Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief with Cameron Herold
Hosted by Cameron Herold, founder of the COO Alliance, this podcast features top-level COOs sharing insights, tactics, and strategies that made them the 'Chief Behind the Chief'. The show aims to provide COOs with professional development and growth opportunities similar to those enjoyed by CEOs. Cameron Herold is a business consultant, best-selling author, and speaker known for driving exponential growth in companies.
Episodes
Ep. 607 - Optomi Professional Services COO Nick Murphy - Our People Are Our Inventory
What happens when a company builds its growth strategy around reviving forgotten small towns instead of chasing the next big metro?In this episode our co-host, Lindsay Smith, sits down with Nick Murphy, COO of Optomi Professional Services, a 100% US based technology firm operating through two brands: Optomi, which delivers high-end IT staffing, and Provalis, which brings IT and business process co
Ep. 606 - Arron Coaching Founder Laurie Aaron - Speak Yourself Into the Room
What does it take to sit at the right hand of three different CEOs, back to back, and make each partnership work?In this Fan Favorite episode, Cameron Herold sits down with Laurie Aaron, former Chief of Staff at AT&T and now founder of Arron Coaching, LLC, to revisit one of the show's most clarifying conversations on a role almost nobody truly understands.Laurie's path is rare: 30 years inside
Ep. 605 - Applied AI Labs COO Mike Fedorov - Autopilot Is the Enemy of Excellence
Most operators never learn to fight autopilot, the quiet enemy of excellence.In this episode, Lindsay Smith sits down with Mike Fedorov, COO of Applied AI Labs. With 26 years in operations and supply chain, as a former Accenture Director and Mars operations leader, Mike built his reputation staying on-site, in the detail, close to where the work breaks.He shares his philosophy that a COO's first j
Ep. 604 - FAN FAVORITE | Former ActiveCampaign President Sameer Kazi - The Financial Skill Most Leaders Skip
How do you walk into a company of nearly 800 people as its first-ever president and win over the ones who wanted your job?We are bringing this one back because it keeps landing with second-in-command leaders. Cameron sits down with Sameer Kazi, the first president in ActiveCampaign's history, who joined a fast-growing company of nearly 800 people and had to earn trust from day one.Sameer traces hi
Ep. 603 - Stemple Creek Ranch GM Conner Hackett - How to Turn One Product Into Five Revenue Streams
What does it really take to turn a single-family ranch into a thriving, multi-stream meat company that families and top chefs trust?In this episode, Lindsay Smith sits down with Conner Hackett, General Manager of Stemple Creek Ranch, to unpack how a small California ranch grew into a multichannel meat company without ever cutting corners.Conner shares why culture and purpose matter more than techn
Ep. 602 - FAN FAVORITE | ElevenLabs Lead of Operations Victoria Weller – Why Great Operators Never Wait for the Answer
What does it take to go from astrophysics to running operations at one of the fastest-growing AI companies in the world?In this Fan Favorite episode, Cameron Herold sits down with Victoria Weller, former Chief of Staff and now Lead of Operations at ElevenLabs, to revisit one of the show’s most fascinating conversations. Victoria’s path is rare: astrophysics, space medicine, quantum encryption, and
Ep. 601 - Your First Team
What if the most important team you lead is not the one you actually run?In this solo episode, Cameron Herold tells the story of coaching a 400-person company that had become the best place to work in its state, then watched politics spread through the leadership team like black mold. Silos, turf wars, and finger-pointing crept in right as the company scaled.His fix starts with one shift: your lea
Ep. 600 - Jarrett Companies COO Mike Wood - The $1M Mistake That Made His Team Stronger
Ever wonder what happens when the COO who scaled a company to $100 million realizes he was the problem?In this episode, Cameron sits down with Mike Wood, COO of Jarrett Companies, who joined a $2 million Nashville construction firm and helped grow it into seven companies doing over $100 million.They get into the machinery behind that growth: meetings from 6 to 9 a.m., five days a week, a double ch
Ep. 599 - Calix COO John Durocher - Why Your Best People May Be in the Wrong Seat
What if the smartest move you can make is to disrupt your own company before a competitor does?In this episode, Lindsay Smith sits down with John Durocher, the self-described accidental COO of Calix. John never set out to run operations. He came up through consulting and customer success, never managed a supply chain or an IT org, and that is exactly why his CEO wanted him in the seat. His mandate
Ep. 598 - What's the point of a COO?
