The Operations Room: A Podcast for COO’s

Bethany Ayers & Brandon Mensinga
  • 5.0 (5)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. 6D AGO

    77. How does AI change the approach to professional development?

    In this episode we discuss: How does AI change the approach to professional development?  We are joined by Anna Tavis, Clinical Professor and Chair of the Human Capital Management Department at NYU’s School of Professional Studies.  Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here. We chat about the following with Anna Tavis:  If career growth is no longer about climbing the ladder, how should we redefine success in professional development?Are our current learning systems truly preparing people for real work, or are they just ticking boxes outside the flow of everyday tasks?Could AI-powered coaching finally make professional development as personalised and responsive as a sports coach with their athletes?What happens to the manager’s role when AI takes over much of the supervision—does it free them to become genuine mentors?How do we ensure AI-driven development tools enhance equity and well-being, rather than deepen existing gaps? References linkedin.com/in/annatavishttps://www.sps.nyu.edu/homepage/academics/divisions-and-departments/division-of-programs-in-business/human-capital-management/coaching-and-technology-summit.htmlhttps://www.amazon.com/Humans-Work-Practice-Creating-Workplace/dp/1398604232https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Coaching-Revolution-Employee-Development/dp/1398612510 Biography Dr. Anna Tavis is Clinical Professor and Chair of the Human Capital Management Department at NYU’s School of Professional Studies. Recognised on the Thinkers50 Radar (2020) and among the Top 100 Global Influencers in People Analytics (2023, 2024), she co-authored Humans at Work (2022) and The Digital Coaching Revolution (2024). Her global career spans business, consulting, and academia, including senior roles at Motorola, Nokia, United Technologies, and AIG Investments, as well as faculty positions at Columbia University, Williams College, and Fairfield University. Her Harvard Business Review articles, “HR Goes Agile” and “The Performance Management Revolution,” co-authored with Dr. Peter Cappelli, have been featured in HBR’s Must Reads, Definitive Management Ideas of the Year, and Agile: The Insights You Need. To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here.  Summary00:13:29 – Defining professional development 00:15:21 – Why traditional tools fall short 00:18:30 – AI-driven coaching in action 00:25:04 – Rethinking career growth 00:30:24 – Responsible AI rollout  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

    34 min

  2. SEP 4

    76. Authenticity in Leadership

    In this episode we discuss: Authenticity in Leadership. We are joined by Matthew Stone, from ME Consulting and Creating Liberating Working Cultures.  Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here. We chat about the following with Matthew Stone:  What message are you sending when you cancel a one-on-one — and is it the one you want employees to hear?Could listening more than you speak be the simplest way to strengthen trust and engagement?One-on-ones aren’t just meetings — how can they become your most powerful tool for retention and inclusion?Without proper training, are managers unknowingly missing the real value of one-on-ones?How can ending every one-on-one with clear commitments turn talk into tangible results? References www.emeiconsulting.com Biography Matthew has spent decades working with some of the world’s leading organisations supporting their cultural evolution. He has designed and led transformational programmes at Group Board and Executive level on an individual and team basis in the areas of leadership, strategy, delivery and performance management and has advised on the attraction, development and retention of leading industry talent. Through his direct experience in multiple settings, he understands organisational ecosystems from Board to early careers and their associated challenges. A master coaching practitioner,  Matthew has spent his life exploring and embracing techniques and philosophies from around the world committing his life to building and refining approaches to individual and collective development. These include an understanding of who we are and who we could be at depth, pathways that engineer our optimal development and the interplay of peer to peer development. To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here.  Summary18:14 – Curiosity over metrics in accountability conversations 31:06 – The starting point for emotional intelligence 35:28 – Building trust during onboarding 36:42 – The value of executive coaching 38:46 – Vulnerability as a leadership tool 41:26 – Preparing for difficult conversations 43:36 – One takeaway for leaders This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

    45 min

  3. MAR 20

    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

  4. MAR 13

    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

  5. MAR 6

    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

  6. FEB 27

    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

  7. FEB 20

    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

  8. FEB 13

    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
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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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