Thinking from the
front lines.

Brand Strategy

When it comes to Mergers & Acquisitions preparation, leaders will want to have a thorough understanding that value is created long before the deal is signed. This involves investing resources in leadership, operations, brand, and performance well ahead of the actual transaction. In a sense, preparing for a Merger & Acquisition is similar to putting together a bestselling book for publication. At my company, we’ve helped ensure this shift is made seamlessly and ends with outstanding value by creating a sound structure, clear messaging, and a valuable story. It’s part of a fractional CEO and C-suite executive strategy designed for evolving [...]

Career,Transformation

As my book The Champagne CEO reaches its one-year anniversary since publication, it offers a natural moment to reflect on what leadership really requires. The book centers on three leadership themes: courage, confidence, and collaboration. One year in, those same principles continue to enable leaders to grow, adapt, and rise in environments that are constantly shifting. For leaders aiming to reach the next level, know that success is almost never a straight line. Success emerges through decisions made in uncertainty, challenges that test your resilience, and the relationships you build. The journey may look different for everyone, but the foundation remains the [...]

Culture,Leadership

As the one-year anniversary of my book The Champagne CEO approaches, it’s time to reflect on leading as a hands-on CEO. When you step into the role of CEO, your responsibilities shift in meaningful ways. Rather than watching the direction being set, you’ll shape the vision and help it come to life. And one of the most important lessons you’ll learn is this: Effective leadership starts with being engaged. As a CEO, you are expected to think strategically. You also need to be present in the day-to-day realities of your business. You don’t have to do everything yourself, but you want to stay [...]

Career

Managing a business presents both unprecedented opportunity and complexity. Founders, privately held business owners, and private equity firms are navigating rapid market shifts. With constantly evolving customer expectations and increasing pressure to scale fast, gaining momentum across industries is possible through the use of fractional C-suite executives. A fractional C-suite executive is a highly proven C-level leader, such as a CEO, CFO, COO, or CMO, who partners with an organization for a defined scope or period of work. This saves businesses the cost and commitment of a full-time executive hire. The fractional model allows organizations to access top-tier leadership precisely [...]

Leadership,Transformation

While it may be easy to recognize the word “mentoring,” sometimes it can be challenging to know where to find one, especially when you’re starting out in your career. Early on in my journey to becoming a CEO, I had several mentors step in and give me personalized advice. They came into my life as I started new roles, and through them, I learned important lessons regarding time and team management. I didn’t even realize that I had mentors until I really started to advance in my career. While I was fortunate, I always encourage others to be proactive. Don’t [...]

Transformation

Not long ago, I helped talented singer Omari Banks, from the beautiful island of Anguilla, land a singing spot at a club of his dreams—the Stephen Talkhouse in the Hamptons. He had been wanting to play there for ages. I knew it would be a great fit, and I made it happen. At the time, I was on vacation in Anguilla, and when I heard him sing, I could already picture him at the Stephen Talkhouse, a place I’ve been frequenting for more than two decades. While others in Omari’s circle hadn’t been able to secure him a night there, [...]

Leadership

Most leadership cultures have an unspoken rule: make the powerful comfortable. The result is boards that approve strategies they know won't work, CEOs who receive only the news they want to hear, and organizations that discover their biggest problems only when it's too late to fix them. There is a better way, and it starts with one uncomfortable habit.

Leadership

The conventional wisdom says fractional leadership is what you do when you can't afford full-time. We'd argue it's what smart organizations do when they value performance over payroll theater.

DTC & Growth

CAC is up. LTV is down. Paid social is unpredictable. The DTC brands that will survive the next three years aren't the ones spending more, they're the ones building differently.