What is a COO actually for, and why do so many CEOs never figure it out?In this solo episode, Cameron Herold tackles a question most CEOs never answer clearly: What is the point of a COO? Working through Chapter 2 of his book Second in Command, he makes the case that there is no single template. The right COO is the one who fits the CEO.Cameron breaks down the traits that set strong seconds-in-com
Ep. 597 - You.com COO Alex Triplett - How To Make or Break a COO in The First 90 Days
What if walking away from the CEO seat was the smartest career move you could make in AI right now?Cameron Herold sits down with Alex Triplett, COO of you.com, the company quietly powering web search for AI agents behind brands like Salesforce, Anthropic, and Harvey. Alex turned down the chance to be a CEO to take the second-in-command seat at a fast-moving AI startup, and he explains exactly why.
Ep. 596 - What Is a COO? The 7 Types Every CEO Needs to Know
What if the most misunderstood role in business is also the one deciding whether your company scales?In this solo episode, Cameron Herold, founder of the COO Alliance and author of Second in Command, tackles the question every growth-minded CEO eventually faces: what exactly is a COO? Drawing on Bennett and Miles’ research and his own years as second in command at 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, Cameron explains
Ep. 595 - Rythmia CMO Dr. Jeff McNairy – How to Lead a Visionary Founder Without Choking the Dragon
What does it take to keep a brilliant, unpredictable founder from burning down the very thing he built?In this episode, Cameron Herold sits down with Dr. Jeff McNairy, Chief Medical Officer and second in command at Rythmia, the only medically licensed ayahuasca facility in the world. Jeff gave up his psychology license to help build something the medical world said could not exist.He and founder J
Ep. 594 - Dark Side of Scaling
What if the parts of building a $100 million company nobody posts about are the ones you most need to hear?In this recast episode, Cameron Herold drops the highlight reel and tells the truth about scaling. The near-bankruptcy at $100 million. The $9 million fraud. The nervous breakdown on an elevator floor. The stuff entrepreneurs never post about until years later, if ever.Cameron walks through t
Ep. 593 - Cowboy Space Corporation COO & CLO Joe Yaffe - The Leadership Secrets Powering a $2B Space Revolution
What would you risk to build something that’s never been done, like beaming energy from orbit or launching football-field-sized data centers into space?In this raw conversation, Cameron Herold sits down with Joe Yaffe, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Officer of Cowboy Space Corporation. They dig into the grit, tension, and daily chaos of scaling a $2 billion startup that’s disrupting the c
Ep. 592 - Your Employees Can’t Read Your Mind: The Vision Gap
Are you really wired to scale, or just bracing for endless chaos?Cameron Herold, the relentless "Business Growth Guru," rips open the playbook on what actually drives proven, sustainable hypergrowth in today's world. With stories from building global brands like 1-800-GOT-JUNK and years in the trenches with top COOs, Cameron refuses to let leaders settle for mediocrity. He dives brutally deep into
Ep. 591 - Twentyeight Health COO Mara Castro - How To Avoid These Deadly Traps in Operations Success
How do you actually scale without losing yourself or your team in the chaos?In this conversation, Sivana Brewer sits down with Mara Castro, COO at Twentyeight Health and former Warby Parker trailblazer, to dissect what it takes to build, lead, and sustain high-performing teams in brutally demanding, mission-driven environments. Expect raw takes on leadership, the dangerous myth of “just do more,”
Ep. 590 - Wellbiz Brands COO Ankin Laysha - How to Instantly Upgrade Your Multi-Brand Operations
What does it truly take to lead five powerhouse brands… and keep every single customer and franchisee loyal? In this candid conversation, Ankin Laysha, COO of Wellbiz Brands, reveals what most COOs miss about operational scale, brand integrity, and building elite franchise teams that actually deliver.If you think brand consistency is just a checklist and that operations is paperwork, think again.
Ep. 589 - Joe Taylor Restoration President Aaron Getty - Are You Built to Be the Founder’s Most Trusted Leader?
