In this episode, I talk with Alison Shekman, Chief of Staff at PhaseWell Research and a member of the CXO Fellows Program. Alison shares her journey from consulting into operations and what it has meant to step into an early-stage, acquisition-driven business. She reflects on slowing down to go fast, listening to frontline experts, and creating systems for prioritization. Alison also discusses lessons from the Shore Resource Team and why embracing iteration over perfection has shaped her approach as a CXO.

In this episode, we sit down with Preethi Menon, Senior Vice President of Integrations and Partnerships at Empower Aesthetics. After nearly a decade in consulting, Preethi joined the CXO Fellows Program and stepped into the challenge of building Empower from the ground up. She reflects on lessons from scaling the company, including overcoming perfectionism, embracing accountability, and moving fast to create value. Preethi also underscores the importance of humility, strong relationships, and the CXO peer network in her growth as a leader.

In this episode, we sit down with Will Cook, Chief of Staff at Skycrest Roof Co. Will shares his unique path from consulting to serving as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army before joining the CXO program. He reflects on his first year helping to launch Skycrest, where the role meant doing everything from marketing to operations while learning the business from the ground up. Will highlights the importance of humility, listening, and building relationships with founders and frontline teams, especially in a people-driven industry. He also discusses evaluating talent in fast-moving environments, practicing relentless prioritization, and leaning on the CXO peer network to navigate the inevitable highs and lows of growing a young company.

In this episode, we sit down with Rachel Scott Garrison, CXO at Agentis Longevity. Rachel shares her journey from Dell, Visa, and Deloitte into the microcap space and what drew her to entrepreneurship. She reflects on lessons from her first year helping to launch Agentis, including building the right data infrastructure, practicing relentless prioritization, and supporting a young CEO. She highlights the importance of managing stakeholders, the mindset shifts that come with moving from perfection to progress, and the value of having a strong peer cohort to share experiences and resources along the way.

In this episode, Bob Carlson, Operating Partner at Shore Capital, and Michael Burcham, Chief of Strategy, Research, and Talent Development, reflect on their experience serving on the board of Point C, a Shore portfolio company that completed a successful recapitalization. They share how the early investment thesis came together, how the founding partner was identified, and how the executive team, board, and M&A strategy evolved over time. Bob and Michael offer insights for first-time board members, including how to engage between meetings and why sharing experience rather than advice matters most. They close by discussing their personal passion for entrepreneurship and how investing in startups sharpens their perspective and fuels innovation across Shore.

In this episode, Joseph Lesser shares his journey to Regional Sales Director at Courser and the purpose-driven mindset that guides his leadership. Grounded in faith and shaped by mentorship, Joseph reflects on the shift from individual contributor to people leader and the lessons that helped him grow. He fosters a culture of trust, feedback, and accountability where team members feel seen, supported, and challenged.