Something Widely Believed in Leadership That I Think Is Wrong
The Belief A lot of leaders think their job is to have the answer. Someone raises a problem in a meeting, and the room waits for the person at the head of the table to solve it. Say “I’m not sure” too often and people start to wonder why you’re in the chair. I think […]
How Something Actually Works: What Real Growth Funding Does to a Founder
The Pitch Is the Easy Part Most people picture raising growth funding as a single dramatic event. You pitch, you sign, you get a check, and then the story jumps forward to the part where the company is bigger. I raised $35 million to grow a creative and advisory business from scratch, and I can […]
Beyond Growth: Building Companies That Create Long-Term Enterprise Value
Growth is one of the most common words in business. We talk about revenue growth, customer growth, market growth, international growth, and employee growth. These measures are important, but after almost three decades working across creative businesses, consumer brands, and global organizations, I have learned that growth alone is not the same as building a […]
The CEO as a Builder: What It Really Takes to Create a Business From the Ground Up
When people talk about being a CEO, they often focus on the visible parts of the role. They talk about strategy, financial performance, major decisions, clients, investors, and growth. All of those things matter, but I believe there is another way to look at the job. A CEO is also a builder. Building a business […]