Ever felt the raw pressure of holding a company’s fate and the founder’s trust in your hands?Lindsay Smith drills into the no-filter reality of the “second in command” role, sitting down with Aaron Getty, President of Joe Taylor Restoration. This is not your average COO conversation.Aaron Getty lifts the curtain on his wild ride from sales rep to running every part of a rapidly scaling restoration
Ep. 588 - FAN FAVORITE | Former SaaS Academy (now Precision) COO Matt Verlaque
What if your next big business breakthrough started with owning your own blind spots?This Fan Favorite episode throws you in the trenches with Cameron Herold and SaaS Academy's former COO and current CEO Matt Verlachi, as they go far beyond surface-level business banter. From surviving firefighting chaos to building, selling, and now scaling SaaS Academy, Matt Verlachi exposes the real skills that
Ep. 587 - Soma Breath Co-Founder & COO Gary Torrens - How to Effortlessly Scale Your Breathwork Business
What happens when you try to build a global movement teaching people how to breathe in an industry exploding with competition? Gary Torrens, co-founder and Second in Command at Soma Breath, sits down with Cameron Herold to reveal what most operators never say out loud. This conversation punches into operational realities: remote chaos, hiring struggles, visionary partner dynamics, and the brutal t
Ep. 586 - FAN FAVORITE | Former WIO Bank COO Jamal Al Awadhi – How Elite COOs Deliver Massive Value Even Faster
What if everything you know about starting and scaling a bank is wrong?In this Fan Favorite episode, Cameron Herold uncovers the real story behind WIO Bank with former COO Jamal Al Awadhi, a leader fueling the UAE’s platform banking revolution. From Abu Dhabi’s government-driven vision to the ferocious war for top talent, Jamal lays out how to break tradition, lead through chaos, and unlock transf
Ep. 585 - Cedars-Sinai Medical Network Vice President & COO Alen Voskanian - How COOs Can Beat Burnout Before It Breaks Them
Are you secretly running on empty, wondering if burnout is targeting you next?In this episode, Alen Voskanian, COO of Cedars-Sinai Medical Network and author, pulls back the curtain on the raw realities beneath operations leadership. From the constant grind of clinical environments to the personal toll of endless firefighting, Voskanian exposes why burnout hits high performers hardest and how igno
Ep. 584 - FAN FAVORITE | Former KENNEDY24 Presidential Campaign Director Amaryllis Kennedy – How to Build an Unstoppable Political Campaign Machine
What do you risk when you run a mission-driven campaign that breaks every rule in politics? Amaryllis Kennedy isn’t just directing the KENNEDY24 presidential campaign. She’s rewriting the playbook on grassroots leadership, digital disruption, and brutal operational honesty.In this Fan Favorite unfiltered episode, Cameron Herold dives deep with Amaryllis on the real strategies behind building a nim
Ep. 583 - NSBE CFO & COO Stanton Hill - How to Build Unstoppable COO Teams That Win
What does it really take to sit in the second seat and do it with drive, grace, and guts? In this episode, Lindsay uncovers the journey and mindset of Stanton Hill, the Chief Financial and Operating Officer for the National Society of Black Engineers. From his unexpected path into leadership to the high-stakes pivots required during a crisis, Stanton Hill reveals the nuts and bolts (and the emotio
Ep. 582 - FAN FAVORITE | Somewhere COO Benjamin Surman – How Top COOs Slash Headcount and Boost Profits
What if cutting half your team could be the secret to explosive growth?In this Fan Favorite episode, Cameron Herold sits down with Benjamin Surman, COO of Somewhere (formerly Support Shepherd), a company that rocketed from $1M to $25M and is still hungry for more. The conversation tackles the real-world, often-unspoken operational questions: When do you fire instead of hire? Where’s the hidden mar
Ep. 581 - CoinMe COO Sung Choi - Life After Acquisition: Surprising Wins and Brutal Costs
What happens when a regulated fintech meets the wild swings of crypto and then gets acquired by a Web3 giant?In this no-fluff conversation, Cameron Herold sits face-to-face with Sung Choi, COO of CoinMe, just months after their high-stakes Polygon Labs acquisition. They get blunt about what it really takes to survive in crypto, how to lead through M&A chaos without losing your best people, and
Ep. 580 - Rapid SOS President & COO José Mejia - Why Every COO Needs a Merlin-Style Leadership Edge
What if the best leaders are the least visible? In this episode, José Mejia pulls back the curtain on how a Venezuelan teen with just $120 became a transformational COO, unpacking what it really means to be the “Merlin” behind the CEO. This intimate conversation unlocks how true leaders create common ground, give permission to execute, and wield vulnerability as a superpower, especially in high-s
Ep. 579 - Critical Control COO & Co-Founder Claudine Ripert - Warning: The Critical Mistake Leaders Make in Crisis
