Supermanagers Fellow.app

In this special C-Suite Roundtable episode of Supermanagers, host Aydin Mirzaee brings together 4 top executives from diverse industries to tackle one of the biggest challenges in modern workplaces: meeting efficiency. This episode features Michael Koenig, CEO at Tucows, Rebecca Kacaba, CEO at DealMaker, Jeffrey Sullivan, CTO at Consensus, and Matthew O’Riordan, CEO at Ably.

Michael shares his innovative meeting approach at Tucows, a company spanning domain names, fiber internet, and telecom SaaS. He discusses the importance of flexible meeting policies and how implementing structured meeting frameworks like EOS Level 10 meetings can transform organizational productivity.

Rebecca delves into DealMaker's mission to revolutionize capital raising. She emphasizes the shift towards asynchronous communication and the critical role of effective tooling in managing meetings and team collaboration.

Jeffrey talks about the complexities of managing global teams and how the transition to remote work has necessitated a more intentional approach to meetings and asynchronous workflows. He highlights the creation of a living document that codifies Consensus’ remote work practices and meeting policies.

Matthew shares Ably's journey from an office-based to a remote-first organization, focusing on the challenges of meeting inefficiencies. He explains how implementing consistent tools and structured processes has been transformational, allowing for quicker decision-making and more effective collaboration across global teams.

Tune in to episode 8 of season 2 to explore these leaders' insights and strategies on optimizing meetings, fostering asynchronous communication, and enhancing productivity in remote and hybrid teams. This episode offers a wealth of actionable advice for leaders looking to improve their organization's meeting culture and overall efficiency.

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TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[05:06] Guest introductions

[09:39] Guests share their biggest meeting pet peeves

[12:44] How meeting policies at Tucows evolved

[14:47] The transition to remote work

[17:05] Asynchronous communication

[24:18] Practical strategies for improving meetings.

[28:18] Creating meeting policies is collaborative 

[35:30] Meeting templates and structures.

[43:04] The benefits and challenges of maintaining meeting policies

 

👉 Check out the resources mentioned here: https://fellow.app/supermanagers/csuite-roundtable-reducing-meeting-bloat



RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:


Read Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni
Connect with Michael Koenig on LinkedIn
Connect with Rebecca Kacaba on LinkedIn
Connect with Jeffrey Sullivan on LinkedIn
Connect with Matthew O’Riordan on LinkedIn
Learn more about Fellow (AI meeting management platform)

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

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TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[03:58] 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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Like this episode? Be sure to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review and share the podcast with your colleagues.

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TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[03:26] 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!

. . .

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

. . .

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