Not Another CEO Podcast

Do you know the key factors for successful leadership in high growth tech companies? In this episode, CEO of commercetools Andrew Burton shares his extensive experience in building and scaling tech companies.  With over 25 years in the industry, Burton details his approach to leadership since becoming CEO of commercetools in 2024. He emphasizes the paramount importance of maintaining customer focu...

What happens when you commit to shipping a podcast episode every week for an entire year? In this solo episode, David Politis reflects on 12 months of building Not Another CEO Podcast, from humble beginnings to an ever-growing audience of Founders, CEOs, and leaders.  David shares 10 of his favorite highlights from the journey so far, covering everything from guest stories and personal milestones...

What does it take to transform a scrappy logistics startup into a leading supply chain platform trusted by Fortune 500 brands? In this episode, Sean Henry shares the story of founding Stord, dropping out of college to build it, and scaling a distributed logistics network from zero to national reach.  He opens up about fundraising setbacks, building conviction in tough moments, keeping customer exp...

What can you learn from someone who built and sold multiple enterprise startups, led teams through acquisitions, and now mentors the next generation of Founders? In this episode, Ellen Rubin shares lessons from her journey as a serial Founder and now Operating Partner at Glasswing Ventures.  She talks about building strong cultures, nurturing early career talent, supporting women in tech, and help...

What happens when you try to fund and scale a legal tech company in one of the most rigidly regulated industries in the country? In this episode, Todd Richheimer shares how he grew Lawfty into a tech-powered personal injury platform that has generated over 55,000 cases and nearly a billion dollars in recoveries. From taking his first client calls on his cell phone to surviving a last-minute fundin...

What does it take to lead a global humanitarian organization through a pandemic and beyond? In this episode, Michael Nyenhuis shares how he has led UNICEF USA since March 2020, starting his role just two weeks after COVID shutdowns began.  Michael talks about building strong boards and leadership teams, the balance between confidence and humility, and how to create connection in a hybrid work worl...

What does it take to walk away from a big idea and start over inside the same company? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast , Adam Dell opens up about the journey behind Domain Money.  A serial Founder with multiple exits, Adam reflects on making hard pivots, recruiting top talent personally, navigating investor psychology, and why execution, not ego, is what earns the right to exist. He als...

What’s it really like to build a billion-dollar business with your spouse, and live to tell the story? In this special live episode, David Politis sits down with Kass and Mike Lazerow, Co-Founders of Buddy Media and authors of Shoveling $H!T : A Love Story About an Entrepreneur’s Messy Path to Success .. They open up about building cult-like culture, radical transparency, co-founder dynamics, fund...

How do you scale yourself as your company scales? Tien Tzuo, Founder and CEO of Zuora, joins David Politis to share hard-won lessons from his journey building a category-defining SaaS company.  In this candid conversation, Tien reflects on early team building, founder growth inflection points, strategic planning, and the leadership gaps many founders face as their companies mature. Drawing on his...

How do you grow a startup into a transformative force in a highly regulated, slow-moving industry? John Swigart, Co-Founder and CEO of Pie Insurance, joins David Politis to discuss the importance of decisive leadership, the balance between founder intuition and executive delegation, and how execution at scale can be a long-term competitive advantage.  From assembling a thoughtful board to reorient...

What happens when a strong vision, real traction, and early funding still aren’t enough? In this Failing Forward episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, Sasha Pasulka shares the journey behind her AI startup, Elka.  Sasha opens up about the thrill of building, the challenge of fundraising, the reality of launching with imperfect tech, and the emotional toll of shutting down a business you deeply belie...

How do you build a global tech company from scratch—and stay married while doing it? Nicolas and Alina Vandenberghe, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of Chili Piper, join David Politis for an in-depth conversation on bootstrapping, hiring globally, handling layoffs, and building community with intention. From convincing early customers to prepay for a non-existent product to implementing a decision-making...