Ever felt that urge to take total control, only to realize it throttled your team’s growth and your own sanity?Claudine Ripert, COO and co-founder of Critical Control, and COO Alliance member, joins this fierce, truth-telling conversation about leading a fast-scaling restoration business through chaos, disaster, and family dynamics.You’ll hear what it really takes to balance everyday emergencies w
Ep. 578 - Savannah Bananas President Jared Orton – How Fun Became the Ultimate Competitive Advantage
What happens when you set out to break every rule in one of America’s most traditional sports, and people flock to watch?In this Fan Favorite episode, Jared Orton, President of the Savannah Bananas, unpacks how a no-name baseball team triggered a movement by making fun non-negotiable and burning down industry norms. Discover how relentless experiments, cultural friction, player resistance, and pan
Ep. 577 - International Council for Small Business (ICSB) COO Skye Blanks - How To Turn Any Vision Into a Successful Reality
What happens when you’re the glue holding a global mission together, but the glue starts to crack?In this electric conversation, Sivana Brewer digs into the trenches with Skye Blanks, COO of the International Council for Small Business, an entrepreneur, and a relentless global operator. They expose the raw truth behind cross-border team dynamics, the weight of relentless travel, and the personal t
Ep. 576- Tilt COO Taylor McLemore - How To Approach Leave Management and Organizational Performance
What would your workplace look like if every single leave of absence became a chance to build legendary loyalty and turbocharge retention?Sivana Brewer sits down with Taylor McLemore, COO at Tilt, for a conversation that slices through HR noise and exposes the uncomfortable truth: most companies fumble leave policies and lose their best people as a result. This episode unpacks the hidden costs (an
Ep. 575 - Trevanna Tracks COO Selina Meere - How to Energize Culture and Deliver Reliable Results
Ever wondered why one song can instantly give you chills… while another makes you feel nothing at all?In this episode, Selina Meere, COO of Trevanna Tracks, pulls back the curtain on the invisible system behind the music you feel in films, ads, and media. From navigating complex rights and scaling music operations for global brands to leading without a playbook, this conversation dives deep into w
Ep. 574 - FAN FAVORITE | Mailchimp former Chief Operation Officer Sheldon Cummings – Watch How Resilient Leaders Win BIG Inside Corporate Giants
Ever worried you’re missing your shot at breakthrough growth because your leadership team is stuck in old patterns?This episode is a raw look inside the mind of Sheldon Cummings, former Chief Operating Officer at Mailchimp and current President and General Manager at Smarsh, who’s steered brands across continents and navigated acquisition into one of the world’s most powerful tech companies. Camer
Ep. 573 - WEBTOON Global CFO and COO David Lee - Why Most Leaders Play Small… and How to Escape
What if the biggest thing holding your company back… is how you’re thinking about what’s possible?In this episode, David J. Lee, Global CFO and COO of WEBTOON, breaks down a radically different way to approach growth, leadership, and innovation. From scaling a global storytelling platform with 155 million users to partnering with visionary founders, David shares how elite operators think beyond “h
Ep. 572 - FAN FAVORITE | Sean Kim (HighLevel CPO, Former Kajabi President, Ex-Amazon, TikTok): Conquer Imposter Syndrome and Lead Powerfully
What if the key to scaling your business wasn’t more people, but ruthless focus combined with relentless speed?Cameron Herold teams up with Sean Kim, the former President and Chief Product Officer at Kajabi (ex-Amazon, ex-TikTok) and the current Chief Product Officer at HighLevel, to crack open the playbook that turns chaos into proven, compounding wins. Inside this conversation: why leaders who s
Ep. 571 - Grindr Former COO Rick Marini - How to Spot A-Players and Deliver Big Results Fast
Ever wonder why some COOs quietly double revenue while others burn out cleaning up someone else’s mess?Cameron Herold unpacks the “second in command” reality with Rick Marini, serial entrepreneur, private equity veteran, and former COO powerhouse at iconic brands like Grindr. They dive into the realities most leaders dodge: gutting toxic teams, the cost of misaligned culture, and the real career a
Ep. 570 - The Virtual Hub COO Arnold le Rutte - COO Secrets for Escaping Overwhelm and Scaling Smarter
Ever feel like you’re drowning in urgent tasks and legacy processes, wondering how real COOs actually turn chaos into clarity?Meet Arnold le Rutte, COO of The Virtual Hub, COO Alliance member and bronze partner, who went from retail entrepreneur to running the nerve center of a 300+ strong offshore team. Together with our new podcast co-host Lindsay Smith - appearing in her first episode in the co
Ep. 569 - Pearl COO Ben Plomion - How Top COOs Crush Chaos and Build Pro Teams
What would happen if you finally ditched micromanagement and actually let your teams run wild, faster, riskier, and more creative than you’d ever dare on your own?Ben Plomion, COO of Pearl AI, joins Sivana Brewer for a sharp, no-fluff deep dive into the gritty reality of leading in markets where mistakes happen fast and growth is non-negotiable. Drawing from cross-functional battle scars in market
