The COO Solution Podcast

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast . In this episode, host Derek Fredrickson sits down with Samantha Prestidge, founder of a US-based virtual assistant agency, to explore one of the biggest challenges founders face as their businesses grow: delegation. Most business owners know they need help. What they often do not know is what to delegate, who to hire, or how to create support that actuall...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast. In this episode, host Derek Fredrickson explores one of the most important yet least discussed transitions in business ownership: the shift from operator to owner. Many founders spend years building systems, hiring great people, and creating operational structure so the business can run without their constant involvement. But when that moment finally arriv...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast. In this episode, host Derek Fredrickson sits down with Adam Wolf, founder of Wolf Retirement Navigation, for an honest conversation about what happens when a growing business reaches the point where operational support is no longer optional. Adam shares how years of wearing every hat in the business eventually led to frustration, overwhelm, and the realiza...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast . In this episode, host Derek Fredrickson dives into a topic that quietly affects far more founders than most people realize: imposter syndrome. The most capable founders are often the ones carrying the most self-doubt. They question whether they are qualified, experienced, or truly capable of leading at the level their business now demands. Meanwhile, the...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast. In this episode, host Derek Fredrickson sits down with Cameron Herold, founder of the COO Alliance, author of Second in Command, and one of the most recognized voices in the world of operational leadership, to unpack what the second-in-command role really looks like at scale. Cameron shares his journey from being a COO inside high-growth companies like 1-8...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast . In this episode, host Derek Fredrickson dives into one of the most overlooked but critical challenges in scaling a business: maintaining company culture. As companies grow, hire, and expand into new markets, something subtle often begins to shift. The energy changes. The team feels less connected. The values that once defined the business become less visi...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast . In this episode, host Derek Fredrickson sits down with Danielle Levy, a fractional COO at The COO Solution, to pull back the curtain on what operational leadership really looks like behind the scenes. This conversation offers a rare inside perspective into the day-to-day role of a COO, how they partner with founders, and the real impact they have not just...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast . In this episode, host Derek Fredrickson breaks down one of the most consequential leadership decisions a founder will make: hiring the right second-in-command. Many founders reach a point where the business is growing, revenue is increasing, and the team is expanding, but operational pressure is growing even faster. From the outside, everything looks succ...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast. In this episode, host Derek Fredrickson sits down with LinkedIn strategist, PR expert, and founder of Good Girls Get Rich, Karen Yankovich, to unpack what it really means to build a thought leader brand in today’s digital world. If you’ve ever wondered how some entrepreneurs consistently attract high-level opportunities, media features, partnerships, and p...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast . In this solo episode, host Derek Fredrickson tackles one of the most overlooked yet critical leadership skills founders must develop as their businesses grow: learning to say no. If you’ve ever felt stretched thin, constantly saying yes to new requests, ideas, meetings, or client demands—even when something in you knew it wasn’t the right call—this episod...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast. In this episode, Derek Fredrickson sits down with master coach, speaker, and creator of The Art of Being Unmessable With, Josselyne Herman-Saccio, for a powerful conversation about leadership, burnout, and how to stop running your business from reaction and survival. With over 35 years of experience coaching leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers around...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast ! In this solo episode, host Derek Fredrickson breaks down one of the most overlooked drivers of sustainable growth: streamlined business operations. If your business is growing but still feels chaotic, unpredictable, or overly dependent on you, this episode will connect the dots. Derek explains why most founders aren’t stuck because of a lack of effort or...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast ! In this episode, host Derek Fredrickson sits down with Ally Machate, publishing strategist, bestselling author, and founder of The Writer’s Ally, to unpack one of the biggest myths in entrepreneurship: that every business owner should write a book. With over 25 years in the publishing industry, including experience at Simon & Schuster, Ally brings a g...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast. In this solo episode, host Derek Fredrickson tackles a challenge nearly every founder faces at some point: running a business in constant crisis mode. If your days are filled with urgent decisions, constant interruptions, and putting out fires instead of leading strategically, this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar. Derek breaks down why reactive le...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast ! In this episode, Derek sits down with Andrea de la Cerda, CEO of Clover Agency and founder of Candula, for a powerful conversation on leadership, trust, and what it truly means to step into the visionary role. Andrea shares her honest journey of hitting the “I can’t do this alone anymore” moment, why she chose Fractional COO support, and how learning to l...

The 3 Systems Every CEO Needs to Break the Bottleneck and Scale Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast ! In this solo episode, Derek Fredrickson breaks down the root reason most founders stay overloaded, overwhelmed, and stuck in the weeds: you can’t delegate chaos. If your team depends on you for answers… If projects stall unless you step in… If your business grows but you get busier instead of...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast ! In this episode, Derek sits down with AI strategist and educator Marnie Wills for a practical and eye-opening conversation about how founders can utilize AI not just for content or marketing, but as an operational partner that functions like a second brain or a “silent COO.” Marnie explains how AI can support decision-making, streamline communication, acc...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast! In this solo episode, host Derek Fredrickson breaks down one of the most common turning points for growing business owners — recognizing when your company has outgrown you as its operator. Suppose you’ve been feeling stuck, overextended, or like your business only moves when you’re involved. In that case, this episode will help you identify the five clear...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast! In this episode, host Derek Fredrickson interviews Lucy Rayden, founder of InTech Search, a global recruitment firm specializing in deep tech industries like semiconductors, photonics, and electronics. Lucy opens up about her journey from burnout to breakthrough and how bringing in a fractional COO helped her regain balance, reclaim her time, and transform...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast! In this solo episode, host Derek Fredrickson unpacks one of the biggest breakthroughs every business owner needs to experience: how to build a self-managing team that runs (and thrives) without you. If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if you stepped away from your business for a week or two and feared it would all fall apart, this episode will shift...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast ! In this episode, host Derek Fredrickson sits down with Kristie Clayton , founder of Herverse and a seasoned second-in-command leader turned visionary, to explore what it really means to thrive in leadership. Kristie shares her journey from COO to CEO, the power of Integrator–Visionary partnerships, and why embracing “whole human leadership” transforms not...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast ! In this solo episode, host Derek Fredrickson unpacks one of the most overlooked yet critical elements of scaling a business: team alignment. If your team is working hard but progress still feels off or if you’re frustrated that projects move forward but don’t quite match your bigger vision, this episode is for you. Derek reveals why alignment isn’t just a...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast ! In this special episode, host Derek Fredrickson sits down with Amy Anderson, CEO of ACG Practice Partners and a current client of The COO Solution. Amy is an expert in the aesthetics industry who has helped hundreds of surgeons and practice leaders launch and scale successful, high-performing practices. In this candid conversation, Amy shares what it was...

Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast ! In this solo episode, host Derek Fredrickson dives deep into one of the most common challenges business owners face: micromanagement. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and stretched thin, chances are you’re still holding on to too much, and it’s keeping your business stuck. Derek shares how learning the art of effective delegation unlocks freedom, builds trus...

In this episode of The COO Solution Podcast, host Derek Fredrickson sits down with Melissa Ortiz, founder of Activate Human Capital Group, to explore the often-overlooked root cause of team frustration, burnout, and misalignment: unclear roles. If your team is working hard but not necessarily on the right things, this episode is for you. Melissa breaks down what role clarity really means—and why i...