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 approach to hiring, and the operating cadence that keeps his nearly 900-person team aligned. Todd reflects...
Apr 22, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 40
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 behind building a strong team, and why bootstrapping gave him the ultimate freedom. He also opens up ab...
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 39
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. Watch now to gain invaluable entrepreneurial insights from one of the leading minds in cybersecurity....
Apr 08, 2025•58 min•Ep. 38
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 journey to the latest advancements in AI, Itamar dives deep into the challenges and opportunities of ...
Apr 01, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 37
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 through rapid growth and industry shifts. She also reflects on the power of community, hiring the right tea...
Mar 25, 2025•57 min•Ep. 36
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 leadership evolves as a company scales. Takeaways: Defining a Clear Mission from the Start: Many hirin...
Mar 18, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 35
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. He also dives into early sales strategies, navigating fierce competition, securing top-tier investor...
Mar 11, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 34
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 packed with valuable insights on leadership, company building, and decision-making. Takeaways: The Power o...
Mar 04, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 33
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 multiple stakeholders, and why philanthropy needs both measurable outcomes and deep human connection to ...
Feb 25, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 32
How do you scale a company while staying true to your vision? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast , David Politis sits down with Fredrik Thomassen, founder and CEO of Superside, to discuss his journey in building a global AI-powered creative services platform. Fredrik shares how he learned to think for himself as a leader, the challenges of rapid adaptation, and the impact of global talent on the creative industry. He also reflects on AI’s role in shaping the future of professional servic...
Feb 18, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 31
How do you align company success with personal growth? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast , David Politis sits down with Diego Oppenheimer, the founder and former CEO of Algorithmia, to discuss his journey from engineer to entrepreneur and the lessons he learned scaling, selling, and leading a company. Diego shares his philosophy on hiring for alignment, navigating the emotional rollercoaster of being a CEO, and how he successfully positioned Algorithmia for acquisition. He also provides...
Feb 11, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 30
How do you build a high-growth company while staying true to your values? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast , David Politis sits down with Jindou Lee, the founder and CEO of HappyCo, a company transforming property management through innovative technology. Jindou shares his journey from graphic designer to entrepreneur, discussing the challenges of hiring and firing, scaling a business, and learning the rules of the fundraising game. He also reflects on his personal experiences, from hi...
Feb 04, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 29
What’s the best career advice CEOs would give their younger selves? In this special compilation episode of Not Another CEO Podcast , David Politis revisits interviews with incredible leaders to share their most impactful advice. From trusting your gut to embracing constraints and building resilience, this episode is packed with wisdom applicable to CEOs, leaders, and professionals at every level. Tune in to hear insights from Tom Buiocchi, Melanie Fellay, Adam Bryant, and many more as they refle...
Jan 28, 2025•36 min•Ep. 28
What can two wildly different exits teach us about leadership? In this episode, David Politis talks with Tom Buiocchi, a tech industry veteran with a 40-year career that spans iconic companies like IBM and HP, as well as leadership roles at high-growth startups. Tom reflects on his unique journey as a CEO, including selling ServiceChannel for $1.2 billion and handing another company back to its founder for $1. He shares lessons on building resilient teams, over-communicating during crises, and m...
Jan 21, 2025•59 min•Ep. 27
In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David sits down with Phil Fernandez, a SaaS legend with over 40 years of experience. Fernandez is the Co-Founder and Former CEO of Marketo, which has become part of the Adobe product lineup. Fernandez reflects on his journey leading Marketo to become one of the most successful marketing automation platforms in history. From pioneering brand-building strategies to navigating fierce competition and near-death challenges, Phil shares valuable lessons for ...
Jan 14, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 26
Joining the show this week is a journalist turned executive leadership expert. Having interviewed over 1,000 CEOs over the course of his 30 year career, this guest is none other than the Senior Managing Director at The ExCo Group, Adam Bryant. Bryant shares his insights from over 30 years of interviewing leaders and exploring the paradoxes of leadership. From his framework for authenticity to understanding the "optimal band of busyness," Adam discusses what motivates effective leaders to lead an...
Jan 07, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 25
Joining the show this week is a woman who's dedicated her career to giving employees access to knowledge and elevating women in business. Featured on Forbes 30 Under 30, 100 Women of Influence, and more, this guest is none other than the Co-Founder and CEO of Spekit, Melanie Fellay. Fellay shares her experiences as a female founder and her journey to raising millions to build her current business. She provides insights on early branding strategies, overcoming operational hurdles, and the challen...
Jan 02, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 24
In this special year-end episode of Not Another CEO Podcast , host David Politis shares his reflections on 2024 and his plans for the podcast in the year ahead. He opens up about the challenges, milestones, and rewards of launching and growing the show. He also sets ambitious goals for 2025, including diversifying the roster of guests, expanding the podcast's global reach, and finding new ways to share the incredible insights captured in each episode.