Ep. 568 - TextNow COO Lindsay Gibson - How to Rebuild Culture (and Yourself) in Crisis
Ever felt like your company is running in circles while you quietly burn out, stuck between drive and exhaustion?This episode is a blunt, emotionally raw exploration with Lindsay Gibson, COO of TextNow, a leader who’s walked away from the grind, returned for redemption, and rebuilt both companies and herself from the inside out. Sivana Brewer dives deep with Lindsay into the shock of losing vision
Ep. 567 - Contractor Foreman COO Marcus Hantla - How Top COOs Overcome Vulnerable Moments
Ever secretly wondered if success, early retirement, a big exit, and the CEO chair are as good as it looks? What if the “dream” of ownership leaves you restless, searching for meaning, and itching to build again?This episode pulls back the curtain on the real journey: Marcus Hantla, a relentless builder who’s seen both sides, reveals the wild emotional highs of exits and the raw, daily grind of CO
Ep. 566 - Virta Health COO Amit Shah - Exclusive Lessons from Scaling a Mission-Obsessed Team
What if the single greatest unlock for scaling your company has nothing to do with strategy, and everything to do with how much you care?In this gut-level conversation, Sivana Brewer sits down with Amit Shah, COO of Virta Health, a company on a mission to reverse metabolic disease in a billion people. They reveal the raw mechanics, hard decisions, and emotional realities of building a culture wher
Ep. 565 - D1 Training COO Dan Murphy - How to Scale Smarter and Avoid Leadership Burnout
Ever feel overwhelmed by growth or haunted by the worry that your team’s success might derail the mission?This is your inside pass. Sivana Brewer dives deep with Dan Murphy, COO of D1 Training, to uncover what really separates winning brands from chaotic burnout. From scaling a nationwide fitness franchise by 100+ units fast, to building a culture where passion crushes bureaucracy, and tough metri
Ep. 564 - Asana COO Anne Raimondi - How to Conquer Imposter Syndrome and Lead Powerfully
Ever question if you’re truly moving the needle in a high-stakes, fast-growth role or just treading water in chaos?In this unfiltered replay, Cameron Herold gets radically real with Asana’s COO, Anne Raimondi, a powerhouse operator with a track record scaling iconic SaaS brands from eBay to Zendesk. Their candid conversation delivers hard-hitting truths and breakthrough strategies for COOs, VPs of
Ep. 563 - Melanoma Research Alliance COO Stephanie Kauffman - How to Translate Vision Into Amazing Results Quickly
When was the last time you felt your vision misunderstood, your partnership undervalued, or your operational roadmap tangled? If you’re a COO wrestling with translating big ideas into real impact, this conversation is your lifeline.Sivana Brewer welcomes Stephanie Kauffman, Chief Operating Officer at Melanoma Research Alliance, for an urgent episode that lifts the veil on what actually moves the n
Ep. 562 - Freshpet COO Nicki Baty - Why Bold Change Is a COO’s Superpower (Now, Not Later)
Ever felt like you’re carrying the weight of growth, but struggling to shift your company from band-aids to real, sustainable breakthroughs?Meet Nicki Baty, COO at Freshpet, who’s rewriting the playbook for second-in-command leadership inside a rocketship culture. In this revealing conversation, Nicki Baty opens up to host Sivana Brewer about pioneering a COO role from scratch, installing trust (i
Ep. 561 - FAN FAVORITE | Mindbody Former President & CTO Sunil Rajasekar - How To Build a Legendary Culture Now
What if the biggest threat to your company’s growth is how you show up every day—burned out, distracted, or just going through the motions? Most COOs know the cost of chaos, but few stop to ask what’s driving it inside themselves.Enter Sunil Rajasekar, former President and CTO of Mindbody, who sits down with Cameron Herold for a no-holds-barred conversation about burnout, resilience, and building
Ep. 560 - Extend Co-founder, COO and CMO Guillaume Bouvard - How to Escape Chaos and Craft a Culture People Really Crave
Are you trapped in operational chaos, fighting burnout, and searching for a formula that actually scales? You’re not alone.This electrifying episode features Guillaume Bouvard, Co-founder, COO and CMO of Extend, as he sits down with Sivana Brewer to reveal the real-life victories and invisible battles behind explosive fintech growth. From his unusual rise at American Express to building a team of
Ep. 559 - Fractional COO, Scott Levy - Why “Just Doing More” Is Killing Your Results
What if your next breakthrough isn’t more hustle, but ruthless focus on what actually matters?Scott Levy, Fractional COO of ResultMaps, joins Sivana Brewer for a candid, zero-fluff conversation on why most CEOs and COOs are drowning in distraction and what separates “second in command” leaders who skyrocket growth from those stuck grinding. They pull apart why ambitious teams spiral into task over
Ep. 558 - EOS Worldwide President & Integrator Kelly Knight - How Integrators Really Win Big Now
