A series on the resources, network, and know-how to help entrepreneurs to grow faster with less risk.
Bigger. Stronger. Faster.
September 11, 2025
Behind the CXO Title: Alison Shekman on Going Slow to Go Fast
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.
September 9, 2025
Behind the CXO Title: Driving Value Through Progress with Preethi Menon
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.
August 28, 2025
Behind the CXO Title: Prioritizing What Matters Most with Will Cook
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.
August 22, 2025
Behind the CXO Title: Rachel Scott Garrison on Managing Stakeholders and Relentless Prioritization
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.
July 30, 2025
Behind the CXO Title: Chris Dardi on Building Something Bigger Than Himself
In this episode, we sit down with Chris Dardi, an alumnus of the CXO Fellows Program who was CFO of Behavioral Innovations at the time of recording and now serves as COO. Chris shares why he left financial due diligence to build something bigger, how he navigated the leap into healthcare, and the mindset shifts that helped him succeed. He reflects on lessons learned during his time as a CXO, the demands of leading through an exit as CFO, and the importance of process, adaptability, and knowing how to focus when everything feels urgent.
July 10, 2025
Shore University: How We Customize Talent Development
In this episode, Anderson Williams, Principal of Talent Development, is joined by Jackson Sprayberry, Director of Talent Development, and Ben Gilbert, Associate of Talent Development, to share how Shore University customizes talent development to meet the unique needs of each portfolio company. They explore how surface-level requests like conflict resolution or performance management often reveal core challenges with communication, accountability, and time management. Through examples including mentorship programs, frontline development, and shift manager coaching, the team highlights how they tailor content and delivery formats to drive real impact. They also discuss tools in development, such as case studies and a Train the Trainer model, designed to scale learning while keeping it deeply contextual.
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