Not Another CEO Podcast

How do great founders use their best moments, not their hardest ones, to build the future of their company? In this episode, Jules Maltz shares the mindset that has guided him through decades of backing generational companies like Slack, Dropbox, Grammarly, MuleSoft, G2, and Buddy Media. For Jules, the brightest periods in a company’s journey are the moments to build aggressively: to hire exceptio...

How can you get the most out of your year-end? In this solo episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David explores how leaders can leverage the end of the year for reflection, rallying their troops, and recharging for what lies ahead. Ways to Tune In: Substack: https://notanotherceo.substack.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com...

How do you keep building when every month your company is almost out of money, and quitting would be the logical choice? In this episode, Artem Rodichev shares the gritty, unfiltered story of Ex Human’s near-death year. Instead of shutting the company down, that year hardened the team, shaped the culture, and created a level of resilience that became Ex Human’s defining advantage. Now Ex Human is...

How do you scale a company from zero to $100 million in 18 months without losing quality, clarity, or control? In this episode, Matt Price shares the remarkable story of building Crescendo, one of the fastest-growing companies ever featured on the show, by reimagining customer experience through advanced AI and deeply trained specialists. Matt’s journey has come full circle: from a technical suppo...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to build a company from your garage to a public entity? In this episode, Chieh Huang shares the raw, unfiltered story of building Boxed from a garage into a national e-commerce brand serving tens of millions of customers, and the emotional toll, unlikely breakthroughs, and market forces that shaped every chapter of the journey. He reflects on the lonely months...

When was the last time you paused long enough to thank the people who quietly helped you build? In this special compilation episode, we highlight moments from eleven CEOs who reflected on the investors that shaped their companies’ trajectories, not just through capital, but through conviction, guidance, and belief. These clips reveal how the right investors help founders stay grounded in their mis...

How can you motivate your team to embrace AI in their daily work? In this solo episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David discusses strategies to drive an AI-first mindset in your company. Ways to Tune In: Substack: https://notanotherceo.substack.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id17515...

How do you build one of the fastest-growing integration platforms in tech, while keeping culture, momentum, and innovation in sync? In this episode, Shensi Ding, Co-Founder and CEO of Merge, shares her journey from investment banking to leading one of the most successful integration infrastructure companies in the market. She opens up about the company’s evolution, from a small startup in San Fran...

How do the best founders learn faster, think deeper, and turn that mindset into companies that endure for decades? In this episode, host David Politis sits down with Nikhil Basu Trivedi, Co-Founder of Footwork, one of Silicon Valley’s most respected early-stage investors. Nikhil’s career spans both sides of the table, from co-founding Artsy, the groundbreaking online art platform, to investing in...

How do you build something meaningful without losing yourself in the process? In this episode, David talks with Betsy Fore, Co-Founder and former CEO of Tiny Organics and Founding Partner of Velveteen Ventures. Betsy shares her remarkable journey from toy inventor to serial entrepreneur and impact investor, becoming the first Native American woman to raise a Series A along the way. She opens up ab...

How do you scale exceptional customer support without losing the human touch? In this episode, David sits down with Ryan Wang, Co-Founder and CEO of Assembled, to explore this very challenge. What started as a simple scheduling tool has evolved into an AI-powered customer support platform trusted by leading companies like DoorDash and Salesforce. Ryan opens up about the realities of scaling a fast...

How can founders build companies that scale without burning themselves out in the process? In this episode, Noah Shanok, Founder and former CEO of Stitcher, reflects on his entrepreneurial journey leading one of the earliest podcast platforms, which ultimately sold to SiriusXM for $325 million. He shares candid lessons from the early days of Stitcher, navigating sleepless nights, hiring versatile...

Do you know how essential a support system is for a CEO? In this solo episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David discusses the often overlooked, yet critical support necessary for CEO success. Ways to Tune In: Substack: https://notanotherceo.substack.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1...