Are you overwhelmed by nonstop chaos, endless stakeholder demands, or the fear you’ll break while scaling up? This episode delivers urgent answers for every COO, integrator, and senior ops leader pushing to get their head above water.Cameron Herold sits down with Kelly Knight, President and Integrator of EOS Worldwide, for a rare, candid look at the systems and mindset that power explosive growth
Ep. 557 - ACP COO Richard Comitz - How to Lead By Example in the Nonprofit World
What if you could transform a team of rookies into high-performing, loyal leaders and stay sane in the process?This episode delivers an unfiltered look inside the mind of Richard Comitz, Chief Operating Officer of American Corporate Partners, a West Point PhD and retired Army Lieutenant Colonel now leading one of America’s most mission-driven nonprofits. He sits down with Narrator to unpack the pr
Ep. 556 - Former Tesla President and Lyft COO Jon McNeill - Why Most “Big Ideas” Fail (And What Actually Works)
What if the difference between scaling up and burning out comes down to just one overlooked decision you make today?In this exclusive Second in Command episode, Cameron Herold sits down with Jon McNeill, former President of Tesla and COO of Lyft, and current CEO and Co-Founder of DVx Ventures, for a bold, eye-opening deep dive into the raw realities of being second in command at companies that re
Ep. 555 - FAN FAVORITE | Rippling COO Matt MacInnis - How to Crush Politics, Bureaucracy, and Deadly Layoffs Like a Pro
Ever wonder why some COOs scale businesses to legendary heights while others get swallowed by chaos and politics? If you’re craving clarity, confidence, and uncommon edge in your second-in-command role, this Fan Favorite episode is your wake-up call. Cameron Herold sits down with Matt MacInnis, COO of Rippling and co-founder of Inkling, for a raw, actionable conversation about the real challenges
Ep. 554 - Springs Rejuvenation CMO Isaac Tobelen - How To Scale to $500K Monthly and Manage $36 Million in Ad Spend
Feeling the pressure to scale but terrified of losing your best people, or watching team morale dissolve as your business grows?This episode, guest host Sivana Brewer gets real with Isaac Tobelen, current CMO at Springs Rejuvenation and seasoned COO, on the inside challenges of recruiting, retaining, and motivating talent in rapid-growth settings. Isaac shares proven systems for hiring culture-ali
Ep. 553 - Zingerman’s Mail Order Managing Partner Tom Root - What Systems Turn 800 New Hires Into All-Stars
Ever wondered how legendary operations leaders onboard 800 seasonal hires for world-class performance in just 30 minutes? What if your biggest edge wasn’t tech, but radical clarity, proven systems, and the courage to democratize what most companies hide?In this revealing conversation, guest host Sivana Brewer sits down with Tom Root, Managing Partner at Zingerman’s Mail Order and a driving force b
Ep. 552 - Melone Hatley P.C. COO Dan Cuneo - How Smart Ops Leaders Really Dominate New Markets
Struggling to scale your law firm or lead expert teams without burning out or losing your edge?You’re not alone. In this episode, Cameron Herold brings you an unfiltered, radically honest conversation with Dan Cuneo, COO of Melone Hatley. Dan reveals the surprising truth behind law firm growth, why lawyers love culture but hate change, and the communication systems driving results in a multi-offic
Ep. 551 - FAN FAVORITE | Orangetheory Fitness Former COO Griff Long | The Truth About Building Outstanding Leadership Teams
Are you tired of chaotic operations, burned-out teams, and the relentless pressure to execute big visions without breaking yourself in the process? In this can’t-miss fan favorite episode, Cameron Herold goes deep with Griff Long, former COO of Orangetheory Fitness, a leader who’s transformed personal growth and business results at some of America’s top brands. If you’re a second-in-command, exhau
Ep. 550 - Zingerman’s Bakehouse Managing Partner Amy Emberling - Love, Vision, and the Art of Creating Irresistible Company Culture
Ever wonder why some companies feel magnetic while others are just…a job? If you believe company culture is fluff, this conversation will put you on your heels. Cameron Herold sits down with Amy Emberling, Managing Partner of the legendary Zingerman’s Bakehouse—a $16M+ artisan bakery with a cult following and a blueprint for employee loyalty big brands envy. Together, they pull back the curtain on
Ep. 549 - Cabochon Group COO Josh Post - How To Break Through Burnout With Essential COO Growth Tips
Are you tired of feeling trapped in the chaos of scaling, with too many projects and not enough clarity on what actually drives growth? In this episode, host Cameron Herold sits down with Josh Post, COO of Cabochon Group and longtime COO Alliance member, for an emotionally raw, practical conversation about breaking out of operational overwhelm.Josh reveals how he went from reluctant family busines
Ep. 548 - FAN FAVORITE | Poshmark COO John McDonald - Why Weirdness and Love Drive Explosive Success
