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.
To see insights for a certain category, choose one from the following list:
Member Matt Patterson Speaks: Regroup, Prioritize, Execute
Often the business vision that is sold to investors encounters setbacks. Matt Patterson, President & CEO of Audentes Therapeutics, shares his insights on navigating troubled waters with clear prioritization.
Read MoreInsight categories include: Finance Leadership Strategy & Planning
Member John Maydonovitch Speaks: Don’t Miss the Analyst Calls
Managing risk exposure in your client portfolio is key to sustainable growth. John Maydonovitch, CEO of MCE, reveals a simple way to gain helpful insights.
Read MoreInsight categories include: Marketing Sales Strategy & Planning
Member Eric McAfee Speaks: Consider the Conveniences of Licensing
A new technology company owned by a close-knit group of founders is looking for a CEO – but they don’t want to give up any equity. Eric McAfee, Chairman and CEO of Aemetis, explains an ideal workaround.
Read MoreInsight categories include: Entrepreneurship Finance Leadership Sales Strategy & Planning Technology
Member Kevin Kujawski Speaks: Bring in the Bankers
Correcting misalignment among managing partners is a herculean task. Kevin Kujawski, President and CEO of Menlo Equities, explains how investment bankers can help.
Read MoreInsight categories include: Finance Leadership Strategy & Planning
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.
Read MoreInsight 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.
Read MoreInsight categories include: Culture Human Resources Leadership Strategy & Planning
Member Ittai Bareket Speaks: The CEO Should Be the Best Salesperson in the Company
Is your staff excited about a new product, but it just isn’t selling? Alliance Member, Ittai Bareket, CEO of Netformx, explains how to jump in proactively and quickly distill what’s the matter.
Read MoreInsight categories include: Marketing Sales Strategy & Planning
Member Sudhir Aggarwal Speaks: Go for the Gold, But Fall Back on Silver and Bronze
Embrace a spirit of achieving excellence. Alliance Member, Sudhir Aggarwal, Managing Partner at Transition Management, discusses ways to set ambitious goals and hedge risk to company reputation and team morale.
Read MoreInsight categories include: Leadership Sales Strategy & Planning
Member Paul Finkle Speaks: How to Get to a Recurring Revenue Model
The golden goose of most service-based firms is to attain predictable, recurring revenue. Alliance Member Paul Finkle of ABD SharedHR gives some insight into how it can be done.
Read MoreInsight categories include: Operations Organizational Design Sales Strategy & Planning Technology
Member Ted Christianson Speaks: 3 Basics to Remember as You Grow a Startup
The excitement of driving growth in a startup can all too often distract from critical business basics. Member Ted Christianson, Chairman of Christianson Systems, discusses key business ideas that are precursors to any sustainable growth.
Read MoreInsight categories include: Marketing Sales Strategy & Planning Technology
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.
Read MoreInsight categories include: Culture Human Resources
Member Keith Matasci Speaks: Focus on Bench Strength
Got an all-star player on your team? Alliance Member, Keith Matasci, Vice President of Operations for Bentek, recommends building up alternative human resources who hold the same knowledge. A good coach doesn't neglect his or her bench.
Read MoreInsight categories include: Human Resources M&A Strategy & Planning
Member Kevin Chance Speaks: Breakneck Growth Demands Strong Processes
Here's a great problem to have: your business is growing at breakneck speed. Alliance Member Kevin Chance, President of Products & Services at Beckman Coulter, counsels the importance of building process within a dynamic business undergoing explosive growth.
Read MoreInsight categories include: Leadership Operations Sales Strategy & Planning
Member John Spottiswood Speaks: Use the Cloud to Improve — Not Repeat — Your Core Business
Instead of building specific, custom pieces of software to aide your client’s business processes, build up a common code base that can be deployed throughout your clientele. Member John Spottiswood, former EVP of Business & Corporate Development for Inflection, suggests using the cloud as an instigator to change one's core business model.
Read MoreInsight categories include: Leadership Operations Sales Strategy & Planning Technology
Member Stuart Latta Speaks: Forget the Org Chart. Own Processes For Which You’re Accountable
Alliance Top Team Member, Stuart Latta, Vice President of Supply Chain & CDS for Nestle Dreyer's Ice Cream, shared his insights with the CFO of a large, multinational corporation who felt a lack of control over what he was ultimately accountable for. He was fully accountable for the financials of the company, but the regional CFOs reported to a market head who reported directly to the CEO.
Read MoreInsight categories include: Executive Development Finance International Business Leadership Operations Strategy & Planning
Member Joe Budelli Speaks: For Strong Partnerships, Engage Your Tactical Players!
Here's what Alliance Top Team Member, Joe Budelli, Senior Vice President, Sales for ABBYY USA, shared with his Alliance peers during a discussion brought by a CEO looking to establish a channel partner with a bigger player, nominally in the same space. Read the insights Joe provided, including incentivizing the tactical players involved.
Read MoreInsight categories include: Entrepreneurship Sales Strategy & Planning
Member Peter Bailey Speaks: Be the White Knight, Not a Kamikaze
Alliance Member, Peter Bailey, President & CEO of Vertical Communications, shares his insights on a case brought by the CEO of a technology company that was disrupting a traditional market by replacing hardware with a much cheaper software solution.
Read MoreInsight categories include: M&A Marketing Sales Strategy & Planning Technology Trends
Member Rob Conant Speaks: External Skills Solving Internal Problems
Alliance Member, Rob Conant, CEO of Cirrent, shares his insights on a case brought by the CEO of a recently purchased company, whose parent seemed unwilling to loosen the purse strings and invest in growing his company.
Read MoreInsight categories include: Leadership M&A Strategy & Planning
Member Burt Cummings Speaks: Sell Yourself Through the Pain You Solve
Read what member Burt Cummings, CEO of Versaic, shared with his Alliance peers during a brainstorming session with a CEO who was challenged to more clearly explain his company’s value proposition.
Read MoreInsight categories include: Marketing Sales Strategy & Planning Technology
Member Brad Freitag Speaks: Go Direct, Go Small, Learn Lots
Alliance Top Team Member, Brad Freitag of FileMaker, shared his thoughts on a case brought by an SVP whose company was reinventing itself as a cloud provider offering SaaS in place of their current hardware/software package.
Read MoreInsight categories include: Boards Leadership Marketing Operations Sales Strategy & Planning Technology
About
The Alliance of Chief Executives is an active community of business leaders that focuses on deep strategic exchanges, challenging existing assumptions and generating fresh ideas.
Contact Us
Alliance of Chief Executives, LLC
2185 N. California Blvd.,
Suite 590
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
- 925-942-2400 Office
- 925-942-2406 Fax
- Email: info@allianceofCEOs.com
Newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay up to date with the latest Alliance news!
About
The Alliance of Chief Executives is an active community of business leaders that focuses on deep strategic exchanges, challenging existing assumptions and generating fresh ideas.
Newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay up to date with the latest Alliance news!
Member Resources
Contact Us
2185 N. California Blvd., Suite 590
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
925-942-2400 Office
925-942-2406 Fax
Email: info@allianceofCEOs.com
2019 © Alliance of Chief Executives, LLC
