Episode 8: Leading a Standalone Business Unit inside a Global Company
In this episode, Richard Ellis and Mike Fouts discuss the dynamics of leading a growth company within a larger legacy software company. They highlight the importance of balancing flexibility and cooperation, adapting to the fast pace of a growth company, and embracing the differences between legacy and high-growth environments. They also discuss the need to prioritize what matters, accept the things that can't be changed, and be self-aware when making career moves. The conversation concludes with a delightful discussion about the joy of 80s hair band concerts.
Chapters
01:40 Transitioning from Legacy to Growth: Challenges and Adaptation
04:00 Processes and Tools
5:05 Getting Support
07:25 Recognizing Differences Between Legacy and Growth
09:00 Right-Sizing for a Growth Company
11:10 Embracing Fundamentals: Success in Growth and Legacy Companies
13:45 Career Moves: Knowing Yourself and What You Want
16:00 The Joys of Hair Bands from the 80s
Keywords
growth company, legacy software, flexibility, velocity, cooperation, fast pace, prioritize, accept, delegation, collaboration, self-awareness, career move, 80s hairband
Soundbites
- "Balancing flexibility and cooperation"
- "Adapting to the fast pace of a growth company requires self-awareness and a willingness to embrace change."
- "Prioritizing what matters and accepting the things that can't be changed are key to success in a growth company."
- "When making career moves, it's important to know who you are and be honest about what you want."
- "80s hairband concerts can transport you back in time and bring immense joy."
Creators and Guests
Host
Richard Ellis
Richard is the co-founder and CEO of Revenue Innovations. With deep expertise in enterprise GTM, sales leadership, and organizational design, he has led revenue transformation engagements across technology, SaaS, and professional services firms.
Guest
Mike Fouts
Chief Business Officer at ShareFile, leading the company's go-to-market strategies and sales operations.