What if the real key to scaling your business isn’t a revolutionary product, but your ability to build a culture where “weirdness” is an asset and radical respect transforms politics into partnership?In this electric episode, Cameron Herold sits down with John McDonald, Chief Operating Officer at Poshmark, to unpack how one of the world’s most beloved marketplaces keeps growing in spite of Goliath
Ep. 547 - JID Investments COO and founder John Rubino - Daring Business Essentials That Empower Incredible Wealth Building
What if the most valuable currency in your career isn’t money, but authentic relationships nobody can take away?In this urgent episode, guest host Sivana Brewer digs deep with John Rubino, COO and founder of JID Investments and a US naval aviator turned business leader. Together, they unravel how military discipline, open-book honesty, and relentless connection-building are the forgotten keys to t
Ep. 546 - VRA Realty COO Erica Wright - Best Lessons In Systems That Empower, Not Overwhelm
Are you secretly worried your growth will wreck the “family” vibe in your business or that tighter systems will make top talent leave? In this episode, Sivana Brewer interviews Erica Wright, COO of VRA Realty, whose systems-first playbook catapulted the brokerage from 85 to 115 agents, spanning five states.They dig into the raw truth of building infrastructure for explosive scale (without losing l
Ep. 545 - A1 Roofing Co-Owner and Chief Culture Officer Vincent Malizia - How To Build a Company You’ll Never Want to Leave
What if building world-class company culture could slash turnover, ignite team loyalty, and make you love coming to work, even after 14 years in the trenches?In this electrifying episode, guest host Sivana Brewer dives deep with Vincent Malizia, Co-Owner and Chief Culture Officer at A1 Roofing, to reveal how a "people first" mindset transformed his business. They unpack how working alongside famil
Ep. 544 - ForAfrika COO Jim Lutzweiler - Game-Changing Habits Every Top COO Uses Now
Are you secretly wondering if your team has what it really takes to scale across borders, cultures, and chaos?In this episode, Sivana sits down with Jim Lutzweiler, Global COO at ForAfrika, to pull back the curtain on what actually makes world-class teams tick. From the dirt floors of Ghana to the boardrooms of Fortune 500s, Jim’s been the fixer for mission-driven giants—solving people, culture, a
Ep. 543 - Vanguard Properties COO David Chol - From Burnout to Breakthrough: The New Rules of Team Building
Ever feel overwhelmed by the impossible task of scaling a team without losing your soul or your culture? You’re not alone… or powerless.In this episode, Sivana Brewer is joined by David Chol, COO of Vanguard Properties, for a candid conversation about breaking through isolation, banishing burnout, and the rare leadership moves every operator needs to hear (but never gets taught).They dive deep int
Ep. 542 - Vinali Group COO and Co-Founder Ruth Velez - Uncommon Wins: The Proven Way to Lead with Vision Under Fire
Are you facing the pressure to reinvent your business before it’s too late? Imagine your cash flow vanishing, your team at risk, and your market shifting overnight.In this candid, deeply human episode, Sivana Brewer talks to Ruth Velez, COO and co-founder of Vinali Group, who led her company from the brink of collapse during COVID through a string of audacious pivots to global growth. Ruth exposes
Ep. 541 - Brand Built COO Meghan Donnelly - How Automation Unlocks Freedom And Calm Now
Are you drowning in busywork, feeling alone at the top, and itching to create a business that lets you actually live?In this episode, host Sivana Brewer talks with the dynamic Meghan Donnelly, COO of Brand Built, who reveals how neurodivergence and automation can become your most thrilling business superpowers.You’ll get the raw truth on turning chaos into opportunity, why clean data unlocks peace
Ep. 540 - The Phoenix Method COO Matt Rhodes - The Proven Mindset That Every Thriving COO Now Loves
What if the only way to build a company and a life with true resilience was to let everything break? Are you burned out, questioning leadership, or stuck in a plateau while everyone expects you to “scale perfectly”?In this episode, host Sivana Brewer sits down with Matt Rhodes, COO of The Phoenix Method and co-founder of Polaris Capital Investments. Matt shares his raw story of rising from rock bo
Ep. 539 - Taco Johns COO Jackie Secor - Why Emotional Strength Now Outperforms Expertise
Ever feel like you’re stuck fixing fires instead of building teams that actually thrive? Imagine stepping into a legacy brand, mobilizing hundreds of operators, and transforming your culture from confused to unbeatable, all while modernizing for the future.In this episode, Cameron Herold gets real with Jackie Secor, COO of Taco John’s. She’s a 25-year franchise and operations veteran who reveals h
Ep. 538 - FAN FAVORITE | ClickFunnels Former COO Ryan Montgomery - How to Build an Unstoppable Distributed Team
Ever wondered why so many remote teams fall apart while others scale to $100M and beyond… without burning out? This episode is a raw, practical look at exactly what it takes to build and lead a remote-first organization that actually works, not just in theory, but in the trenches.Cameron Herold sits down with Ryan Montgomery, COO of ClickFunnels, to expose the real playbook behind thriving distrib
