

  7. 6 FEB

    69. Building an AI First Organisation

    In this episode we discuss: Making AI happen in 2025 for your organization. We are joined by Charlie Cowan, Author of "How To Sell Tech" and “The Revenue Operations Playbook”. Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here. We chat about the following with Charlie Cowan:  How can professionals stay updated in an era where AI is rapidly disrupting industries like sales and marketing?With AI advancing faster than its everyday adoption, how can businesses bridge the gap between innovation and practical implementation?How can non-developers leverage AI tools to accelerate product development while overcoming emotional and technical challenges?In a world where restrictive AI policies hinder adoption, how can organisations balance data privacy concerns with fostering innovation?Rather than replacing jobs, how can AI be used to supercharge teams, enhance leadership effectiveness, and drive productivity? References https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliecowan/charliecowan.aihttps://v0.dev/https://replit.com/aihttps://lovable.dev/Bolt.newhttps://www.cursor.com/https://codeium.com/windsurfhttps://notebooklm.google.com/ Biography Charlie Cowan helps organisations accelerate AI adoption, guiding CxOs in embedding AI-driven processes to unlock new opportunities. As the founder of Kowalah, an AI-powered buying platform, he built the business from scratch—without prior coding experience—using AI tools. Now, he shares his journey to inspire others to embrace AI innovation. An author of four books on sales, revenue operations, and go-to-market strategy, Charlie provides practical insights for scaling startups and sales teams. Passionate about AI and business transformation, he continues to drive conversations on the future of AI adoption and leadership. To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here.  Summary20:13 Introduction to Charlie Cowan and His Journey 23:14 The Impact of AI on Business and Personal Reinvention 25:35 Building Koala: The Journey of a Non-Developer 28:00 Navigating Challenges in AI Development 30:48 Balancing Consulting and Product Development 31:27 Leveraging LinkedIn for AI Insights 32:40 The AI Bubble and Company Policies 34:55 Embracing AI: Opportunities and Risks 41:28 Transforming Organisations with AI 44:02 Innovative Tools for Information Management 46:38 Practical AI Applications in Leadership 49:23 Final Thoughts on AI and Automation This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

    52 min

  8. 30 JAN

    68. First Team Loyalty: The Key to Executive Success

    In this episode we discuss: how to implement the first team concept. We are joined by Cassie Young, General Partner at Primary Venture Partners, and seasoned SaaS CRO/CCO. Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here. We chat about the following with Cassie Young:  How can leaders ensure that their "first team" prioritises organisational success over individual functions?What steps can teams take to align incentives and build trust to resolve conflicts more effectively?How does empathy in communication and transparency enhance team dynamics, especially in structured yet flexible meeting cadences?Why is developing P&L fluency and understanding market dynamics essential for senior executives, and how can organisations address these gaps?How can leaders strategically network and cascade critical insights to maintain clarity and alignment within teams? References https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassyoung/https://www.primary.vc/ Biography Cassie Young is a General Partner at Primary Venture Partners, a $1B AUM early-stage venture capital firm in New York, backing companies like Chief, Alma, and K Health. She leads B2B software investments and oversees the firm's portfolio impact team, the largest of its kind among seed funds globally. Previously, Cassie was Chief Customer and Commercial Officer at Marigold (formerly CM Group), where she led global operations and strategy across a portfolio of marketing tech brands, following Marigold’s acquisition of Sailthru in 2018. At Sailthru, she held multiple executive roles, ultimately serving as Chief Revenue Officer. Earlier, she led marketing and analytics teams at GLG, Savored (acquired by Groupon), and TheLadders, starting her career as an analyst at Citigroup. A Duke graduate with an MBA from Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, where she earned the Dero Saunders Award, Cassie is passionate about advancing women in leadership. In 2023, she launched On the Business, a program helping hundreds of senior women in software enhance their P&L fluency and boardroom skills. To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here.  Summary08:12 Introduction and Context Setting 19:17 Understanding the Concept of First Team 21:00 The Importance of Team Dynamics 21:35 Creating a First Team Mindset 23:00 Fostering Cross-Functional Collaboration 24:13 Aligning Incentives for Team Success 28:25 Overcoming Pushback on Team Engagement 31:12 Communicating with Empathy 34:04 Effective Meeting Cadences 41:03 Navigating Conflict and Accountability 42:23 Essential Skills for Executives 46:06 The Role of Founders and Leadership Styles 48:43 The Importance of Alignment and Communication This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

    53 min
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About

We are the COO coaches to help you successfully scale in this new world where efficiency is as important as growth. Remember when valuations were 3-10x ARR and money wasn’t free? We do. Each week we share our experiences and bring in scale up experts and operational leaders to help you navigate both the burning operational issues and the larger existential challenges. Beth Ayers is the former COO of Peak AI, NewVoiceMedia and Codilty and has helped raise over $200m from top funds - Softbank, Bessemer, TCV, MCC, Notion and Oxx. Brandon Mensinga is the former COO of Signal AI and Trint. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

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