What can founders learn from an entrepreneur who has built, scaled, and exited multiple companies while reshaping an entire city’s startup ecosystem? In this episode, David Cummings, Founder and CEO of Atlanta Ventures, reflects on his journey building ten companies, including Pardot, which sold to ExactTarget for $95 million, and investing in some of Atlanta’s most successful startups like Calend...

THE FIRST EPISODE OF INVESTORS UNFILTERED! What do venture capitalists really look for in founders, and how can CEOs build strong, lasting relationships with their investors? In this episode, Chip Hazard, Co-Founder and General Partner at Flybridge, offers an inside look at how VCs think about evaluating founders, funding opportunities, and long-term partnerships. He shares the traits that consist...

What does it take to reinvent an entire industry that’s been rooted in tradition for decades? In this episode, Michael Jacobson, CEO of French Florist, shares his journey from corporate consulting to transforming the floral business. Michael explains how he grew a single 3,000-square-foot location into a $9 million operation by modernizing systems, cutting inefficiencies from the supply chain, and...

How can CEOs stay adaptable while leading through pivots, growth, and constant change? In this episode, Scott Voigt, Founder and CEO of Fullstory, shares his journey from a failed first product to creating the leading digital analytics platform used by thousands of companies worldwide.  Scott dives into the tough realities of leadership, from making difficult people decisions to evolving as a CEO...

How do you scale a global company while transforming an industry as traditional as law? In this episode, Max Junestrand, Co-Founder and CEO of Legora, shares how he’s building the world’s first truly collaborative AI platform for legal services. Max reflects on his unconventional path from engineer to entrepreneur, what it took to win over law firms as an outsider, and why ambition and adaptabilit...

Ever wondered what to consider when hiring your first key employees beyond the founding team? Or what are the secrets to successful fundraising for startups? In this solo episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David shares his insights from CEO gatherings, trends he’s noticed in the community, and a recent family trip that emphasizes the importance of origin stories. Ways to Tune In: Substack: https:...

What does it take to build and scale a company while staying grounded in your values? In this episode, Flint Lane reflects on his journey founding and growing Billtrust and coming out of retirement to start Major League Table Tennis. He shares lessons on resilience, leadership, and the balance between personal integrity and business success.  Flint also discusses the challenges of navigating growt...

How does an aspiring product leader transition to the helm of a successful tech company? In this episode, Nick Patrick shares his unique perspective on leadership and growth in the tech industry. Nick discusses critical insights on how Radar's unique product strategy, company culture, and operational practices have driven their success.   Takeaways: Multi-Product Strategy Innovation: Nick emphasiz...

What happens when you jump from a career in finance to tackling the beauty industry? In this episode, Natalie Mackey shares her reflections on building Winky Lux, from bootstrapping to private equity.  She opens up about the importance of core values, the challenges of fundraising as a female founder, and the lessons she learned navigating through different growth stages.   Takeaways: Importance o...

What does it take to leave a high-profile role at Tesla and start your own electric vehicle company? In this episode, David talks with Toby Kraus, Co-Founder and CEO of Lightship, about his journey from working on Tesla’s Model S to building an innovative electric RV startup.  Toby shares insights on taking big risks, scaling early teams, and navigating the challenges of a hardware business in the...

What does it take to drive significant transformation in a tech company? In this episode, David interviews Bryan Murphy, the seasoned entrepreneur and current CEO of Smartling. Murphy shares insights into his strategic decision to integrate AI rapidly at Smartling, the challenges faced in execution, and the creation of a separate R&D function to innovate without disrupting core operations.  Mu...

What’s it really like to build a SaaS company from scratch, not just once but twice? In this episode, David talks to Thomas Pedersen, the serial entrepreneur who co-founded OneLogin and now leads Bunny, a bootstrapped billing platform for B2B SaaS. Thomas also opens up about co-founding two companies with his brother, surviving a major security breach, and how he’s approaching company-building dif...