Dec 23, 2024•7 min•Ep. 23
Joining the show this week is a veteran of the Boston start-up community and leader in engineering management platforms. Having served as the VP of Engineering to a company that as acquired for $1B, this guest is none other than the Co-Founder & CEO of Jellyfish, Andrew Lau. Lau shares his journey from an engineer in startups to a CEO managing a high-growth company. He provides insights on aligning leadership and culture, fundraising, and work-life balance. Takeaways: Co-Founder Alignment: T...
Dec 17, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 22
Joining the show this week is a seasoned CMO who has transitioned into a CEO role. Committed to creating a standout and lasting company in the cybersecurity space, this guest is none other than the CEO of Cyberhaven, Howard Ting. Howard shares his leadership journey, lessons on building a culture of innovation, and insights into tackling challenges ranging from product positioning to team dynamics. Takeaways: Weekly Video Messages: Ting introduced five-minute weekly video updates early in his te...
Dec 10, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 21
Joining the show this week is someone who’s been trailblazing the meal prep industry. Revolutionizing pre-prepared meals and the equipment to cook them, this guest is none other than the Co-Founder and CEO of Tovala, David Rabie. Rabie joins host David Politis to discuss his journey redefining convenient and healthy meals. He examines the challenges, lessons, and pivotal moments that shaped Tovala’s success, including near-crisis fundraising stories and the company's rise during the pandemic. Ta...
Dec 03, 2024•54 min•Ep. 20
David begins every interview with a simple question: What is one thing you’ve done, big or small, that’s had the biggest impact on your company and you’d do again if you’re CEO of another company in the future? In today’s special episode, we will be looking back at the answers given to this question. Dive in with us as we hear how all 19 CEOs that David has interviewed discuss what they would do again in their next venture! We will be starting from the top with the show’s first ever guest, Nick ...
Nov 26, 2024•2 hr 8 min•Ep. 19
In this episode, Dane Atkinson, Founder and CEO at Odeko, joins David to share his entrepreneurial journey. He covers the challenges of scaling a business, and his vision for small businesses in a rapidly changing world. Dane offers his personal insights on various topics, from overcoming personal challenges like dyslexia and ADHD to managing growth, profitability, and navigating a shifting economic climate. He reflects on the importance of mentorship, community, and the role of personal growth ...
Nov 19, 2024•58 min•Ep. 18
Today we’re bringing you a very special episode of the Not Another CEO Podcast! Joining David this week is Nick Freund, the Founder and Former CEO of Workstream.io, and they discuss his entrepreneurial journey. Five years ago, Nick founded Workstream and successfully raised over seven million dollars before making the difficult decision to shut down the company. In this episode, Nick shares his experiences, the importance of selecting the right co-founder, and the challenges of pivoting a busine...
Nov 12, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 17
In this in-depth conversation, Eran Gil, CEO of AllCloud, shares his professional journey and key leadership philosophies. He talks about the founding and growth of Cloud Sherpas, one of the earliest and most successful Google Cloud partners, eventually acquired by Accenture in 2015. Now leading AllCloud, Gil emphasizes the importance of transparency, continuous communication, and cultural understanding within a global organization. Despite challenges in managing teams across different geographi...
Nov 05, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 16
This episode features Craig Walker, the Founder and CEO of Dialpad, discussing his 20+ year journey leading the business communications space. Craig has started 3 companies, 2 of which became Yahoo Voice and Google Voice, and shares insights from his experience building communications giants. He emphasizes the value in communication, transparency, and flexible leadership. Craig reflects on strategically selecting investors and how product acquisitions led to rapid growth for Dialpad. He also sha...
Oct 29, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 15
In this insightful episode, we sit down with Ryan Simonetti, co-founder and CEO of Convene, as he shares the company’s inspiring 15-year journey. Known for its innovative meeting, event, and office spaces, Convene has expanded to nearly 40 locations across nine cities. Ryan discusses the vital role of core values established in 2011, which have guided the company through challenges, including the existential crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Join us as Ryan emphasizes the importance of...
Oct 22, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 14
This week we’re joined by Nathan Rosenstock, Co-founder and CEO of Crafty, as he shares his journey as a first-time founder in the food service management industry. Recognized by Forbes as one of America's best startups, Crafty provides a centralized platform for workplace needs and has expanded to 35 markets across five countries. Nathan discusses the challenges he encountered, from navigating significant operational shifts during the pandemic to adapting business models and managing rapid grow...
Oct 15, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 13
This episode features Ryan Westwood, the Chairman and CEO of Fullcast, discussing his career and the strategies behind growing successful businesses. Ryan, who has been involved with nearly 100 companies, shares insights from his experience at Simplus, which he grew to over $650 million in revenue before its acquisition by Infosys. He emphasizes understanding customer personas and the importance of one-on-one interactions in driving business success. Ryan also shares his approach to fundraising,...
Oct 08, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 12
In this episode, we sit down with Kathryn Minshew, Co-Founder and former CEO of The Muse, to discuss her journey in the tech and entrepreneurship space. She shares her experiences from fundraising challenges and building a team to the crucial leadership lessons she learned along the way. Kathryn emphasizes the importance of being comfortable with making unpopular decisions and the impact of integrating experienced executives into a growing company. She also delves into her recent adventures in a...
Oct 01, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 11
