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"The company has 100+ employees, hundreds of customers, and more than 15,000 end users. I spent almost four months as CEO. Prior to this role, my “operating exp

"The company has 100+ employees, hundreds of customers, and more than 15,000 end users. I spent almost four months as CEO. Prior to this role, my “operating experience” consisted of working as a waitress during college. My entire professional career has been in finance, where I have worked in small, flat organizations with a project-driven, deal team-oriented model. In short, I had no idea what to expect, and I learned a lot, quickly." Why on earth was this person in any way shape or form the person to step in? Once of the C-level people should have, or someone in the VC's network. "In the CEO role it quickly becomes obvious that empathy and compassion are far more valuable than financial acumen. " Yes, but understanding the product, customers, operational details, and knowing where to direct the system is probably more important than 'empathy and compassion'. "It’s easier to be a board member than a CEO" Who doesn't already know this? My crusty comments aside, it's a good read.

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jonathankoren 7y ago
> Yes, but understanding the product, customers, operational details, and knowing where to direct the system is probably more important than 'empathy and compassion'. As interm CEO, her job is keep the lights on while the board conducts a search for a new CEO. That’s it. She’s not expected to come up with strategy, or really change anything except put the immediate fires out. It’s a caretaker position. That said, it’s a bit disingenuous to read her comment as as saying that these business skills are not important. In fact, she doesn’t mention of these product and marketing skills at all. She’s talking about finance, which she primarily focused on as a VC and a board member. Given that C-suite jobs are primarily political, it’s completely fair to observe that soft skills are more important than reading a P & L sheet.
- sonnyblarney 7y ago
  "That’s it. She’s not expected to come up with strategy, " Did you even read the article? The #1 headline point was "coming up with strategy": here's the reference: "1. A clear strategy is the key to execution When I assumed the CEO role, the organization had been struggling with a lack of strategic clarity. The company is in a market with both endless growth opportunities and nearly as many potential distractions if strategy is not clear and priorities are not set. Creating a true north star for the team was my top priority." 1/2 the articles was about this. So yes, her role 'should have been' to keep the lights on, and definitely not make consequential decisions as such, so why on earth is she doing it? Also - her comment about 'compassion vs. financial acumen' was essentially pointless in the context that 'financial acumen' is not necessarily that important about a startup either. This was possibly a shameful exercise in mismanagement. "I had no idea what I was doing, I read some pop-culture books on being a CEO, I was empathetic, and I laid down a company strategy based on industry buzzwords" Ridiculous. "Keeping the lights on" is what she should have done as a 'member of the board overseeing the company temporarily'. She should have worked with the remaining C-level team to set some priorities, pick some things to fix, and probably lean in with some financial concerns if there as an opportunity to do that. That's it.

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jonathankoren 7y ago

> Yes, but understanding the product, customers, operational details, and knowing where to direct the system is probably more important than 'empathy and compassion'. As interm CEO, her job is keep the lights on while the board conducts a search for a new CEO. That’s it. She’s not expected to come up with strategy, or really change anything except put the immediate fires out. It’s a caretaker position. That said, it’s a bit disingenuous to read her comment as as saying that these business skills are not important. In fact, she doesn’t mention of these product and marketing skills at all. She’s talking about finance, which she primarily focused on as a VC and a board member. Given that C-suite jobs are primarily political, it’s completely fair to observe that soft skills are more important than reading a P & L sheet.

sonnyblarney 7y ago
"That’s it. She’s not expected to come up with strategy, " Did you even read the article? The #1 headline point was "coming up with strategy": here's the reference: "1. A clear strategy is the key to execution When I assumed the CEO role, the organization had been struggling with a lack of strategic clarity. The company is in a market with both endless growth opportunities and nearly as many potential distractions if strategy is not clear and priorities are not set. Creating a true north star for the team was my top priority." 1/2 the articles was about this. So yes, her role 'should have been' to keep the lights on, and definitely not make consequential decisions as such, so why on earth is she doing it? Also - her comment about 'compassion vs. financial acumen' was essentially pointless in the context that 'financial acumen' is not necessarily that important about a startup either. This was possibly a shameful exercise in mismanagement. "I had no idea what I was doing, I read some pop-culture books on being a CEO, I was empathetic, and I laid down a company strategy based on industry buzzwords" Ridiculous. "Keeping the lights on" is what she should have done as a 'member of the board overseeing the company temporarily'. She should have worked with the remaining C-level team to set some priorities, pick some things to fix, and probably lean in with some financial concerns if there as an opportunity to do that. That's it.