Why your people strategy is just as important as your financial strategy: with Meg Crosby & Howard Cleveland

Today’s episode is all about a topic that separates the companies who thrive from the ones who stumble: Why your people strategy is just as important as your financial strategy.

I’m thrilled to welcome two powerhouse guests who know this terrain inside and out: Howard Cleveland  and Meg Crosby, co-founders of PeopleCap Advisors.

Howard is a recognized executive coach, people strategist, and growth advisor. With over 25 years of leadership, consulting, and coaching experience, he’s been a trusted partner to leaders navigating challenges at every stage of growth — helping them gain clarity, confidence, and alignment between people and business goals.

Meg is a master of scaling high-growth companies. With deep experience working alongside private equity firms and portfolio CEOs, she helps build high-performing, sustainable organizations ready to tackle the pressures of rapid expansion. Before co-founding PeopleCap, Meg led Google’s HR M&A team, overseeing people-related due diligence and integration on more than 35 global acquisitions. She’s also the co-author of the forthcoming book, Running the Gauntlet: Proven Strategies for High Growth Leaders, coming out April 2025.

In this conversation, we’ll explore how aligning people and financial strategy isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s a make-or-break leadership responsibility. You’ll hear insights on scaling, culture, leadership bottlenecks, and how to future-proof your organization for long-term success.

Let’s dive in.