Nuggets from Behind Closed Doors

Inside every private Alliance meeting, there are hundreds of years of experience. While keeping confidentiality of the member who provided the challenge to their group, we’ve captured (with permission) just some of the insightful comments from a handful of members. Read what these members had to say to get a glimpse of what it is like to be an Alliance member.

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Culture - Search Results (21)

Member Kirsten Bay Speaks: Reinforce Core Values & Objectives to Breakdown Silos

When employees perform as individual contributors in silos, this can create discord and friction inside a company, inhibiting growth and positive momentum toward the company’s mission and goals. Alliance member Kirsten Bay, Co-Founder & CEO of Cysurance, suggests emphasizing the company’s core values and objectives from the top down. 

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Insight categories include: Culture   Leadership   Operations   Strategy & Planning   

Member Jessica Yuen Speaks: Onboarding a New CFO? Here’s How to Help Set Them – And Everyone Else – Up for Success

When business executives transition in a new member of their leadership team, it can be challenging -  especially if the new executive is driving major cultural changes quickly before the company is ready. Alliance Member Jessica Yuen, Principal of Jessica Yuen LLC, suggests helping the new leader set the context for upcoming changes.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Finance   Leadership   Strategy & Planning   

Member Terese Kemble Speaks: Finding the ESG Sweet Spot

During a recent Alliance meeting, the topic of ESG was brought up among the gathered executives. Terese Kemble, Chief Human Resources Officer, Lattice Semiconductor Corporation, shared her experiences and insight about strategically embracing ESG.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Human Resources   Leadership   Strategy & Planning   

Member Bernie Tobin Speaks: Growing Quickly? Sacrifice Speed to Find the Best Fit

When companies are faced with the need to quickly increase headcount, their leaders can struggle to decide on the next step forward. Bernie Tobin, General Manager of Natera, shares strategy into hiring the right candidates who can evolve with a rapidly changing organization.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Human Resources   Leadership   Operations   Organizational Design   

Member Joe Budelli Speaks: To Attract and Retain the Best, Invest in Your Employees’ Success

Business leaders are often looking to stimulate a productive company culture and increase employee retention. Joe Budelli, Chief Revenue Officer of Propy, shares insight into creating cross-functional, professional development programs to attract great talent.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Human Resources   Organizational Design   Strategy & Planning   

Member Edmundo Costa Speaks: To Improve Workplace Diversity, Focus on Retention After Initial Hire

Diversity in hiring is important, but is it enough to change the core makeup of a company’s workforce? Edmundo Costa, Vice President of Automation Anywhere, shares insight into retaining new employees and helping them build their network. 

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Insight categories include: Culture   Human Resources   

Member Gabriel Fairman Speaks: Everyone Should Be Thinking Sales

It can be difficult to scale a company while having to depend on the limited resources of one sales team. Alliance member Gabriel Fairman, CEO of Bureau Works, suggests aligning the entire company with a sales mindset.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Sales   Strategy & Planning   

Member Sanjay Bonde Speaks: In Order to Scale, Delegate and Empower Key Players

Companies experiencing accelerated growth often face organizational bottlenecks created by founders who may not be eager to relinquish control of large accounts. Alliance member Sanjay Bonde, CEO of Wintec Industries, suggests delegating client accounts to a sales team led by a high-potential leader trusted by the company’s founders.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Sales   

Member Erin Mendez Speaks: Involve (All) Your People in Strategic Decisions

Whenever major changes occur within a company, there is a risk that employees won’t jump on board with the new plan. Erin Mendez, President and CEO of Patelco Credit Union, shares her insights into the benefits of involving every level of the company when executing major strategic changes.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Leadership   Strategy & Planning   

Member Raj Raman Speaks: How to Find Superstar Employees in Your Backyard.

Executives often search the firmament to hire superstar employees that can deliver outsized results. Alliance member Raj Raman of Minjar suggests an alternative path to success if your dream team isn’t forthcoming.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Human Resources   Leadership   Strategy & Planning   

Member Harmeet Bhatia Speaks: Don’t Just Report. Involve.

Many management teams are spread over great distances and among diverse cultures. Harmeet Bhatia of Jade Global emphasizes the importance of substantive dialogue and collaboration to forge a path to success.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Executive Development   Sales   Strategy & Planning   

Member Xiaodong Yang Speaks: Build Vertical and Horizontal Channels

Growing at breakneck speed? Xiaodong Yang, President & CEO of Apexigen, Inc., recommends implementing a matrix structure of project managers to maintain productivity and reinforce desirable company culture.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Operations   Sales   Strategy & Planning   

Member Navin Nagiah Speaks: You are not ready (yet) to make a decision.

Torn between being a market leader & IPO’ing or selling the company? Navin Nagiah, President & CEO of DNN Corporation, offers some considerations to help distill a smart decision.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Finance   M&A   Marketing   Operations   Sales   Strategy & Planning   

Member Pat Lashinsky Speaks: Hire Your First Chief Culture Officer

CEOs often lament the time and difficultly involved in changing corporate culture. Pat Lashinsky, CEO of RealMassive, advocates for forcing the issue with explicit accountability.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Human Resources   

Member Manuel Gonzalez Speaks: The Power of Questioning

Low employee morale seriously impacts a company’s ability to grow and prosper. Alliance member Manuel Gonzalez of Rabobank International, advocates for a frank conversation.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Human Resources   Leadership   Strategy & Planning   

Member Jim Harrison Speaks: Rip the Band-Aid Off Now.

Behavioral problems from employees are not something to ignore. Alliance Member, Jim Harrison, President & CEO of MLSListings, describes the need for a direct approach.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Human Resources   Leadership   Strategy & Planning   

Member Jen Munkner Speaks: Combing Through Exit Interviews? You’re Already Too Late.

Exit interviews are only one piece of the puzzle. Alliance Member, Jen Munkner, Vice President Talent Management for MedAmerica, discusses how good recruitment starts with understanding retention and uncovering your company's unique cultural DNA.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Human Resources   

Member Praful Saklani Speaks: Technology in a Luddite’s Industry

Read what Praful Saklani, Co-Founder & CEO of Pramata, shared with his Alliance peers regarding a case presented by a CEO in an industry with weak technology adoption and a history of poor employee retention. The CEO was looking for strategies to differentiate himself from his competitors and better retain his sales force.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Sales   Strategy & Planning   Technology   

Member Jerry Turin Speaks: Try Being More Subtle First

Here's what Alliance Top Team Member, Jerry Turin, CFO of Intematix, shared with an Alliance member, a GM of a business unit, who had been asked by his CEO to contribute more at the corporate level. The member decided the firm needed a more formalized planning structure, but his efforts received a lackluster support from the CEO and mixed signals from other executives.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Operations   Strategy & Planning   

Member Ittai Bareket Speaks: You Need Someone You Can Trust

When a fellow Alliance member was preparing to enter Japan with a huge partner that would resell its software, the member wanted to know what to do to succeed and whether to hire locally or not. Here's what Ittai Bareket, CEO of Netformx, shared with the Alliance member.

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Insight categories include: Culture   International Business   Leadership   Operations   Sales   Strategy & Planning