In this episode we unpack the topic of: "Transitioning Roles: From COO to CEO". This is Part 2 in our transitioning roles series. Our special guest is John Saroff, CEO of Chartbeat.
Bethany and I discuss what a CEO does, and how a COO can build competence in these areas:
- Vision
- Fundraising
- Board relationships
- Setting the tone for the culture
We then discuss the following with John:
- What is the role of a CEO and how does it differ to the COO role?
- Do you have a COO now? Why not?
- How does the stress of the CEO role differ to the COO?
- As someone who has suffered from depression, how has that influenced your time as CEO?
- What do you wish you would have known when you transitioned from COO to CEO?
- When you transitioned into the CEO role, did you struggle with role definition?
- When is a COO ready to take the CEO role?
- How do you become emotionally available to employees?
References
Biography:
John Saroff is Chief Executive Officer of Chartbeat, Inc., an ecosystem of enterprise solutions that enables media companies to grow reach and revenue. Chartbeat serves more that 1,000 brands globally, including The New York Times, BBC, ESPN, BuzzFeed, Paramount, Warner Bros., Hearst, and McClatchy. The company brings together Chartbeat, the industry-leading content analytics software for digital publishers; Tubular Labs, a comprehensive analytics solution that delivers a unified view of social video audiences; and Lineup Systems, a bespoke tool for providing media companies with revenue management software. John has worked on the cutting-edge of media and technology for 24 years, at companies ranging from Google to NBC. He holds a joint degree in law and business from Columbia University and is a graduate of Haverford College.
Summary:
- Career development and CEO transitions. 0:06
- Bethany shares how she spent her 20s experimenting with different identities and careers, feeling less ashamed about her lack of progress.
- Brandon: Inspired by Pierre Trudeau's career path, he pursued various manual labor jobs in his 20s without a clear career goal, focusing on enjoying life and graduating from university.
- John Saref: As CEO of Chartbeat, he transitioned from Google and NBC Universal, discussing how a CEO can build competence by galvanizing the organization and stakeholders around the company's vision, mission, and purpose.
- Leadership, vision, and communication skills for CEOs. 3:32
- Bethany emphasizes the importance of having a clear and compelling vision as a leader, which she believes is essential for inspiring others to work towards a common goal.
- Brandon agrees that vision is crucial, but also acknowledges that it can be challenging for ordinary people to articulate a powerful storyline in a way that is both competent and charismatic.
- Brandon: Product background helps with vision and storytelling (black slide technique)
- Bethany: Keep presentations simple and focused on the future (no bullet points, no visuals)
- CEO responsibilities and skills. 7:40
- Bethany and Brandon both played key roles in fundraising rounds, learning investor thinking and complementing the CEO's strengths with their own...