What does it take to lead lasting change in an organization? Alan Masarek, a multi-time CEO with a track record of company turnarounds, shares the lessons he’s learned from transforming brands like Vonage and Avaya.  In this in-depth conversation, Alan talks about building high-performing teams, the power of clear communication, succession planning, and how to lead authentically across companies o...

What does it take to build a pioneering luxury lingerie brand? In this episode, Jennifer Zuccarini, Founder and CEO of Fleur du Mal, shares her journey from launching her second company in the lingerie space to creating a brand celebrated by celebrities and top fashion publications.  Jennifer opens up about key moments in her entrepreneurial path, including nurturing team culture, expanding produc...

How do you grow a podcast into a true platform for founders and CEOs? In this solo episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis reflects on Q1 2025 and shares a behind-the-scenes look at what's next for the show.  From launching a Substack and partnering with Nick Freund to rethinking content distribution and recording locations, David breaks down what's working, what he’s learning, and the g...

What happens when passion, persistence, and curiosity meet the brutal realities of startup life? In this Failing Forward edition of Not Another CEO Podcast , Nick Freund sits down with Anthony Corletti, a seasoned technical founder and former CEO of Casa, to unpack his entrepreneurial journey.  Anthony shares hard-won lessons from building, and ultimately shutting down, his company, discusses fram...

How do you scale a company to $200 million+ in ARR while maintaining deep empathy for the customer? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast , David Politis sits down with Todd Olson, the Founder and CEO of Pendo, to find out.  Todd shares the values and rituals that helped him scale Pendo into a product-led powerhouse, including his unwavering commitment to customer-centricity, his direct appro...

What happens when you combine relentless focus with long-term trust and bootstrapped grit? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast , David Politis chats with Sean Griffey, the co-founder and former CEO of Industry Dive, a digital media company that went from humble beginnings to a $500M+ acquisition. Sean dives into how simplicity became his core operating principle, the creative strategies beh...

What happens when a cybersecurity expert pioneers a new approach to phishing defense? Join us as we delve into the journey of Rohyt Belani, Co-Founder and Former CEO of PhishMe, who turned a simple idea into a $400 million exit to BlackRock.  Rohyt discusses his unique business strategies, the importance of an employee-first culture, navigating massive challenges, and raising capital efficiently....

How can AI revolutionize the way we build and test software? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast , David Politis sits down with Itamar Friedman, Co-Founder and CEO of Qodo, to explore the impact of AI-driven software development.  Itamar shares insights on how AI can enhance code integrity, optimize developer workflows, and shape the future of software engineering. From his entrepreneurial...

How do you build a brand that resonates deeply with millions of customers? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast , David Politis sits down with Nadia Boujarwah, Co-Founder and Former CEO of Dia&Co, to discuss her journey in revolutionizing plus-size fashion.  Nadia shares the challenges of building an inclusive brand, navigating venture funding, and leading a mission-driven company throug...

What does it take to build a hiring powerhouse? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast , David Politis sits down with Daniel Chait, Co-Founder and CEO of Greenhouse, to discuss his journey from software engineer to leading one of the most influential hiring platforms.  Daniel shares insights on structured hiring, the importance of early-stage learning, navigating investor challenges, and how l...

What’s the secret to building a billion-dollar company while staying true to your values? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast , David Politis sits down with Kyle Porter, founder and former CEO of Salesloft, to discuss his journey of scaling the company to a $2 billion exit.  Kyle shares how "love" became the core principle guiding Salesloft’s culture, leadership, and customer relationships....

What does it take to build and scale a successful company? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast , David Politis sits down with Zac Smith, Co-Founder and Former CEO of Packet.  Zac discusses the importance of structured execution, hiring for passion, and balancing long-term vision with short-term execution. Whether you're a founder, leader, or aspiring entrepreneur, this conversation is packe...

How do you build an organization that truly fights poverty at scale? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis sits down with Rich Buery, CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, to discuss his leadership journey, his experience shaping policies like Universal Pre-K in NYC, and how Robin Hood is evolving to meet modern challenges. Rich shares insights on hiring with purpose, managing mult...