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 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 Darren Starr Speaks: A Simple 1-2-3 Approach to Assess Your Sales Opportunities

While forecasting sales opportunities, leaders can often struggle to assess the likelihood of a customer moving forward with their products or services. Darren Starr, CEO of StarrData, shares insight into how a simple 1-2-3 approach can help to gauge the probability of a positive outcome.

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Insight categories include: Sales   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 Fred Canney Speaks: Steps for Prioritizing Profitability Over Growth

When business leaders see their competitors’ value increase in the market while their own remains stagnant, they can struggle to understand if they’re implementing the right strategy. Alliance Member Fred Canney, Co-Founder, CFO & COO of Archer, suggests tracking new metrics, taking a high-level, long-term view and testing potential new strategies at a lower level before blazing the path forward.

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Insight categories include: Boards   Leadership   Strategy & Planning   

Member Eric Billingsley Speaks: Seeking Organizational Alignment? Try a “Panic Monster” Instead

With key milestones looming and a lack of urgency on the part of employees, leaders often struggle to build momentum and enthusiasm. Eric Billingsley, Co-Founder and CEO of Guide-Rails, shares insight into how to guide employees to overcome procrastination and win the day.

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Insight categories include: Leadership   Operations   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 Cathilea Robinett Speaks: Getting Personal? Go Professional

When long-term employees grow jaded or disgruntled, leaders can struggle to reboot the relationship. Cathilea Robinett, CEO of e.Republic, suggests creating a structured and engaging professional development program to guide every employee, from entry-level to executive.

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Insight categories include: Human Resources   Leadership   Operations   Strategy & Planning   

Member Pat Lashinsky Speaks: Pursuing IPO? Invest Now in the Right People and Processes to Take You Over the Finish Line

When companies are faced with the opportunity to go public, their leaders can struggle to prioritize the right next step forward. Pat Lashinsky, Co-Founder of Momseze, suggests moving decisively and preparing immediately.

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Insight categories include: Leadership   Operations   Organizational Design   Strategy & Planning   

Member Serge Longin Speaks: Realign With Your Goals and Do Your Research

When businesses are presented with exciting offers, such as giving a controlling stake to a private equity firm, their leaders can struggle to decide if the opportunity is worth the potential costs. Serge Longin, Co-Founder & CEO of RevenueWell Systems, offers his insight into making the right strategic decision.

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Insight categories include: Finance   Leadership   Strategy & Planning   

Member Tom Sego Speaks: Thinking About a Go-to-Market Strategy? Consider Other Options

When business leaders have a disruptive new technology in their hands, the assumed next step is often to bring the product to market. Sometimes, the risks inherent in that approach outweigh the likelihood of a successful product launch. Tom Sego, Co-Founder & CEO, BlastWave, offers insight into leveraging intellectual property as an alternate strategy.

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Insight categories include: Leadership   Strategy & Planning   Technology   

Member Craig Hinkley Speaks: Tempted to Turn Down Funds? Consider These Risks

When the financial markets are hot, business leaders are often faced with the question: should I fundraise or not – and what’s at stake if I don’t? Craig Hinkley, CEO of WhiteHat Security, offers insight into assessing competitor risk and staying on top of the market. 

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Insight categories include: Finance   Leadership   Marketing   Sales   Strategy & Planning   

Member Alex Ashton Speaks: Get Binary With Complex Questions

Innovative technology can have seemingly endless applications. Business leaders in technology are often faced with the common yet overwhelming question of, “What type of company do I really have?” Alex Ashton, Founder & Principal of I/D.W, offers strategies to reach clarity.

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Insight categories include: Leadership   Organizational Design   Strategy & Planning   

Member Sanjay Bonde Speaks: Bigger Isn’t Always Better

A common Silicon Valley mantra is to productize, scale, and then IPO. But is that really the best formula for every company? Alliance member & CEO Sanjay Bonde offers his insights into creating long-term satisfaction for both the customer and business leader.

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Insight categories include: 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 Eric Billingsley Speaks: Different Selling Motions for Different Growth Strategies

As companies grow, leaders often find themselves at a familiar crossroads: is it better to pursue a new path or double down on the existing strategy? Eric Billingsley, CEO & Co-Founder of Calculi (creators of the Guide-Rails platform), offers his insight when considering the option of entering into new market segments.

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Insight categories include: Sales   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 Stan Schneider Speaks: To Scale Effectively, Treat it Like the Major Project It Is

Fast-growing mid-size companies often reach a point where systems are stretched across the board. Scaling the fundamental company infrastructure is important but not urgent, so it often makes little progress. Stan Schneider, CEO of Real-Time Innovations, shared insight into delegating the scaling process in a way that will be successful and internally well received.

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Insight categories include: Leadership   Strategy & Planning   

Member Brian Sohmers Speaks: To Scale a Sales Team, Invest in Budding Talent

Many companies opt for exclusively hiring sales professionals with extensive experience, minding a strategy believed to save the organization money. While a veteran sales team may be successful, is it scalable? Brian Sohmers, Founder and Chief Product Officer of Propel, shares insight into building a team that can both perform and grow with the company’s revenue goals. 

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Insight categories include: Sales   Strategy & Planning   

Member Nadim Maluf Speaks: When Pivoting, Hypothesize, Then Act

Business leaders considering a pivot are often faced with big questions about the market and how to change course effectively. Alliance member Nadim Maluf, CEO of Qnovo, recommends testing your hypothesis—and quickly.

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Insight categories include: Leadership   Strategy & Planning