Ep. 537 - Equiton Developments COO Christopher Wein – How EOS Drives Remarkable Calm in Rapid Growth
Are you caught in the chaos of growth, struggling to build a team that actually wins together—not just on paper? In this unflinching episode, Sivana Brewer sits down with Christopher Wein, COO of Equiton Developments and a heavy-hitter in North American real estate, to crack open the mechanics of true team performance.Discover why chemistry, not just talent, is the heart of unstoppable teams, how
Ep. 536 - Ally Waste COO Harrison Crum - Profitable Growth in the “Trash to Treasure” Industry
Ever felt overwhelmed by relentless growth, leadership friction, or the challenge of building teams that actually scale? What if you could gain proven, insider strategies for multiplying operations by 20X while keeping chaos at bay?In this bold episode, Cameron Herold sits down with Harrison Crum, Chief Operating Officer of Ally Waste, to unpack the rarely-told story behind scaling a national wast
Ep. 535 - Reel Axis COO Nick Dinsmoor - The Amazing Guide to Fearless Delegation That Works
Are you buried in the daily grind, afraid that missing one detail could wreck your team or business? Wondering how the best COOs stay energized, innovate, and avoid burnout while leading in a world that never slows down?This episode, guest host Sivana Brewer dives deep with Nick Dinsmoor, COO of Reel Axis, a fast-growing B2B marketing powerhouse. They unravel the secrets of self-awareness, delegat
Ep. 534 - FAN FAVORITE | Mindvalley Co-Founder Kshitij Minglan - Fail-Proof Strategies Gen Y Leaders Really Love
Ever wonder why most companies struggle to scale real culture as fast as they grow? What if the right blend of purpose, freedom, and radical alignment could make your team unstoppable?In this Fan Favorite episode, Cameron Herold sits down with Kshitij Minglani, co-founder of Mindvalley Quests and serial entrepreneur, to unpack the proven playbook behind building a revolutionary “cult-like” workpla
Ep. 533 - Block & Associates Realty COO Inaas Arabi – Why Most CEOs Fail at Real Scalability Now
Ever felt overwhelmed by breakneck growth, scattered systems, and a CEO who just wants “more”—now? If you’re a second-in-command, this episode flips the pain of scaling upside down.Host Sivana Brewer dives deep with Inaas Arabi, COO at Block & Associates Realty and an industry veteran who’s engineered two rounds of company doubling (with a third on deck). They break down order-from-chaos strat
Ep. 532 - Next Level Planning Group Managing Partner Richard Scheele – The Untold Secrets Behind Leading a Rapidly Growing Organization
In this episode of the Second in Command Podcast, co-host Sivana Brewer sits down with Richard Scheele, CFA, CFP, Managing Partner at Next Level Planning Group and former COO Alliance member.Richard takes us inside more than a decade of leadership evolution, from starting as an intern to stepping into the Managing Partner seat of a fast-growing financial planning firm. He shares candid stories abo
Ep. 531 - Watters International Realty COO Aldo Siciliano Shares How EOS Drives Remarkable Calm in Rapid Growth
In this episode of the Second in Command Podcast, guest host Sivana Brewer sits down with Aldo Siciliano, COO and President of Watters International Realty, a fast-scaling residential brokerage serving multiple Texas markets.Aldo shares how Watters uses EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) to create alignment, simplify decision-making, and support a fast-moving, marketing-driven business. He bre
Ep. 530 - MAPS COO Steven Huang on Why Leaders Everywhere Are Turning to Psychedelics Now
In this episode, Cameron sits down with Steven Huang, the Director of Finance, People, IT, and Community at MAPS, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. Steven helps lead global efforts to bring psychedelic research, policy reform, and public understanding into the mainstream, building on MAPS’ 40-year history at the forefront of mental health innovation.Steven shares his unlik
Ep. 529 - FAN FAVORITE | Zendesk COO Tom Keiser Shares The Powerful Execution Rhythm That Transformed Zendesk
We’re bringing this episode back because listeners couldn’t get enough the first time around. Cameron sits down with Tom Keiser, COO of Zendesk, to unpack how he helped scale the SaaS powerhouse to a billion-dollar trajectory. Tom shares how he bridged the gap between IT and operations, built cadence-driven execution rhythms, and created visibility across the business while keeping the cultur
Ep. 528 - Land O’Lakes COO Brett Bruggeman on Driving Success in a $16B, 104-Year Cooperative
In this episode, Cameron sits down with Brett Bruggeman, Executive Vice President and COO of Land O’Lakes, a 104-year-old, $16B cooperative spanning dairy foods, animal nutrition, and crop inputs. Brett shares how Land O’Lakes manages scale across 20 business units, supports more than 4,000 cooperative owners, and touches half of America’s farmland.He and Cameron dig into the cooperative model, gr
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